Frogs

One of my favorite things about where we live is the wildlife. We are right next to the state park. There are owls, frogs, coyotes, and my favorite deer all over. However lately one has become quite a problem. The FROGS!!! They have decided that we have the hot spot, and they have taken over our backyard. I wouldn't mind so much if they weren't nocturnal, and croaking ALL NIGHT LONG. Last night my husband finally went out to look, and he found tons - He said there were probably 50+ in our pool alone. How the heck do you get rid of frogs? He put two in a bucket for the boys to check out.

Dignity... what dignity?

12 weeks CAN NOT come soon enough. I've had terrible morning sickness with all four of my babies. It usually goes away between week 12 and 13. I'm almost 10 weeks and these last two terrible weeks just seem to be taking forever!!! Sorry about all this venting, but I had a really tough morning.
I wake up starving. I know I should have food next to the bed, but I don't. So I quickly grab the kids, change diapers, and head downstairs for FOOD. I got the kiddos situated, made myself some egg whites and a bagel, and stared chowing down. Oh it tasted so good. Then, with out any warning, I started throwing up all the yummy breakfast. But to make it even worse, after birthing three large babies, I don't have a lot of bladder control, so with each heave... comes the pee. There I was standing in front of the kitchen sink, which was filled with my breakfast and pee was running down my legs - did I mention that I showered the night before so a shower was not in my morning plans - or so I thought! Those of you that really know me, know I'm not a super emotional gal. I don't cry often (except when I'm pregnant) but this was too much. My poor kids - what a sight - mommy throwing up in the sink (while they are trying to eat breakfast, pee running down her legs, pooling on the floor and sobbing.
I may have to change my stance on Loving Being Pregnant - at least for a few weeks.

Zebra Tutus

Today I was boyless. My mother-in-law took my little men on a date - lunch, a movie and then a slumber party at her house. They were so excited, and I have to admit, I've enjoyed the day alone with Briley. We've played and played and played - but I do miss the boys. However, I was also able to work on some stuff for Pritty Bitty, and I came up with a few new tutu's using some awesome ribbon I just got. Bear with me, I know the pictures aren't that great - I just took them in my work room, so no cute set or model, but I couldn't wait to share:)

Brock's first Field Trip

Today was Brock's first ever field trip - the ones we take as a family don't count because we don't ride on a school bus to get there:) Daddy got to go with him since Brock only goes to preschool MW and F, since the trip took place on a Tue he needed a parent. Since siblings weren't invited Daddy got to go while I stayed home and watched the two little hooligans:) He had so much fun - they visited a very hands -on museum. He got to see tons of (stuffed dead-yuk) animals, dug for dinosaur bones, playing in an igloo, experienced an earthquake, learned about a volcano, had a puppet show, rode a sled, rode on a carousal, grocery shopped and weighed his purchases... I think we'll have to go back another day with the other two.

So Disgusted

Last night Bobby and I were lying in bed watching TV and the most disgusting show came on... "The Most Expensive". If you haven't seen it or heard of it, it's about the most expensive things that people pay for. For instance, they had 1.8 million dollar cars, 1.3 million dollar purse, 100 thousand dollar diamond massage, $7500 dozen cookies and so on. Then they went on to mention some of the stars and rich people that actually own these things. All I can say is "What the Hell?!" How are these people really so out of touch with reality, and so self absorbed. I don't care how much money you have, how can you ever justify a 1.3 million dollar purse?! Do they really think all the poor people living in 3rd world countries really aren't starving? Most of you know I spent two summers living in Africa in the bush with a tribe. I saw mothers hopelessly holding their crying starving baby without any way to feed them. And watched as they rocked sick kids knowing they'd never be able to buy the medicine that would save their lives - medicine that only cast a few dollars. My GOD - can you imagine how far 1.3 million would go!!! My children WILL NOT be that out of touch with reality. We as a family WILL serve together, and we will be back to Africa - all of us. I feel like I have such a responsibility to open their eyes to the reality of our world. To show them how blessed they are to be being raised here in America with a free education, and a life full of opportunity. And, with that great blessing comes responsibility - to take what they have been freely given and use it to help others. My kids are too young now to go (they can't get the 11+ immunization shots and pills that they'd need) but the time is coming. I wish I could say that I haven't wasted money myself on selfish things - I know I have, but I pray God will continue to convict me, and open my eyes.
Sorry for all the preaching, but the show really has bothered me, and I am pretty passionate about Africa, so it struck a cord. And yes, as crazy as I know some of you think I am, I STILL strongly think our government should require seniors to spend a semester serving with the peace corp as part of high school graduation requirements. Could you imagine the life changing effects that would have on each generation:) Oh.. don't get me started...

Post 100!!!!

I can't believe this is my 100th post! I don't have anything special planned. Sorry:( I just logged on to share our paintings, and noticed it was post 100. I'll have to think of something special for 150 or 200. Anyways, back to why I'm posting - this is really for my mother-in-law:) Grandma Weezie (Louise, Bobby's mom) and Pops (his Dad:) sent the kids Valentine's cards with $5 in them. So, yesterday while we were at Target getting Briley's prescription filled, I let the kids pick out a new toy with their Valentine's money. The boys chose animal statues with paints to paint them. Brock got the lion and Dane got the monkey.

Chef?

I'm hoping her obsession with pots and pans means she's going to be an amazing cook some day:)

Happy Valentine's Day

We're dropping some special Valentine's in the mail today, I just had to share:)
Aunt Laura and Uncle Matt, yours is still under construction, we've had some fights over paint and glitter, so it's still a work in progress:)

A Miracle waiting to be seen...

Today was our first ultra sound. I am now 8 weeks and 3 days along. And there it was, our little peanut, kicking away, with a perfect little heartbeat:) God is so good, and so amazing. It's hard to believe that 9 weeks ago this little miracle didn't even exist, and now it has arms and legs and a beating heart! I always find myself in complete awe of God as I see an ultra sound. Thank you God for this perfect little gift:)

Colors

I'm trying to work with my Dane man to get him ready for preschool next year. He loves learning - Thank God, so he's really enjoying all the projects, games and flashcards we've been doing . on Friday I took the kids to the Dollar Tree (one of our favorite stores) to spend the $2 Grandma Chris gave each of them. I think it took us close to 2 hours to finally decide on the "Perfect Toys". The kids love going there. While we were there, i found a package of rainbow colored tissue paper and walla - a new idea. So Saturday morning we made rainbows to help Dane with his colors:)

More Joys In Potty Training

So today was just another day in the life of Dane learning to pee in the potty. Things were going pretty well... until this evening. My mom came by to have dinner with us, because Bobby had to work late. Of course, Dane is still buck naked from the waist down - it's the ONLY way he'll use the potty. As soon as I put pants or underware or a diaper on him, he just goes in those. I'd have to agree that the naked sight is a bit disturbing, but we do what we gotta do. After dinner, and hours of successful peeing on the potty, I thought maybe Dane's ready for training pants - I wanted to save my mom from any more nakedness. He'd just peed so I though it was a good time to try. Not more than 60 seconds later, Dane is yelling from behind the sofa, "I peed on the drapes!" Sure enough, he'd managed to keep a reserve stash of pee, and claimed behind the sofa and let loose on the floor and drapes. But the fun doesn't stop there.. oh no. While I'm cleaning that mess up, he yells "Look I pooped!" I thought since this time he was yelling from the bathroom, that we'd had success. Oh no... he'd pooped on the rug - next to the potty! There goes another load of laundry. I hope you all are having a more sanitary night:)

Potty Training*$%^&$%$#

Dane is 2 1/2 now, and it is DEFINITELY time for the boy to be potty trained. With another baby on the way, I am NOT going to have 3 in diapers!! I've been working on it for quite a while, and I am a strong believer, that it will happen when they are ready. However, Dane may be the exception. He'll be 3 in April, and has NO interest. I've tried everything, and I finally realize I have to do what I did with Brock - strip them naked from the waist down. It is working - if he's naked he'll use his potty, and he's very excited about it, but the second I put a diaper or just pants on him, he just goes in those. So today, I made that mistake - I thought maybe he was ready for pants since he's been doing so good - oh I was so wrong. The two little ones had just gotten up from their naps, and I had to change their diapers. I had just changed Dane, and he begged me to put his pants on- so I gave in - He promised he's use the potty when he had to go and NOT pee in his pants. So, then I started changing Briley's diaper. I swear not more than 20 seconds later he starts yelling I PEED my pants! Sure enough, all over the kitchen floor. So I quickly finished wiping Briley up, ran and got Dane, stripped him and headed for the sink where I found thawing Chicken (for tonight's dinner). After moving the chicken, I stared giving Dane a quick kitchen bath in the sink and looked up to see Little Miss Briley sitting in her pretty pink sundress right in the middle of the pee, splashing away!! Needless to say, both my little banchees have been stripped and scrubbed as well as my kitchen floor - oh look and now it's time to make dinner:) LOL and my husband always wonders what we do all day.

Inside Fun

One of my favorite blog is My Charming Kids www.mycharmingkids.net
Today she had a post that gave some great ideas for indoor fun. She is surrounded by frozen lakes, snow and 20 degree weather, where i am in beautiful Southern California, and should be running wild outside with my kids. But I just can't- I did take them to my mom's on Monday to run wild in her very kid friendly backyard, but today even though the weather is beautiful I'm just feeling too yucky - so we had indoor fun instead.

Rub-A-Dub-Dub Three Holligans in a Tub

The boys usually take a shower with Daddy in the morning, and I bathe Briley, but last night we thought they'd have fun taking a bath together, so we threw them in, and Daddy scrubbed them down. And yes, that is the cat in one of the pictures, he too jumped (was pushed) in for a few minutes.

Not Me Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I've never joined in on the "Not ME Monday" fun, but after the week I've had I though what the heck - I've got some great ones that I'd NEVER do:)

So here goes...
Not me, I'd never make my husband drive thru Carl's Jr on the way to church to get me a sandwich and then drive thru El Pollo Loco on the way home for a Pollo bowl AND tortillas because I was STARVING again - I could Never eat that much food.
Not me, I did NOT drive thru Carl's Jr at 9:45 am because I was STARVING AGAIN, and not make it through with out having to roll down the window and "FRO UP" out the side of the car because I didn't get my food fast enough, and I did not have to apologize to the other people in the drive thru!!
I did NOT order TWO BBQ ck sandwiches and eat THEM BOTH before I even got my car back onto the street.
I did not lay on the sofa sick as a dog for three hours yesterday while my children ran amuck destroying my home, and I DID NOT take the handful of plant filler that my daughter handed me from my fake plant, and drop it behind the sofa because I just couldn't get up and throw it away.
I did not lecture my 15 month old daughter about how un-lady like it was to poop out her diaper all over her pretty pink dress. (I'm sure that lecture is really going to sink in:)
I did not deny my boys milk all afternoon because I just couldn't bring myself to open the fridge, because I knew the smells from inside would send me barfing again.
Oh how I could go on and on....

Where did the week go?

I can't believe it's been a week since I posted. A lot has happened - how could it not with three little ones, but I've just been to dang sick to post. I HATE morning/all day sickness!!!!!! I took these picks of the boys pretending to be mommy - yes they are both pretending to "Fro-up" as Dane says:)


Today, Superbowl Sunday was suppose to be my "Big Break". My brother and his wife are having a Superbowl party, and chili cook off competition. Bobby spent hours last night preparing his HOT chili, and My mom and grandma where lined up to come over after church to watch my kiddos. We were going to "Party" kid free. (As much as you can party 7 weeks pregnant and sick as a dog) I was really looking forward to sitting and EATING!!! However, plans changed this morning. My poor mom was up all night with the flu - I'm sure she got it from my kids, so no babysitter, which means no Superbowl party:( Since Bobby's chili is beef - and I don't eat red meat, and it's way too hot for the little ones, he couldn't let it all go to waste, so he got together with a few buddies, and I'm home with the kids. We are trying to still enjoy our situation. The kids are once again playing dress-up, lassoing the doors, and riding wild hippos. We have now set up our "Movie Theater" in the family room for a special movie treat - what ever keeps them occupied so I can lay down:)