Random thoughts

While I was driving around town the other day I noticed Hunter was struggling to see the DVD players. So I made a mental note on my "things needed" list to get him his own for the back seat. From there, I mentally started to rearrange the placement of all the carseats, adding and removing seats in the van and swapping the girls with Hunter in the back. Then I thought about how lucky and very thankful we were to even have our van. A van of endless ways to position my kids, store groceries, hold a double and single stroller, and comfortably travel back and forth half way across the country to see our family and friends.

Our van was an anonymous "gift" to Jake and I a little over a year ago. It was only a few weeks after having the twins and while Jake was in Afghanistan that I was surprised at my parents front door by a tall, older looking gentleman holding a single rose and a hand full of balloons. Sleep deprived from caring for newborn twins and a 14 month old, I awkwardly smiled, then laughed and asked if these were from Jake. He had no idea who "Jake" was, but told me to follow him outside to the driveway. I was hoping that Jake had(for some strange reason) managed to leave Afghanistan early and surprise us in the driveway. Nope, it was a brand new black Honda Odyssey with more balloons tied to it.  

{I was a little disappointed the van wasn't a sunburned, starving Marine waiting for me.}

I refused the vehicle for a good 30 minutes, asked who it was from, was this a joke, and where were the cameras? This was a joke, it had to be. No one is just given a vehicle for no reason. That poor man, he had no information to give me, which I insisted on having. I had hungry newborns crying for mommy, a toddler screaming because the balloons were tangled in the fan, and my grandparents that were more confused than I was and all he wanted was my signature so he could leave.

I didn't drive the van for a good 2 weeks I think. I was in denial and in shock, but after numerous calls from my tall, older gentleman delivery guy, I needed to bring the van to the dealership so I could get our title. I couldn't wait to tell Jake about the surprise, but waiting for a phone call from him took weeks back then. I was also a little embarrassed to own a mini van. I mean really, I'm THAT mom now driving a mini van. I was only 24 years old, but I had three kids so I guess I fell in to the mini van club category. And just so you know, my husband literally begged to drive "my" van to work everyday once we moved to NC. He loves the van life and so do I. To be honest, we still don't know(for sure) who gave us such an incredible gift.


This post wasn't to gloat, but a subtle reminder to not only be thankful once, but every day. If we didn't have this gift, we would be a very smashed family in only one vehicle. There are so many things we thank God for once we get it, but remembering to be thankful ALWAYS is something I try so hard to do.

Weekly wrap up: goodbye's and hello's

WHAT A WEEK!

Mimi landed super late Saturday night and with late naps backfiring and a schedule out of whack we somehow were all awake to greet her at the airport. E was beyond tired so a meltdown was her way of welcoming Mimi to North Carolina. The girls headed straight to bed and then the Hunter love fest was on. The love/infatuation that my mom has towards that boy is unbelievable. With that said, if he was doing anything "wrong" during her visit she wasn't about to tell him no or get on to him. That went for the girls as well, including buckling Riley into a car seat that she didn't want to be buckled in to. Mimi was not about to be associated as the "bad guy" by forcing her to sit, so I had to do it.

We had an absolute blast and we were spoiled rotten by her. 

I think I am more spoiled now since having her grandkids than I ever was as a child.

{I am perfectly fine with this}

We shopped, shopped, went to eat, shopped, cooked, planted flowers, shopped, loved on babies, went on walks to the park, laughed, cuddled, and were completely consumed with Mimi.

Needless to say, it was a sad goodbye.

I am also saddened by the fact that I only got one picture of her and the kids!

Now, on to the rest of the week where we:

Rode our new bikes from Mimi.

Did a little seasonal planting.

{making on base housing feel a little more like home}

Enjoyed the rain.

Baked lots of cookies.

For a yummy 5 layer ice box cookie cake.

That ended up tasting incredible with the homemade mascarpone icing.

.

Delicious.

Happy Belated Birthday Daddy!

 

WELCOME HOME!

Are these mine?

You like my card daddy?

It has been a wild, fun, crazy, emotional, exciting week!

Now, trying to get back in to a routine with daddy back.

{who knew 2 weeks could throw us off so bad}

Separation anxiety: the 25 year old version

It has only been a little over a day since my mom headed back home to Oklahoma, but I am missing her more than I ever have. It probably doesn't help that my husband still hasn't returned from his training, but I am finding it harder and harder to say our goodbye's.

I think the older I get the more love and appreciation I have towards my mother. Don't get me wrong, I loved her a whole heck of a lot when I was younger. I doubt I showed her half as much as I needed to though and I know she probably doubted my love and appreciation from time to time because, well, lets just say I wasn't as well behaved and loving as I am now{grin}.

My mom is my best friend and in most cases I cannot make a simple decision without consulting her. I typically need to call her at least 3 times a day, mostly to tell her that I moved a picture from the bathroom to the hallway or to ask where the best place is to buy a certain food. Her opinion and input means the world to me. She has an amazing sense of style, especially in home decor and her ability to answer almost any question I may have is incredible. She can google quicker than anyone you've ever met and she has the most giving heart. As a kid/teenager/young adult she took me anywhere I wanted to go, drove back and forth from work to bring me homework, lunch money, softball gear, laundry and she packed and moved me more times than I can count.

Also, the love she shows my babies is heart melting. And seeing them light up the way that they do when she's around makes me so proud as a mommy. Circumstances allow us amazing opportunities to be back with her and other family quite often and for long periods of time. These are blessings mixed with sadness since it is due to Jake deploying, but because of her and everyone else I know that my kids are getting the love and attention they need while he's away.

I know that I am most likely going to get double the attitude, stress, and worry from my two girls like I showed my mom, but as long as I can get at least half the love that I have towards my mom from my girls then all will be right in my world. I cannot imagine a life without my mom in it, she has taught me so much in these 25 wonderful years and I continue to learn so much more from her. Thank you for all that you've done and for all that you do. I love you with all my heart and the appreciation I have towards you can not be put in to words, you are simply incredible.

Introducing: Kitty

aka Patsy

An early present for the girls birthday and she is as sweet as can be. Although the first morning after we brought her home she decided to attack my face while I carried her up the stairs. She has since earned back my love and affection with her sassy attitude and cuddly self. 

She is quite the brutal killer though...

Her prey.

She brings several of these down a day.

A majority are bigger than her and she is usually not willing to give them up right away.

{as if I need another "thing" to clean up after}

Kitty is very sweet with her new brother and sisters and is usually tolerable of the abuse love they show her.

And as long as you're willing, she will sleep right along with you.

Weekly wrap up

I've decided that I am going to write a weekly wrap up every weekend to point out some highlights, accomplishments, gratitude, and any other small facts that just weren't worthy of holding a blog entry all on their own.

This week we:

Successfully took an actual walk stroll painfully slow creep around our neighborhood last night. We made it to our mailbox, then through our nature trail, then reluctantly(me) to the park that H spotted through the houses. And by "we" I am also including our kitty. She was there every step of the way, even across the road to the park where she attempted to climb every monster pine tree she could find.

We also:

 

Color coordinated our outfit with toys.

 Again, color coordiated.

 Enjoyed Mommy's fun rice table that she made us to dump all over the floor.

{even kitty liked it}

 Took lots of walks to our favorite park and avoided some lingering hurricane damages ahead.

{they finally sprayed for mosquito's}

 Made Alfredo pepperoni pizza.

{hold the pepp on half of the pizza}

 Relaxed.

 Got new big boy bedding.

{I swear he was excited}

 Shopped til we dropped.

 Cuddled with our sister early in the morning.

Survived a long grocery shopping experience with a brand new toy.

{he actually got to pick it out}

Most of all, we had fun, stayed (relatively)calm and relaxed, enjoyed our days, cherished our/my nights, missed our daddy/hubby, patiently waited/still waiting for Mimi/my mom to fly in tonight, and loved the arrival of chilly, fall weather.

{forgive me for the multiple forward slashes}

{I promise not to do survival countdown every time Jake leaves}

Spaghetti night

A love/hate relationship.

 "Excuse me mom, Megamind is on."

Mostly devoured into their laps.

I feel the same way, E.

 "Sis, do you see this Popsicle?"

 "Man, you are GOOD!"

 

 E's feet...

 ...crossed just like R's feet...

 ...which are crossed just like H's feet.

"See mine, Mommy!"

Daily Schedule

An always changing, tiring daily schedule that keeps us moving and happy(most of the time).

In case any one is looking for or interested in a daily schedule... here is ours. I've googled "daily schedules for toddlers" and "daily schedules for multiples" many times just to get an idea for our household. Of course, every child, family, and mommy is different, but seeing something printed out can help you adjust a schedule for your household to run smoother.

So here it is:

6-7am: my coffee, catch up time(this seems to happen less and less lately)
7-8am: all 3 wake
8-8:30: breakfast/TV
8:30-9:30: clean up, dress, free play
9:30-10:30: outside play/morning drive(my kids love to drive in the mornings)/errands* if needed
10:30-11am: drinks/small snack
11-12pm: lunch prep/front room play(no TV)
12-???: Lunch, clean up, then ALL nap
2-3pm: wake, snacks, drinks
3-4pm: back yard play/errands*
4-5pm: the LONG hour... dinner prep/movie/activity/free play
5-6pm: dinner, clean up, walk/water play/ family time
6-7pm: baths, books, Rice Krispies(ugh), teeth brush, meds, and milks with Veggie Tales
7-7:30pm: BEDTIME
8:00pm: I think you know too much at this point...

+++Days change, outings happen, babies get sick/cranky/need extra lovey time, and sleeping can't always be planned.
***Getting out of the house is beneficial to our health and sanity, so errands are well thought out at different locations so that each day is another outing.


We use this as a guide and it helps transition from task to task before meltdowns happen. I have this schedule printed out and up on our fridge in hopes that my husband will glance at it every now and then so he doesn't even need to ask what is happening next. Or, if anything unexpected happens and someone else(our parents or near and dear family/friends who had to fly in) is watching the kids.

It's that wonderful time of year again!

And that's how well that went...

pricelessly perfect.

Go POKES!