Quote of the Day

Jaelyn cracks me up. She said "I don't want to go to prom when I go to high school because you have to dance with boys and boys smell funny." I hope she keeps thinking that for another 10 years!

The Joy and Frustration of D-O-G

Look at that face...who wouldn't love it?  She's adorable, and so much fun.  She loves to go for walks and I've almost stopped her from pulling (with me anyway).  She loves to play fetch and run around the tennis courts with the kids.  Zac is even starting to play back.  We are enjoying having her...BUT she's also quickly approaching her "tween/teen" years.  Gracie has started chewing on everything (but the furniture thankfully).  She LOVES paper.  Anything on the craft table or kitchen counter is fair game.  And she thinks she's gone to Heaven if anyone leaves the bathroom door open.  She can unroll and shred toilet paper faster than a dozen toddlers.  Gracie's favorite toy, however, is a shoe.  She doesn't chew on them, well except for Jaelyn's flip flops, but she loves to carry them around and try to engage us in a game of chase.  I don't chase.  I shake the training treats, make her drop it, and then perform a variety of "tricks" before she actually gets a treat.  It gets so frustrating when I have to repeatedly stop what I'm doing to take things out of her mouth.  If only my family would pick up after themselves.  My job would be easier!

I'm ready to pull my hair out with potty training.  We'll have two weeks of no accidents, then as soon as I tell someone, she'll pee in the floor.  I don't really believe in jinxing, but I might start.  She's been accident free for about a week this time and then she pooped in the carpet this morning (and she'd already pooped).  She knew I was mad too because she put her head down on her paws.  I told her to "go to crate" and she tucked her tail and slowly walked the 82 feet with her head hanging down.  I was actually kind of proud.  All of my "crate training" efforts are paying off.

As a family, we are normally more on the go and we've stayed pretty close to home because she can't go longer than 4-5 hours in her crate.  It takes longer than that to get anywhere around here.  The kids have spring break in a few weeks and we are going.  I'm not sure where yet, but somewhere and DOG is old enough to get boarded.  I'm excited!

Spring Organizing

I know it's not quite Spring YET but it's coming! I am so ready for warm weather, blue skies and green. I'm getting tired of looking at dead woods. I've seen a couple of robins lately. That's always a good sign. Anyway I've been feeling the need to organize lately. There was the weedy flower bed and a linen closet. My closet has needed attention and more shelving. Dan called yesterday and got permission to add more shelving to our closets. In military housing, you have to undo what you did when you move out. That's never fun so its always better to get approval. I cut the shelf, lowering half and added a new shelf on top to add 30% more storage. I have become quite the closet shelving installation expert if i do say so myself.

PS Dad...tennis balls don't roll on it :p.

Walt Disney

The fourth grade at our school has a Famous Missourian Wax Museum every year.  The kids research a person, make a poster, write a speech, dress up and become "characters" in the musuem.  Parents and the rest of the school tour the museum and "animate" each character by pushing a button on their hand.  We've been working on Jaelyn's Walt Disney project for a month now.  All the kids did a really good job, but of course, I was the proudest of Jaelyn.

Spring???

This yard isn't the greatest.  The grass is a mess.  The one designated flower bed has been filled with weeds.  I could make it nice, but for two years, I'm not sure I want to put in the time, money or the effort.  Plus with free yard maitenance, I don't have much incentive to get out and work.  Well, yesterday was sunny and 82 - can you believe it?  I wanted to be outside so badly and I was tired of looking at weeds, so Gracie and I spent a couple hours in the front yard working.  Well, I worked and she chewed on sticks and barked at the mailman.  There were a lot of weeds and they were really thick.  With each clump I removed, I discovered a spring treasure.  I found daffodils, tulips and what I think are hyacinths coming up.  It might be enough motivation to get me working.  I really want to do a veggie garden on the side of the house.  There are two great areas, but they are also filled with grassy weeds.

Pensacola Pictures

It's only taken me all week, but I finally decided this morning was the morning I'd pull the pictures from our crazy trip off the camera.  We've been busy and everyone has been so grouchy.  The lack of sleep has continued until today when everyone slept in.  I let Gracie out at 7 (she hadn't even whimpered yet).  Caden got up at 7:10, Allie 7:30 and I woke Jaelyn up at 7:40.  It also finally dawned on me that Jaelyn's extra anxiety this week has been a result of the wax museum the 4th grade is putting on today.  She's nervous about giving her speech and has been yuck all week, even with increasing her medicine.

Anyway, here are the pictures in no particular order.  We did have fun, but we will NEVER be making that quick of a trip again. 

We surprised Nick and Jared so good.  The girlie screams escaping their mouths were awesome!

The kids with cousin Caleb



Granddaddy looks like he's planning something



Us with Rich and Jen and Ian and Theresa at Ensley Nazerene.  They started tearing down this santuary on Monday.

Silly picture...not feeling too silly I'm afraid



Gracie LOVED having a fenced yard to run in.

Caden with Nick

Me and the bestest mom ever

I love that Jared can be a kid with us.

When you throw the tennis ball over the fence, you go over to get it!

Who needs a plate?: )

Accomplishments

So many days, I feel like I get absolutely nothing accomplished. Yesterday was one of those days. I'm blaming exhaustion from our weekend. Today, I feel good. I managed a morning shower (I love delayed entry Wednesdays. It's only 45 minutes but wow do they make a difference). I worked at school for 2 1/2 hours, made an errands run to Walmart and the dollar tree - I found Jae the felt mustache she needs YEA - and picked up my house, vacuumed and did a little organizing. I even have dinner started. I'm looking forward to Karate tonight for a few minute of solitude. There's a closet I want to clean out. I imagine the blue skies, light breeze and 75 degrees are also helping my mood tremendously! Or maybe it's the fact that no one exploded at me this morning.

Surprising Weekend

A few weeks ago my best friends husband asked me about surprising his wife. The church they were married in is being torn down and he wanted to take her back there one more time with friends by their sides. I also learned that my nephews would be at my parents house visiting so presidents day weekend seemed like the perfect time to head to Pensacola. Dan and the kids had a four day weekend so we left after school on thursday, spent the night in Arkansas and got there around dinner time on Friday. My parents were late getting back with the boys so I told a few fibs to my kids and made up a story about surprising Baba and gramps. Jaeyln, especially, couldn't understand why they'd go shopping and out to eat when they knew we were coming. I know, I'm a bad Mommy for my fibs. We turned out the light and jumped out at them when they came in the door. My kids were yelling because nick and Jared were there and nick and Jared were yelling because no one was supposed to be there. Even my mom was yelling because she forgot we were going to surprise them. It was awesome all around. I don't think we got anyone in bed until after 10 that night. Everyone was way too excited.

Saturday, I snuck off to do a little shopping with a Kohls coupon while the kids played. Then we had lunch with Dan's family. The kids always have so much fun playing with cousin Caleb.

Would you pray for Dan's Nana? Her bone marrow isn't working right. She's having to get a weekly shot to boost it along and get blood infusions every 3-4 weeks when her count gets bad. She doesn't feel good a lot of the time and she seemed really tired at lunch.

Next up was Jen's surprise. It didn't go quite as we'd expected but we had a nice dinner afterward and had a few good laughs while playing dicecapades.

Sunday, we got to see my Grandpa and Doris at lunch. It's always nice to get to spend time with him. He just turned 91 and he's doing great. He's starting to tell more stories. I love hearing about his childhood in Philadelphia. Doris always enjoys sitting on the porch, watching the kids play. Gracie loved running loose in the yard playing "zombie tag" with the kids. Apparently Gracie is a zombie and she has the power to turn you into one if she tags you.

The kids spent an hour or so playing with Jen's kids in the late afternoon and then we got to have some girl time over dinner and a quick trip around target. Oh how I miss target!

It was a great weekend. The only downside is the 700 mile trip home that we've barely started. Jaelyn has determined the we should move within 5 hours of Pensacola to make for perfect car trips to visit. I agree but it won't be happening anytime soon.

Can I Chew Them? Please Please Please!

Snow Days

We got a nice, little winter snow storm yesterday.  It started in the morning and continued late into the night.  Schools were cancelled yesterday and are cancelled again today.  Missouri weather has been so weird.  I was expecting a lot more like yesterday.  These are our first 2 snow days.  Everyone tells me this is unusal.  There's normally more snow and a lot more ice.  The kids had fun at least.  We took Gracie for a walk in the morning and found a good hill and friends to sled with.  Jaelyn had an amazing wipeout that cracked her sled, but thankfully nothing else.  I think we'll buy heavier sleds next time.

We went out again in the afternoon when we'd gotten a few inches to make snow angels and have a snowball fight.

Allie's getting ready to get someone.  Better watch out!

Jaelyn gave me this hat for Christmas last year.  It's too small for me, but it fits her perfectly.

We've figured out quickly that snow and Gracie don't mix well.  She LOVES the snow, don't get me wrong, but that's a problem because when you take her out to potty, all she wants to do is run and play.  The first snow we had wasn't a problem with her hair, but this time it was wetter and deeper.  She comes in everytime covered with mini-snowballs all over her feet, legs, chin and chest.  It's a good thing she likes the blowdryer.

Beer Bread

I feel the need to say that we are not drinkers.  I don't necessarily think there's anything wrong with having a drink as long as you are not drinking to excess, but truthfully, I just don't like the taste of most adult beverages.  Mix in some fruity juice and ice and that's a different story ;). 

Anyway, one of Dan's friends from Maryland is here for a class.  We had him over for dinner last weekend and Dan bought a 6 pack of imported beer.  The left over bottles have been staring me in the face everytime I open the frig.  I made soup yesterday and it needed bread to go with it.  Recently, a friend posted about making beer bread on Facebook and it peaked my intestered.  I hunted on allrecipes yesterday and within thirty minutes, had my first loaf of beer bread in the oven.  It was marvelous and soooo easy.  I planned to take a picture of the left over heal of the loaf, but D-O-G grabbed it off the counter when my back was turned and snarfed it down as fast as she could.  Bad DOG!

Here's the recipe:

Beer Bread

Ingredients

• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle beer
• 3 cups self-rising flour (if you only have regular old flour, add 1 tsp baking powder and 1/2 tsp salt for every cup of flour).  I used half wheat and half white flour
• 1/3 cup white sugar

Directions

1. In a large bowl, mix together the sugar and flour. Add beer and continue to mix, first using a wooden spoon, then your hands. Batter will be sticky. Pour into a 9 x 5 inch greased loaf pan.
2. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees ) for 50 for 60 minutes. The top will be crunchy, and the insides will be soft. 

After reading the reviews, I brushed the loaf with melted butter after 30 minutes and then every 10 minutes until it was done.

100 Days of School

I had very little notice for the 100th day of school and 100th day of school projects this year.  That means I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off on the 99th day.  We stamped 100 things on shirts, easy peasy lemon squeezie as Caden would say.  Next year, these shirts will fit perfectly! LOL.  Oh well.  They didn't care.

One of these days, I'll be blamed!

One day, Allie is going to blame me for dressing her, but I haven't chosen her clothes since she was two. It's all her style!

Bad, Bad Mommy

Get that boy some new jammies!

Monday Monday

This morning was weird, but I liked it.  Instead of being woken up way too early by kids and a dog, I got to wake up by myself at almost 7.  Caden came in shortly after.  I took Gracie out and got Caden breakfast.  At 7:15, I got Allie up.  She was actually awoke with her DS in her bed, but she was in her bed, not up and bothering her sister because her sister doesn't sleep in the same room anymore.  Awesome.  I roused Jaelyn after Allie and finally rolled her out of bed around 7:20.  She slept until 8 yesterday and I bet she would have done that today if I hadn't had to get her up.  We started Jaelyn on a new medicine on Thursday for her ADHD and other things.  A side effect is sleepiness.  She should adjust to it in a week or so, but for now, I'm enjoying having a well rested Jaelyn because a well rested Jaelyn is a happier Jaelyn.

Allie has a doctor's appointment today to check in on her ADHD medicine.  Then I need to stop at the grocery store and the library before coming home to fold a mountain of clean laundry.  It's Monday!

Happy 7th Birthday

We were three weeks late, but finally celebrated Caden's birthday last weekend.  We rented the indoor pool at the gym and invited Caden's whole class.  We had a good turn-out, about 17 kids including ours.  Caden had a ball playing and splashing with all of his friends.

I was amazed to see all these six and seven years old kids climb to the top of the high dive and jump off as if it were no big deal.  Some of them were truly crazy with their jumps.

This is Sam, Caden's best friend.  Sam lives two cul-de-sacs down from us and the kids play together several days a week.  I wish we lived a little closer.  It's been great for him to have a friend so close.

This is Rachel...love letter Rachel.  She's cute, no?  The silly sun messed up my picture, but you get the idea of their friendship.

I don't know how the kids managed to stay in the water as long as they did.  Last time we swam, the water was like bath water, this time, it was C-O-L-D.  You can practically see Jaelyn's teeth chattering in this picture.  We swam for an hour, had pizza and cake and then swam for another thirty minutes.

Seventeen kids polished off 5 large Pizza Hut pizzas, half a sheet cake, and a box of mini ice cream sandwiches.  These are growing kids.

We brought all the presents home to open.  Caden scored on cool new things.

It was a great party.  I missed the family trip to Wolfe Lodge that Caden normally chooses over a friend party, but he made some great memories with his friends!   

A First Love Letter

I like this girl!  No seriously, I love her.  I spend a couple hours a week in Caden's class and R is just as sweet as can be.  These are the best snippets from the book she made him.

Jaelyn Loves Her

Jaelyn Loves Her

Allie's Room Reveal