Seriously... Sometimes I catch myself doing insane things for my children. The kids finally talked me into letting them go outside for a little while after dinner, even though it has been rainy and crummy all day. The rain had barely stopped and the ground was still wet, but a major league baseball game is going on right in my front yard.
In between runs, there are fights between Chase and Daniel (Austin's 6yr old friend). Chase and Daniel are a lot alike, but everything Daniel does drives Chase crazy. Go figure. Anyways, the kids decided they needed the baseball song playing before they could start the next game. Guess who they found for the DJ? Yes, yours truly. So I find myself sitting at the computer, searching for the song on youtube, and then playing it for them with the computer speaker sitting on my front window sill. The only problem, is that the song is only 18seconds long. So, the kids told me they needed me to keep playing it over and over for them.
You may be thinking, yeah right. But, I sat here and played it a few times - because it put such big smiles on their faces to hear it as they ran the bases and hit the ball. Then I realized that the sink full of dishes was waiting for me, and the laundry is still piled on our bed from this morning, and besides that I am worn out. I am already looking forward to my morning nap tomorrow after I drop them off at school.
Here's a link to the song... (just in case you want to hear it... Be sure to yell "Charge" at the end!) Yes. I did. =)
http://youtu.be/vb19d08Lnec
Tomorrow will bring more challenges, another day of craziness, and thank goodness Jason will be home tomorrow night. He is in Cincinnati , OH for a few days for work. He wonders why I am always so excited for him to get home as quick as possible. Of course I miss him, but I also need a break!! Hope everyone is having a wonderful week! =)
April 25, 2012
April 18, 2012
Long Overdue!!
I can't believe that the last time I blogged was in 2010! Thanks to my mom for re-posting my blog on Facebook, I was reminded of how much I love to write about the crazy things that happen in our day to day life. We still have 4 children, Jason is still sticking with us, and I have at least part of my sanity left. I do believe that our kids are trying to separate me from that sanity, but I am hanging onto it for dear life! We are actually getting ready to move to a town near South Easton, Massachusetts in July. Jason is excited and ready for a change at work. He made it on the promotion list in January, and I couldn't be more proud of him for his accomplishments in his career. He is one of the hardest working men I know, and I pray that his work ethic is being instilled in our boys as they watch him doing everything he can to provide for our family.
Now on to the children... I can't even think of the craziness that I could have been blogging about over the last 2 years! We have lived here in Slinger, Wisconsin for almost 2 years now. We have been so lucky to find such wonderful places to live, and great schools for our kids to learn and grow in. I can't believe that the triplets will be 11 this year, and Austin will be 7. Austin is reading now, and it just amazes me every time I listen to him. He is only in kindergarten =) Jason says it's because he is advanced. Of course he is!!
The triplets had a big day today. I allowed them to ride their bikes (with helmets) to the library down the street from our house. I felt so calm letting them go, I shocked even myself. It's just time. Chase absolutely would spend every day at the library if he could. Mackenzie loves to go to the library too. She likes to spend a little time looking around and finding the right book. Tanner on the other hand, likes to get in and get out. He is not one to dilly dally, or waste any time on anything. He grabs a few books, picks out a movie, and then wants to immediately get out of there. He is definitely a homebody. He has friends to play with, video games to conquer. No time for waiting around for that kid. The only reason Tanner went along on the library trip was to make sure that no one stole their bikes while Chase and Mackenzie were inside. Tanner sat outside and guarded the bikes. He wasn't taking any chances! He also told me that someone responsible had to go along with the other two. So funny!!
The triplets were so excited to be able to get out from under my protective wing, even if it was only for an hour and fifteen minutes. I told them to take a backpack, my cell phone, and of course- money to pay our late fees. We always have late fees. That's my confession for the day. My dad reminded me today, that I pass the library twice a day, every day, so we should not have any late fees. Thank you Dad. =) I can't remember everything. The librarian dutifully gives me a receipt every visit so that I know when things are due. But once that receipt hits our kitchen counter, or the bottom of my purse - it is never to be found again. I have a lot to keep up with, and unfortunately all of the organization skills in our family went to my sister, Susan.
So, the triplets took off to the library. They called me as soon as they got there, just like I told them to. They called back in about 30 minutes to tell me they were on their way home. I told them to be home by 5:15 and they came back early! But, they insisted that they had to go back again. Somehow on the bike ride home, my cell phone dialed my mom from Chase's backpack. How convenient. My mother thinks the kids should be under my watchful eyes at all times, and of course they called her. She could hear the wind whipping around, the kids chattering a mile a minute, and their conversation about having to go back to the library again. They are so crazy, and I hate to say it, but they are more like me every day!!
They came in the door talking as fast as they could, and Chase unloaded the books and DVD's that they checked out. They realized that they had to go back because they forgot to get Austin a book. Mackenzie stayed home the second time. Tanner went along with Chase, but walked because he wanted to go inside the library this time to get a movie. He didn't want to take a chance on someone stealing one of his most prized possessions, so he left his bike at home! Chase called me when they got there. He called me again from inside the library, whispering in the phone. He wanted to know if he could use the $2 he had left, to buy a bag of books at the library. I'm pretty sure he had every intention to buy those books, and that's why he needed to make a second trip there. He had to come home and unload his backpack to make room for those $2 books he went back for. He made a haul. He even got books for his siblings. And he bought his favorite mother a Math guidebook, so that when I get stuck helping them with Math homework, I have a reference to use. How sweet of him. At least he didn't get me a diet book!!
Well, that was part of our day... Everyone in the house is sound asleep. I am battling insomnia, anxiety, and a little depression at the moment - so I'm still up. Blogging. Hope everyone has a wonderful day tomorrow, and I will try to post more often. Thank you for reading my ramblings!!
Now on to the children... I can't even think of the craziness that I could have been blogging about over the last 2 years! We have lived here in Slinger, Wisconsin for almost 2 years now. We have been so lucky to find such wonderful places to live, and great schools for our kids to learn and grow in. I can't believe that the triplets will be 11 this year, and Austin will be 7. Austin is reading now, and it just amazes me every time I listen to him. He is only in kindergarten =) Jason says it's because he is advanced. Of course he is!!
The triplets had a big day today. I allowed them to ride their bikes (with helmets) to the library down the street from our house. I felt so calm letting them go, I shocked even myself. It's just time. Chase absolutely would spend every day at the library if he could. Mackenzie loves to go to the library too. She likes to spend a little time looking around and finding the right book. Tanner on the other hand, likes to get in and get out. He is not one to dilly dally, or waste any time on anything. He grabs a few books, picks out a movie, and then wants to immediately get out of there. He is definitely a homebody. He has friends to play with, video games to conquer. No time for waiting around for that kid. The only reason Tanner went along on the library trip was to make sure that no one stole their bikes while Chase and Mackenzie were inside. Tanner sat outside and guarded the bikes. He wasn't taking any chances! He also told me that someone responsible had to go along with the other two. So funny!!
The triplets were so excited to be able to get out from under my protective wing, even if it was only for an hour and fifteen minutes. I told them to take a backpack, my cell phone, and of course- money to pay our late fees. We always have late fees. That's my confession for the day. My dad reminded me today, that I pass the library twice a day, every day, so we should not have any late fees. Thank you Dad. =) I can't remember everything. The librarian dutifully gives me a receipt every visit so that I know when things are due. But once that receipt hits our kitchen counter, or the bottom of my purse - it is never to be found again. I have a lot to keep up with, and unfortunately all of the organization skills in our family went to my sister, Susan.
So, the triplets took off to the library. They called me as soon as they got there, just like I told them to. They called back in about 30 minutes to tell me they were on their way home. I told them to be home by 5:15 and they came back early! But, they insisted that they had to go back again. Somehow on the bike ride home, my cell phone dialed my mom from Chase's backpack. How convenient. My mother thinks the kids should be under my watchful eyes at all times, and of course they called her. She could hear the wind whipping around, the kids chattering a mile a minute, and their conversation about having to go back to the library again. They are so crazy, and I hate to say it, but they are more like me every day!!
They came in the door talking as fast as they could, and Chase unloaded the books and DVD's that they checked out. They realized that they had to go back because they forgot to get Austin a book. Mackenzie stayed home the second time. Tanner went along with Chase, but walked because he wanted to go inside the library this time to get a movie. He didn't want to take a chance on someone stealing one of his most prized possessions, so he left his bike at home! Chase called me when they got there. He called me again from inside the library, whispering in the phone. He wanted to know if he could use the $2 he had left, to buy a bag of books at the library. I'm pretty sure he had every intention to buy those books, and that's why he needed to make a second trip there. He had to come home and unload his backpack to make room for those $2 books he went back for. He made a haul. He even got books for his siblings. And he bought his favorite mother a Math guidebook, so that when I get stuck helping them with Math homework, I have a reference to use. How sweet of him. At least he didn't get me a diet book!!
Well, that was part of our day... Everyone in the house is sound asleep. I am battling insomnia, anxiety, and a little depression at the moment - so I'm still up. Blogging. Hope everyone has a wonderful day tomorrow, and I will try to post more often. Thank you for reading my ramblings!!
August 18, 2010
Change is coming...
The last 3 weeks have dragged on and on...Jason has been in SC for a training class, and Chase has been in Ohio for the last 2 weeks. They will both return home on Sunday, and life will be somewhat back to normal again. I know it will take Chase awhile to adjust back to being home with his siblings again, and it will be a hard road for him to get settled back in at home. I have been able to get a lot done around the house, and I have also taken a lot of time for myself. To think clearer, to enjoy some time at home without so much chaos, and to step back and analyze our daily rituals... I'm hoping that once Jason gets home and we can have a few days together, that I will start feeling much less off balance than I have the last few weeks.
An open house is set up for this Sunday, so I am praying that someone will buy his house...Eighteen months on the market is just way too long, and living in limbo is quickly driving me insane. The in between state that we have been living in is taking its toll on me, and I know that the kids are having a hard time with Jason being gone all week...I have got to be able to share some of this load with Jason, and with him living 2 hours away during the week, it is falling on my shoulders until he can get home to rescue me every Friday evening. I'm tired of being in need of rescuing...I'm drained from hoping, wishing, and praying that this house will just sell.
I am heading to bed to rest up before tomorrow gets here and I'm not ready for it...The kids are going to see Alice in Wonderland with some friends tomorrow, so I will have a few hours to get some house cleaning done while they are gone.....Thank goodness for friends~I don't know what I would do without them!
An open house is set up for this Sunday, so I am praying that someone will buy his house...Eighteen months on the market is just way too long, and living in limbo is quickly driving me insane. The in between state that we have been living in is taking its toll on me, and I know that the kids are having a hard time with Jason being gone all week...I have got to be able to share some of this load with Jason, and with him living 2 hours away during the week, it is falling on my shoulders until he can get home to rescue me every Friday evening. I'm tired of being in need of rescuing...I'm drained from hoping, wishing, and praying that this house will just sell.
I am heading to bed to rest up before tomorrow gets here and I'm not ready for it...The kids are going to see Alice in Wonderland with some friends tomorrow, so I will have a few hours to get some house cleaning done while they are gone.....Thank goodness for friends~I don't know what I would do without them!
February 27, 2010
My friend Pork chop!
(I should probably begin by saying that my dad gave Denise the nickname Porkchop, and I really have no idea why... I'm sure my mom will comment on this blog and hopefully explain it, but at the same time - he gave me the nickname of Buckwheat.... NO explanation for that one either!!!!!)
My mom sent this photo to me the other day in email...Wow! it brings back a flood of memories. This is my lifelong friend, Denise! She was in a leaf pile with some wooly bear thing that we found in my backyard, along with my rabbit Sniffy. So many things about this picture that bring back so many stories...Denise lived one house away from us on Cherry Lane in Chesterland, Ohio. We have known each other pretty much since Day 1 of our own lives, and over the years and bumps in the road - we are still going strong. We used to play from morning until night, had sleep overs, ate meals together, and played Barbies for what seemed like days. She would bring her Barbie stuff over to our house, usually in the garage, and we would dump everything out and play forever. I think what worked between us, was that it was just us. No 3rd party, no boys jumping around, and no one else to fight with. She is an only child, and I have two older sisters who were not interested in what we were doing anyways.
My family moved away to Michigan, when I was around 10yrs old, and we had to leave her behind. We kept in touch over the years, through letters and phone calls, and we even visited each other a few times. We drifted apart for a little while - in between a bad marriage or two - but these days we are just like we used to be... She has two sons, a beautiful little princess daughter, and a wonderful husband, and I have three sons, a daughter, and a wonderful husband as well. Now we get to trade stories of motherhood, behavior issues with our children, and funny things about our husbands who seem to be very much alike!
Now that I am an adult and a mother, I appreciate my friendships so much more than I ever have. I am lucky enough to have a few women in my life who are my best friends in the world. I have so many memories with each of them, and I cherish each one. God has blessed me with many things in my life and I am so thankful for all of it...
Random questions.....???
Sometimes I get some of the funniest questions from my kids...Take for instance yesterday; while on the way home from shopping, out of the blue Tanner asked me if he was all bloody when he was born. I said, well no, kind of, a little...? Mackenzie immediately followed with, "Well, wasn't your stomach all bLoOdY?????" Leave it to her to make things more dramatic and gross... I told them that yes it was bloody because it was cut open so that the doctor could get them out. I was holding the steering wheel tighter and tighter, hoping that no one would ask the dreaded question of where babies come from, or how they get there in the first place. Well, guess who asked it? Yep. It was the girl. Thankfully we were turning on our street heading home, and I only had a few seconds to respond to the question and I told them that when a man and woman get married - they decide to have a baby...I said that it was a little hard for them to understand all the details, but that as they get older we could talk more about it. I'm hoping that I have a lot more time to come up with the story behind it, but I'm thinking that with this generation they are learning things a lot quicker than I did!!
This picture was taken after we had 'Kids Clinic' last weekend.
Kids clinic involved foot rubbing, face masks, and back scratching!
Samson was right at our side watching every move,
and in the end he got a cold compress on his head from Mackenzie!
February 20, 2010
Feeling guilty, needing some peace, and cold mornings...
I'm sitting here this morning listening to only some small noise from the TV in the living room. No fighting, no screaming, and no one jumping through the house. I'm feeling guilty for enjoying a quiet morning after so many insane ones but we deserve to have some peace in this house. I just waved goodbye to Lisa, Jillian, Sara, and Chase...as they left off for their 9-10 hour drive to Ohio. Chase caught a ride with Lisa so that he can go to Nanny & Papa's house for 2 weeks. He is missing school, a dentist appointment, and a Boy Scout potluck dinner~but he will be able to spend time with family, while having some peace in getting some one on one attention from his grandparents.
(Ok, so NOW there is some screaming going on in the living room. I knew I should have kept my mouth closed!).....
The last few months have been rough on our family, on Chase, and on me...Our house is usually in chaos, and things are just not the way I envisioned our family life to be. I decided yesterday that after a morning meltdown and temper tantrum from Chase, that maybe it was time to take a time out as a mother. I asked Lisa first, if Chase could ride home to Ohio with her so that he could stay with my mom and dad for 2 weeks. Jason is in SC in a training class for work, so he will drive through Ohio on his way home and pick Chase up. My next phone call was to Dr. Pam, our behavioral therapist, who in my eyes has become like a good friend to me. She agreed that it was a good idea for Chase to have a break from mom and for mom to have a break from Chase. I knew that even more than anyone else, her opinion meant whether I let him go or kept him home. She knows whats best for him, right next to me~and over the last 3 years I have come to trust her.
Jason and I have gone above and beyond when it comes to making sure that our kids have what they need, and that they know how much we love them. I am praying that in the next 2 weeks I will be able to have some full nights of sleep, as Chase usually comes in my bed 2-3times a night, that I can bond with Tanner and Mackenzie more, and that I can get some rules put into place for our household. Things here have gone by the seat of my pants for too long. I have made rule after rule, and then bent them so that I can accomodate Chase's feelings and his lack of ability to cope with life sometimes. He has crossed the line with his temper tantrums, and he has to start over somewhere. I think that with him being away from home for 2 weeks, that he can get the one on one time he is longing for~and that when he comes home I will be recharged to start the battle again. I'm not so sure that Chase is suffering from just ODD and an immature emotional ability, but that he has a lot of 'learned' behaviors that need to be broken.
With all that said, I am crawling back into my "queens bed" that my sweetheart bought for me...God he takes such good care of me, but I just want him back home with us...That's the next mountain to tackle for Jason & I, but that's for tomorrow's blog...
The picture below speaks volumes on what Jason is willing to do for our kids. He climbed up a tree at the pumpkin patch to get Chase one of the candy bags that was dropped from an overhead airplane for the kids down below. Chase saw this one in a tree, and asked Jason if he could get it down for him. And as you can see, Chase is anxiously waiting at the bottom of the tree for his treasure...
(Ok, so NOW there is some screaming going on in the living room. I knew I should have kept my mouth closed!).....
The last few months have been rough on our family, on Chase, and on me...Our house is usually in chaos, and things are just not the way I envisioned our family life to be. I decided yesterday that after a morning meltdown and temper tantrum from Chase, that maybe it was time to take a time out as a mother. I asked Lisa first, if Chase could ride home to Ohio with her so that he could stay with my mom and dad for 2 weeks. Jason is in SC in a training class for work, so he will drive through Ohio on his way home and pick Chase up. My next phone call was to Dr. Pam, our behavioral therapist, who in my eyes has become like a good friend to me. She agreed that it was a good idea for Chase to have a break from mom and for mom to have a break from Chase. I knew that even more than anyone else, her opinion meant whether I let him go or kept him home. She knows whats best for him, right next to me~and over the last 3 years I have come to trust her.
Jason and I have gone above and beyond when it comes to making sure that our kids have what they need, and that they know how much we love them. I am praying that in the next 2 weeks I will be able to have some full nights of sleep, as Chase usually comes in my bed 2-3times a night, that I can bond with Tanner and Mackenzie more, and that I can get some rules put into place for our household. Things here have gone by the seat of my pants for too long. I have made rule after rule, and then bent them so that I can accomodate Chase's feelings and his lack of ability to cope with life sometimes. He has crossed the line with his temper tantrums, and he has to start over somewhere. I think that with him being away from home for 2 weeks, that he can get the one on one time he is longing for~and that when he comes home I will be recharged to start the battle again. I'm not so sure that Chase is suffering from just ODD and an immature emotional ability, but that he has a lot of 'learned' behaviors that need to be broken.
With all that said, I am crawling back into my "queens bed" that my sweetheart bought for me...God he takes such good care of me, but I just want him back home with us...That's the next mountain to tackle for Jason & I, but that's for tomorrow's blog...
The picture below speaks volumes on what Jason is willing to do for our kids. He climbed up a tree at the pumpkin patch to get Chase one of the candy bags that was dropped from an overhead airplane for the kids down below. Chase saw this one in a tree, and asked Jason if he could get it down for him. And as you can see, Chase is anxiously waiting at the bottom of the tree for his treasure...
The dark/black spot at the top of the tree is Jason...
February 17, 2010
Fallen Soldiers...
"PERHAPS AS YOU ENTERED THE HALL THIS EVENING, YOU NOTICED A
SMALL TABLE, SET FOR ONE ‐ IN A PLACE OF HONOR. PLEASE ALLOW
ME TO EXPLAIN... THE MILITARY CASTE IS FILLED
WITH SYMBOLISM. THIS TABLE IS OUR WAY OF SYMBOLIZING THE
FACT THAT MEMBERS OF OUR PROUD PROFESSION ARE MISSING
FROM OUR MIDST AND ARE UNABLE TO BE WITH US THIS EVENING.
IT SYMBOLIZES THOSE KILLED OR MISSING IN ACTION. THEY ARE
COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS KIA OR MIA. HOWEVER WE CALL THEM COMRADES."
"The table is round – to show our everlasting concern for our fallen comrades. The tablecloth is white – symbolizing the purity of their motives when answering the call to duty. The single red rose, displayed in a vase, reminds us of the life of each of our fallen comrades, and the loved ones and friends of these comrades who keep the faith. The vase is tied with a red ribbon, symbol of our continued determination to remember our fallen comrades. A slice of lemon on the bread plate is to remind us of the bitter fate of those who will never return. A pinch of salt symbolizes the tears endured by the families of those who have sacrificed all. The Holy Book represents the strength gained through faith to sustain those lost from our country. The glass is inverted, they cannot toast with us at this time. The chair is empty because they are no longer with us. Let us remember – and never forget their sacrifice. May they and their families ever be watched over and protected.”
“Ladies and Gentlemen Please Stand; As first written and first proposed by our service members in North Vietnam prisoner of war camps where only water was available for toasting, a toast to those killed in action, missing in action or to prisoners of war is made with water. At this time, please secure your water glasses. “
Toast: "Ladies and Gentlemen, raise your glasses to those who have not yet come home, and those who never will-Response: To our fallen comrades.”
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