Ben and I had the opportunity to have a week to ourselves without the kids while he was on leave over Thanksgiving. It was a great cabin up in the mountains of Virginia. It was very peaceful and very beautiful, well worth the money. We got to see some of Charlottesville and the countryside. There were trails for us to walk on although we had to wear orange vests because it was hunting season. A weird feeling but nice anyway...except for the 4 deer carcasses by the trail side. I wasn't ready for that...I know you wanted to know that. Apparently, hunters get their game but can't haul it back so they just divvy it up right there. Hunting is not for those with weak...whatever. Anyway, the owners have a dog named buzzy who goes around and greets the new guests when they arrive at their cabin and they bring a little basket of chocolate chip cookies and leave it by the door. It was a great to spend time together after so much time apart, 3 deployments in 3 years is pretty rough and you miss a lot of things. We hope that we can go again in the future. Maybe, schedule permitting, we can go back when all of the leaves are changing color.
By the way, I love these slide show things, you can put so many more pictures on here. Love you all!

OK, just to update on the mouse blog. We caught not one, but two mice. One in the family room and one in our bedroom....ewwww. When we caught the first one it was still alive just doped up because the traps had an anesthetic in them to knock the mice out, but Ben had to take it out and dispatch it...yes, I bawled like a baby. I just don't have the stomach for that sort of thing, never will. He was just so cute a fury. Naturally, he probably harbored diseases in that little rodent body of his that could wipe out my entire family, but still, I felt for him. When the second one happend a little while later. I just told Ben where it was and I left the room. Anyway, I think we got all of them and hope that we won't have any more problems.

Mouse in the House

OK people....I just don't know how to say this, but ewww!

You know that in lovely Jacksonville NC roaches are a part of life. I thought that the thing I've been seeing out the corner of my eye for the last little while (and only a few times) was a stinkin' big brown roach the size of an El Camino. I figured, fine, you got past the insecticide barricade because you are a big mama Jamma and were able to pass across unscathed, but you will soon succumb to it and be out of my life. That's called cum-uppance. It happens to the best of us. But as I was sitting on the chair in the living room today talking to Ben, the darn thing came from down the hallway and ran under the entertainment center and the behind a bookshelf. As I sat there in disbelief, knowing that roaches don't have long tails and big ears (ewww), I started recalling many things that have been going on around the house. For instance, the other night while I was reading in bed, I heard something behind the dresser. Again, I thought to myself, that is one big dag on cockroach. Naturally Ben had fallen asleep in 2.2 seconds and didn't hear it, so I smacked him and told him told him there was something in the room. He just sat there and looked at me and said "OK, I can't tell whether I'm dreaming or not". At that point I knew he wasn't going to be any help to me and told him to forget it and go back to bed, thinking that if it was a huge roach and it came flying through the air that it would get him first...like I said, everybody gets theirs. Another day, I was reading and I heard squeaking in the walls....All I thought was, man, I really need to get some sleep. Anyway, to make a long story longer, I went out and bought some sticky traps by order of Ben. I told him that the poor thing was going to be stuck there squeaking at me if it did get caught and if he was at work what the heck was I supposed to do with it. Of course, Ben just said pick it up and take it outside....what??? I'm not touching it. I'll just leave the house...I can go shopping for 8 hours....I will find something to do, but I won't stay in the house with it. Ben of course said that he'd take care of it, he'd taken care of getting rid of a lot of rats in Iraq. When I asked how many all he said was 'enough'. Yeah, I don't want to think about it either. So there you go folks, just when you though roaches were enough to deal with....you get mice. And another thing!!!!!! did you know that they can squeeze through an opening that is only 1/4 inch wide???? EEWWWWWW!!!

I Got Tagged!

My sister, Mar-to the-tha, Marty Farty, Lil' Donbro soon to be Smith, has tagged me. And as I listen to my youngest child playing with toilet paper in the toilet (don't worry, it was just cleaned..you really need to let some things go) I am going to tag, Jessica M., Shauna, Mary H., and Nichole. (I was so lucky that the 4th pic of the 4th folder wasn't embarrasing)

Steps

1. go to the fourth folder in you pictures

2. choose the fourth picture

3. post

4. tag 4 of your friends

Ben Is Back!!!!!

Sorry for being incommunicado lately, we have been busy spending time together as a family and getting reacquainted, we weren't trying to be rude. After a couple routine military hurry up and wait sessions, Ben has come back from Iraq. He was supposed to be here on Monday the 27th at 10:15, but about an hour before they were supposed to board a plane they were told they wouldn't be home until the 30th at 4 am....nice. It naturally ended up being much later than that and we picked him up about 9 am. It was stinkin' cold too, upper 30s low 40s. Brrr. I don't have any pictures unfortunately, they did the arrival a little differently and Ben called me to tell me when to come get him. They drove the buses right to the armory and had them turn in their weapons, alphabetical order. They didn't have the usual get off the bus and see your family first. But I have to say, it got them home a lot quicker this way. I was just going to go get him by myself but Jake was so excited to go so he's shouting 'wait mommy, I get my shoes' Tommy stayed with the grandparents. The whole ride to the base Jake's talking went a little something like this...'We go get Daddy?, we're gonna get Daddy, mommy, we're driving to go get daddy, daddy, flied home? , let's go pick up daddy from work, you happy mommy?, let's go get daddy, Daddy's home....etc, etc, for about half an hour. The kid was so excited I thought he was going to wet himself. When we got there Ben was waiting and Jake saw him and shouted 'There he is!!!' and he got out of the car and did his shy little shrug and started walking over to him, then gave him a big hug and turned around to look at me and said 'Mommy, we found him!!' It was so stinkin' cute. then the ride back home was like the previous one but consisted of, 'we found you Daddy' and 'Daddy's home'. Tommy was a little more reserved but took to him quickly and didn't waste any time converting daddy into something to use himself on as a battering ram. He would charge Ben and slam into him and then just smile and say 'I'm crazy' And yes, Tommy associates the phrase 'I'm crazy' to inflicting pain on others. The boys are very happy that Daddy is home and haven't wanted to leave his side, Jake didn't want to go to school because he was afraid Ben would leave again, sad...and they were asking where he was and looking around the house for him this morning because he had already left for work. But we are all getting back into being a complete family again and loving it.

Tractor Triumph

Jacob did it folks. He has always been really nervous around machinery. He loves firetrucks but will never get on one. He loves tractors but can't stand to get too close. It's a love hate relationship with these things. It's his sensory issues and he always gets over stimulated and can't handle it and gets upset. But while we were at the pumpkin patch he was watching all the construction and I guess it was the foreman, came over and asked Jake if he wanted to get on and Jake said yes. I asked Jake if he was sure and he said yes again. So I handed him over the fence and he got on. You can see that he's kind of tense but he's happy to be up there. Way to go Jake!!!! you conquered one of your fears.

The Great Pumpkin Quest

I wish that I had better pictures but it was so stinkin' sunny that there was a glare or a shadow everywhere. Oh well, they weren't very cooperative anyway. They loved the pumpkins though and all Tommy could do was yell 'puckin' over and over pointing to every single one. Jake decided that we had to take all of them home and was loading up the wagon while I went behind him and took them out. If he had his druthers we would have gone without food that week to supply ourselves with enough pumpkins to make our own patch. They had construction going on there too so the boys had fun looking at the diggers and such. Tommy fell in love with the tiny wee pumpkins and tried to carry an armload out and got so ticked off and would stamp his feet and cry whenever one would fall off his pile. Then after we got home they wanted to sit on the porch with the pumpkins and keep them company while they ate their snack. All in all it was a good day. And Daddy will be home in time to help us carve them. YAY!!!

The Poo Chronicles

This is for all mothers out there (or anyone close to children) who have been asked to check out their children's poo. (Shauna has mentioned sharing like experinces and I know she can relate). As of late my lovely little boys have been poo crazy. There have been comments on colors, shapes, consistencies, etc. Now, with Tommy the Younger, he mostly just says 'see it' after I change him and he likes to look at it and point and say 'poopy'. He's very proud of himself, as are we all. Oddly enough, they are not fascinated only by their own. Jake always wants to check out Tommy's poo as well and vice versa. As they get older, as in Jake's case, the requests and observations become more in depth. I am called to the bathroom regularly, pardon the pun, to look at his accomplishments. He's yelling 'Mommy, come look at this, it's so big!' Now, on any given day of the week his poo takes on different life forms conforming to his moods and days events. Anyone with weak constitutions or aversions to poo may want to stop reading now. Below are designations Jake has given to his various expulsions. There are different variations of course seeing as this has been going on for quite some time and we have repeat visitors.

-look mom, it's a dinosaur, look how big it is...it's a T-Rex.
-there's a snake in the water
-Mommy, look at that spider
-Mommy, a lobster, look out! he's gonna get you (I sure hope not!!!)
-Look at all the colors! (after having a few too many fruit snacks)
-Look at the fishies (pellety poo)
-(and a very simple non descript...) 'ooh, I like that poopy, it's so cool'

And the list goes on. I love my children dearly and enjoy the excitement they find in their poop but I was just wondering how long it continues....when is the cut off point? Is there one for boys? Why do they find it so fascinating? Is it healthy for young boys to spend a little time every day around a toilet bowl oohing and ahhing over poo? But for now, it is a family affair where we congregate to observe the latest addition to the poop menagerie of Jake and Thomas.

Day at the Beach

I took the boys to the beach on Saturday which Jake has been asking to do for a while. He had a blast running through the water getting completely soaked, chasing the water back and forth. (one of these pictures is Jake trying to scoot his heavy wet pants back up without using his hands...bet you can't guess which it is) Tommy chose to observe from a distance still not completely sure if he likes it. He tried to throw things in the water like Jake but they mostly ended up flying behind him instead...we really have to work on his technique. I took Tommy closer to the water and crouched down with him and all the sudden a big one came in and water came all the way past us so I started to stand to get Tommy away from the water but it took my sandal with it. It got pulled out pretty fast and was too far for me to reach. It kept going out further and further with me unable to reach it. I was preparing myself for the possibility of having to drive home with no shoes on as I watched my lone sad little sandal floating and bobbing in the water moving further and further away. I think I had to wait for about 12 waves to come in for it to bring my shoe close enough for me to wade out a little a grab it. For some reason, this event is what Jake seems to be focusing on at home and he keeps saying 'oh no, the water took my shoe!". Apparently is was memorable for him. And, by the way, These pictures are all outa whack, I couldn't get them to stay in a more orderly fashion...I'm 'puter illiterate so you have to take what you get.

Fun Outdoors

The boys had fun exploring outside with water and leaves and trees. Jake wanted to get up in the tree first and ,naturally, Tommy wanted to follow. But, once he was up there he wasn't so thrilled. He's unhappy in the picture but it was such a cute picture I used it anyway. Tommy has been copying everything Jake does lately, including sticking his face in a bucket of water with grass and leaves in it and sucking up water and spitting it in to the air...as Ben always reminds me...I wanted boys. And, on a subject not of the outdoors but kiddie related, Jake has been really into Dirty Jobs lately, especially the episode of the lobsters. So, of course, he calls me into the bathroom after doing a doodie and points in the toilet and says 'look mommy, a lobster...it's big, like a dinosaur'...gotta love it.

Fireman Mania

I walked into my bedroom today and found this fire station on my night stand. Jake is really in to building them lately. He has made stations with up to 5 stalls in them. Putting the helipad on there is new. He's only been doing that the last few days. Anyway, naturally, there are little wooden fire stations in different areas of the house so that he can come back any time that he chooses. You never know when or where you are going to need one.




He also likes making anything into a fire truck. As you see here, he is maneuvering his firetruck through the busy streets of Jacksonville, trying not to hit the ubiquitous motorcycle that you see about every 5 seconds on the road. You have to stay sharp. The headset is so that he can keep in contact with headquarters.

Fun in the Cabinet With Mr. Stink

Today, there was an unidentifiable funk emanating from somewhere in the kitchen. I sniffed around as much as I could but couldn't locate the source of this dastardly pong. So, like any good house wife, I lost it and started to take the kitchen apart. I emptied the trash can and washed it out with bleach, bleached the counters, and took everything out of the cabinets and wiped them down too, scrubbed the floors...The boys didn't even seem to notice the offensive odor and took advantage of my mania and had a ball climbing in and out of the cabinets reveling in being able to hang out in their little hidey holes. The smell is still sort of there but when I think about it, it's more like an old wood smell, the cabinets are from the 60's, and you can't get rid of that. But, at least the kitchen got a good scrubbing and I can take pride in knowing that the stink is there through no fault of my own...or maybe my nose just has a wire loose and there's really no smell at all. Either way, I feel good.

First day back at school

I told Jake it was time to get ready to go to school and he made me check his throat...then he said that he needed to go to the doctor, not school. But he was fine once we got there. Soon we will find out what bus he will ride so that I don't have to haul Tommy out of bed to take Jake to school. Although, Tommy woke up at six this morning and I heard him saying Jakes name, and I can only assume that Tommy climbed in bed with him because I could hear Jake saying 'no Tommy'...that boy likes to sleep, thank goodness. Tommy could take a few lessons from him.
Every day, the kids have to wash their hands when they got to the classroom so they are clean for breakfast. If you look behind Jake's head you can see the kids' toothbrushes. They have the kids' names on them and they brush after breakfast.
While they wait for everyone else to get there and for breakfast they have different activities that the kids can do. Jake loves puzzles.

I love his school so much. Everyone there, even the secretaries and teacher's aides from other classrooms, remember Jake's name and Thomas' as well. We are very happy with it and are sad that Jake will be leaving it next year to go to Kindergarten.

Sir Thomas is finally in his big boy bed. I got tired of him climing out during the night to play with toys or harrass Jake. It would be 11 at night and he would have climbed out of his bed, turned on the light, and be playing with his toys. It's a good thing Jake is a deep sleeper. Better that he falls out of a bed close to the ground than doing a humpty dumpty over a rail higher up.

Jake was having fun on his "constuckson" site. He said that the cheerios were sand and he was bulldozing them up to eat them.

Blue Steel Baby

Ok, I love this picture. He looks like he's blue steeling it up for the camera and posing for a photo shoot. Really he was just in the midst of saying 'Woahwa' and having fun playing in his empty diaper box.

Bubba Fat in Iraq

well, I had to...I just had to. Since Ben is not here to take pictures with us I will put up pictures that he sends. Unfortunately we haven't recieved many during this deployment. He is at an ECP (entry control point) to Fallujah so he doesn't get out much...which is fine with me, I don't care if he's bored. As you can see, it's stinkin' hot as a biscuits backside out there but, lets everyone say it, 'at least it's a dry heat'. What a load of hooey! When it's that hot... hot is hot. Sweet lookin' place isn't it? We won't be vacationing there any time soon.

Trouble in the Kitchen

Now I know I'm going a little crazy posting all of these things on my first day, but I'm having fun, so leave me alone. If you've got a problem you can scoot. Anyway, The boys decided to have some fun 'cooking' in the kitchen. Tommy however decided to get in the sink and plugged it up so his diaper ended up weighing in at like ten pounds. They got a lot of water all over the counters, chair, cabinets and rugs but they had fun, and water dries. But, It was nothing compared to the Great Flour Incident of '07 where there were flour bombs thrown across the kitchen, or the Sugar Fiasco, that occurred a week later where you couldn't see all of the sugar and couldn't get it all up and you feel it on you feet for days. I didn't take pictures that time because it wasn't cute anymore.

Little Devil

Papa D. Made Tom these horns...I think they display his personality very well and show the little devil that he truly is.

Fireman Jake

Now, it may not look like it to you, but this is a fireman's uniform. When we were up in Richmond Jake would put on his helmet and the socks on his hands and get on his firetruck (bike) and ride around the yard responding to 4 alarm blazes. It's good to be a kid.