cable guy

I read Shauna's blog and they took their kids to Medieval Times for Owen's B-day and it reminded me of the Cable Guy when they went and did battle in the ring. My favorite part of the movie. We also watched the new Star Trek movie last night so this is even funnier.

The Japanese Have Invaded

Well, I've been feeling really cruddy for the last several months and Ben finally made an appointment and made me go to the doctor. I got the results of all the blood work I had to have done and it turns out I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. It's an auto immune disease and the apparently Japanese parts of my body have identified my thyroid as a foriegn enemy and are attcking and destroying it. Pretty terrifying and yes you can die from it if it goes untreated cause it's pretty rough on your heart, but It's not that bad.I will be able to take a pill every day for the rest of my life (wheeeeee!) and maybe have some energy to actually get out of bed after all is said and done. It has wonderful symptoms which I have experienced in full and hopefully all of those will get better as well. I'm just excited to find out that I am NOT just plain lazy as I was thinking but I in fact had a legitimate reason for not getting anything done and crying because I was so tired. Maybe now I won't fall asleep at the dinner table. I have to go see an endocrinologist to take over my care so we'll see how those things go in the near future. But as usual my Dad came through and made me smile.

Dad: so what's up
Me: I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
Dad: But you've never even been to Japan.

Thanks Dad, I needed that, you're always good for a laugh.

Preschool Pumpkin Patch Excursion

We went to Chesterfield Berry Farm with Thomas' preschool. We had a lot of fun and wished we had time to enjoy more of it.

Some of the things Tommy didn't do
go down to see the pig races, visit the petting zoo, go on a dinosaur dig, go to the huge corn field maze, dig for gems.

Things Tommy LOVED
The huge high walled ring filled with corn that you could play in. We got all the dried corn out of his pockets that we could but still ended up with some in the washer. Better than sand though (he went back 5 times, leaving when too many kids came in). Next, the water pump races. He got to pump the water and watch the water carry the rubber ducks down the chute (did that 4 times), and the spooky house, we went through that 6 times. He had a blast and would have had even more fun if we had more time to try the other stuff.

Things Tommy was terrified of
The port-a-johns...poor child is scarred for life.
Lets just put it this way, they were really full and needed to be emptied. He was doing the pee pee dance and was crying every time I opened a different door, Like a sick version of some twisted game show. He kept saying he couldn't go in there. I told him it was a really long ride back and he couldn't make it home without going so I held him up to go pee. When he finished I set him down and he was opening the door with his pants still around his ankles shouting "I have to get out of here". My sentiments exactly good buddy.

Would we go again? Absolutely, it was a good time, maybe we'll go on the day after they empty the toilets. Timing is everything folks. On a list of things I wish I had tried, they were selling pumpkin milkshakes...they sounded really good.

My Kids

I love my kids. They are beautiful. They make me laugh, they make me cry, they surprise me with things they say and do (for good and bad, but it's all part of growing I guess). I marvel every day at how big they are getting, and that makes me a little teary eyed. I miss Jacob's baby fat (what little he ever had of it). He's not a little boy anymore, it's scares me a little. Thomas is crazy, a little wrecking ball of hyperactive energy. It's hard to handle him sometimes but he makes me laugh more often than not.
Ava is such a quiet, sweet little girl. She is the calm in the storm of my boys, always ready with a much needed snuggle or a silent companion when you just need someone to listen. I am so lucky to have the children that I do. When I struggle with them, like I have quite often lately, I have to remind myself that these children were sent to me by my Heavenly Father. He chose them especially for me for a reason, to challenge me and to help me to grow, for what they would bring to my life and for what I could give to them. I love them so much and am proud to be their mother.

Apple Picking

We went to one of our favorite places this weekend. We go every year to Carter Mountain Orchard to pick apples. We went about a month ago when my sister was here to get peaches. The boys had fun picking some apples and loved the cider and apple cider donuts. It was pretty windy and chilly but a beautiful day. Ava loved the donuts as you can see on her face...I think she had a good time.

Oh, Mickey you're so fine...

My sister asked me to make a Mickey Mouse cake for a party that she was helping with. I had fun making the cake despite the long day surrounding it (a baby shower and another birthday party) and the trouble making the colors look right...but, I think it turned out pretty cute. However, can I just say that I think black frosting tastes horrible and does dreadful stuff to your mouth. I guess it's a necessary evil.

Crabtree Falls

Since Ben is gone most of the week with work and school and doesn't see me or the kids much, we've decided that Saturdays are a day that we should go out and have adventures.
Let me start off by saying that I don't know how either set of our parents did these sort of things with 6 kids. They are truly amazing. Anyway, we went to Crabtree Falls. It's a hike that I've done before and there's a waterfall all along the trail all the way up. It's beautiful. It wasn't as impressive this year because we haven't had much rain but it was still nice. WE had to drive a while but the mountain views were great and we only had to stop a few times for queasiness (and once for puking and clean up) We got there though. I carried Ava in a backpack (ugh, never before did 17 pounds feel so heavy) and the boys walked. Tommy only made it half way before he said he wanted to go back to the car Jake wanted to keep going. Me, Tommy, and Ava went back down and ate lunch and waited for Ben and Jake to finish. The boys had a good time and like seeing a 'huge' waterfall. Then on the way home on the winding mountain roads there was more stopping and more puking and more clean up....I think we are going to wait a little while for our next adventure.

Avapalooza

I haven't posted in a while so I'm making up for it by inundating you with several posts. Ava is growing fast, she's almost 7 months old (oct. 3rd) but she's already wearing 12 month old clothes...there's nothing wrong with being tall. She's staring to sit up on her own but there's no scooting or crawling yet, she just sort of rolls where she wants to go. She has a great laugh and she's so easy going and laid back. It's awesome.

Preschool begins

Tommy loves preschool. I was really glad that there wasn't any crying and he's adjusted well. They do a lot of fun things and he likes the playground and the hermit crabs and frogs. I think he likes that he gets to go to school like his big brother and it's something that he gets to do on his own. They grow up so fast , anyway, it's only two days a week but I'm glad for a little break, especially being able to go to the store with only one kid, that is a real treat. It's the small things in life, you know.

first day of school

I know this is a little past due, but better late then never. Jake is loving first grade. He loves that we can walk to school from our house. Apparently there's a little girl named Jennifer who loves him. The conversation went a little something like this.

Me: so did you make any new friends
Jake: yes
Me: well...what are their names
Jake: Jennifer, she's a girl, she loves me.
Me: She loves you!?
Jake: Yeah, she laughs when I show her my tricks.
Me: And what tricks are those?
Jake: the ones I do on my skateboard

OK, now here's the thing. Jake doesn't own nor has he ever been on a skateboard, I think he just jumps in the air and stuff and pretends he has a skateboard with him...Anyway, but I guess they are good friends. According to Jake, they sit together at lunch and they never get in trouble. I'm gonna have to meet this girl soon. I think I like her.

I love prayers

Jacob is learning the articles of faith. So as he's laying in bed tonight we did the 1st one again. He got it right and then I told him it was time to say prayers...

Jacob: Dear Heavenly Father, we thank thee for dis day. We believe that a cement mixer poured concrete,layed down rocks and put concrete over it, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

He was over at Grandma Rowland's house watching them finish the driveway today. I guess he was just really thankful he got to see it.

Do you ever just have one of those days???

Sooooo.... feeling a little overwhelmed and can't wait for school to start. Jake will be going to first grade and Tommy starts preschool two days a week. Whatever will I do??? Well, let me tell you. I'm going to love it!! Yesterday has totally prepared me to enjoy being almost alone (thank you Ava for your little tiny body of company). Ben started school yesterday and we only saw each other for about an hour. I think the boys were trying to communicate that they were having a hard time with it by giving me a hard time. They fought from sun up to after sun down, got sent to their room 3 times, had handfuls of timeouts for hitting, kicking, shoving, screaming, projectile metal toys trucks to the head, you get the idea. Tommy tried to flush a whole roll of toilet paper while I was cleaning the kitchen and overflowed the toilet (after I had scrubbed the bathroom earlier in the day), Jacob had some problems that we won't mention, they locked my bedroom door (with no one in there) and when I finally got in there they had torn all the covers off the bed (which I had just washed all the bedding...naturally), jumped on the bed, unplugged the lamps, etc. It wasn't until after I put the sheets and blanket back on the bed and got in to succumb to the sweet relief of sleep, that I realized they apparently jumped on my bed with sandy clothes. I don't know whether they transported sand in their pockets or what but, sand in your bed, not a good feeling. However, I was too tired to do anything more than dust the bed off a bit and go to sleep. When Ben got in bed this morning he laid down and then kind of half sat up...here's how the conversation went
Ben: were the boys in our bed?
Me: no, I don't think so, why do you ask?
Ben: because there's sand in the bed
Me: Is that what that is? I hadn't noticed
...yeah I totally have things under control. Anyway, to sum it all up, this was not a good way to start this 'your husband works the night shift, sleeps in the morning, goes to school in the evenings, your never going to see him again' portion of our life. You think that 3 deployments would prepare you...it never does. Happy Friday to ya!@*&$%

Unnecessary

I had just changed Ava's stinky pants and her clothes and was going to the laundry basket of freshly washed stuff to get a clean bib. As I'm leaning over Ava pukes up the green beans she had for lunch...all over the basket of clean clothes.

Me: oh man...REALLY!
Ava:
Tommy: what happened mom
Me: Ava spit up on the clean clothes
Tommy: was that unnecessary, Mom
Me: yeah, I guess it was...but it's easier to wash clothes again than clean the carpet
Tommy: If you squeeze Ava too much she gonna puke again, remember, so don't squish her too tight
Me: thanks Tommy, I'll remember that

Here are some random pictures. Yes, he really fell asleep like that. He came over to cuddle with me and decided to make a bridge instead, and then just passed out. I wish I could fall asleep like that.


The boys have gotten into Star Wars Lately...And, there really is nothing like a tight pair of underwear, 2 sizes too big snow boots, and a foam sword to make a 3 year old feel like he can take on the entire galaxy.

What Do You Get....

When you add Tommy, a full tub, a brand new bottle of soap, plus mommy distracted by baby for a few minutes...Trouble and a really, really clean boy. At least he smells really good. You can only get so mad...then you have to have fun with it, why waste the bubbles.

Ava

OK, my sister kinda got on me a little about not having pictures of my daughter up here. So here are some more recent pictures of her. She's such a good baby, only cries when she's hungry, tired, or dirty. Truly a blessing. She's able to hold herself up more and is laughing a lot. She'll be 6 months on September 3rd and she's already in 9-12 month clothes, she's a tall lassie. Enjoy!!

Out of the Mouths of Turkeys

according to my sister
Tommy: My toys are all locked in my closet
Kathryn: why is that?
Tommy: because we make messes and don't clean up and Daddy gets upset.
Kathryn: your dad does?
Tommy: yeah, that guy right there(pointing to Ben), with the blue shirt, and the flip flops.


Jake coming into the den to find Tommy putting all of his toys in the back of a big dump truck.

Jake: What the Mess!...What the mess are you doing in here??

Jake: I'm flying on a DC-10 Passenger Jet.
Me: You are? Where are you going?
Jake: I'm going to Alasika (alaska) to visit Aunt Mary

Jacob: We have to go to Papa's house to rescue people with our paramaggot (paramedic)training. Come on Tommy, we gotta go.
Tommy: We need our helidoctor (helicopter)

Ok, So it's been a while

Well, we moved in after Tommy recovered from his ordeal. We are not all the way unpacked, just a few more boxes to go. I finally found the stuff so I can download my pictures and charge my camera battery. It's kind of difficult to find stuff when your husband was the one who packed everything and he can't tell you where he put stuff. anyway, we are very happy with the house and glad that moving is all over...I hate moving. I will get pictures of the inside up soon. We also got rid of a mole that was in our house. At first I though it was a mouse. I had enough of that in Jacksonville with the 5 mice we got rid of there. But, I noticed this one didn't have a tail. So, there's a new one folks...you can get moles in your house. But it makes sense considering that my parents dog killed two in the backyard when she was over and I found another one near our porch. And, for some reason, I keep thinking of 'The Underminer' from The Incredibles. When he comes up from underground and says "I am beneath you, but nothing is beneath me!"



Ben started back at UPS (or 'pew'PS as Tommy calls it)on the midnight shift as a supervisor and is not enjoying it at all. Things run quite a bit differently and less efficiently than he remembers. But hopefully things will improve. He will be starting back at school in a few weeksto begin the long journey to Dental School. Should be exciting. The kids are all doing great and I will post more soon to play catch up.

The Big, The Bad, and The Ugly

Well, Tommy's surgery went well. This picture was taken the day before he went in, I think. This was after a week of antibiotics, too. We thought it was just the one tonsil that was big but it was actually both. They were the same size but one was sitting a lot lower than the other. Lucky thing too because if those were next to each other the poor kid wouldn't have been able to breath. The adenoids came out well and the tubes are in. He no longer snores...so weird...and doesn't stop breathing while he's sleeping. His voice is a little higher too. We're getting used to it though. I think things will be a lot better now that he's fixed. So happy for the little guy. The 10 days that he was miserable and throwing up and crying and not eating anything, I don't know if this sounds terrible, but they were worth it.

Procedure Day and Other News

Well, tomorrow is a big day for my little boy. He's going in for surgery to have his tonsils and adenoids taken out and have tubes put in his ears. While I don't look forward to it and he has no clue what's going to happen I know that it will be for the best. From tomorrow morning on, he will no longer sound like and old man while he sleeps. It will be weird not to have him snoring but I know that it will be healthier for him, considering that the doctor said that sleep apnea can lead to an enlarged heart and death...really gets a person thinking. So, farewell chronic, huge, swollen tonsils. Goodbye snore, sleep apnea causing adenoids, and hello to tubes that will help my baby not have ear infections all the time...God Speed!

In other news, Ben and I close on our new house next Friday!!! We are very excited and terrified and at the same wonderful time. We will be moving out of my in-laws house (where I have been for approximately 10 months). While they have been great and it's been such a blessing, I look forward to having my own kitchen again, to having more than just 2 rooms for 2 adults and 3 kids. However, I will miss having my laundry mysteriously disappear and show up again on my bed laundered and folded...how does this happen??? My wonderful mother in law started doing my laundry when I was preggers and wasn't supposed to be taking the laundry up the stairs...now I think she's gotten in to the habit because I haven't done laundry for the above mentioned 10 months...I hope I can remember how. Anyway, very exciting stuff. I will put up pictures of the house as soon as I'm able. Whooohooooo!!!

some pictures

I'm going to do the lazy catching up thing and just put pictures of the boys birthday cakes/ Tommy's present and from the Veteran's day thing they did at Jake's school, and a cute picture of Tommy...personally I think that's enough. There's not much to be done when you are months past your kids birthdays and Christmas and snow storms, etc, etc...so forgive and forget. Did i mention that I'm going to miss seeing my husband in uniform. The dress ones are so cute and the Cammies are, oh so nice....anyway...

The many angry faces of Tommy

Well, Tommy is a funny kid. I came across these pictures today and they totally capture Tommy's personality. He's always making these faces but really is a sweet boy...just a little crazy.