Christmas is Coming....

Tonite we dared to brave the crowd and the traffic at the mall and waited in line for about a total of 1 hour.... but we got to see :The Man:
live, in the flesh... it was THE REAL Santa Claus.... My 9 year old told me!
Awesome! He came ALL the way down here to Connecticut to see my kiddos.... awesome!
We waited in line behind this young lady and her 2 super adorable kiddos... one was named Kylie and she was 18 months old and had a little brother who was 8 weeks old. SUPER adorable and even more cute when they sat the little girl on Santas lap and she SCREAMED bloody blue murder. Setting an awesome example for my son as to how he should act! LOL!
We tried several different tactics for CJ to get him to be ok for a picture and we just ended up with Sydney holding him. NOT always the best choice! LOL! Ah well, I think the pic is OK!
Sydney asked for Furreal Friends Lulu the cat
Ashley asker for an electric guitar with an amp
Kiley asked for a big makeup kit and a chocolate calendar.
I dont know if CJ asked for anything! HAH! The girls might have said he wants some Robbie the talking truck or something like that!
We shall see what Santa brings in his satchel of toys!

Today my baby girl is 5!

I cant believe it.
I can still smell the hospital...
I can still recall the sounds of the NICU
The temperature of the NICU...
The long walk in to the hospital to be with my baby while she was still there...
It seems like only yesterday.
Today, she is getting ready to be in her 1st ballet and tap class.
She is in Kindergarten and doing GREAT...
She is eager and energetic.
She has aspirations
Her imagination is incredible.
She is a big sister... and a little sister.
She fights with her siblings.
She loves on her siblings.
She can't keep a secret to save her life.
She tells incredible tall tales.
She lies. Little white lies.
She love to color.
She has played soccer.
She will play TBall in the spring.
She can't get enough candy. She LOVES it.
Her best friend in class is a little adorable guy named Gavin.
LAST year in Pre-K her little adorable boyfriend was Elijah.
Her hair is wispy.
She has been to Disney World for her birthday celebration.
She thinks she wants to be an adult.
Everywhere she goes, she runs. She doesnt walk.
She made a grand appearance in to this world and has certainly filled our lives with great joy!

She is our baby girl and today she is 5.
Happy Birthday Kiley Claire!

Here is a write up of my birth story with her. I had posted it years ago on Myspace and I am copying it here to preserve it... because being a mom of 4... my mind is definitely a puddle of mud most days!

TMI possibly....

Well, where do i start with the story of the birth of our little princess? I guess it starts when i started to have some back pain in the end of November. So, the night before Thanksgiving they decide to put me in Labor and Delivery for observation and i was contracting. Then they send me home cause nice bags of fluid make the contractions stop. So, then, the following Monday i start to have some brown spotting. Now, when you have placenta previa which is complete, you can't dilate, contract, go in to labor, cough, sneeze or push when you have to go #2. So, here i was being what they called symptomatic. I went in to Labor and Delivery on that Monday and they send me home. The next day, Tuesday, i had some more brown spotting, only this time it is a lot more. I go in to Labor and Delivery and they send me home again. So, Wednesday i did not spot but on Thursday and Friday i did. knowing i had my OB appointment on the Friday (34 weeks) i decided that i did not need to drive the hour to be sent home again. So, when i go to my appointment, my doctor told me that I would need to be admitted then instead of the following monday. Now, talk about ruining a whole bunch of plans! I was going to go out to Mexican food, who do they think they are admitting me due to being symptomatic for over a week! i Wanted my last weekend at home! I had soooo many things i needed to do! Well, there i was on December 3rd in the hospital just waiting for something to happen or for December 17th to get there for the Amnio to check my little girls lung maturity. Well, nothing happened while in the hospital. not a single episode of spotting. Although one night i did have contractions every 3 minutes and all they could tell me was that i was not supposed to contract. Well, DUH! let me just will them away!
I made it to December 17th with much support from my family. I also ended up getting a wonderful roommate who is still in the hospital right now. She is pregnant with twin boys who have twin to twin transfusion and they do not think the larger twin will make it. but, we made the most of our situation and formed a wonderful friendship. She will be 29 weeks tomorrow (1/8)
please think of her and her little boys.
On December 17th i had my amnio which was not bad at all. I did not have any anesthetic to dull any pain and it did not hurt in the least. I had been all worked up about it but at the time my roomate had had 11 amnios and she was rooting for me! I laid there for about 2 hours waiting for the results and unfortunatly they were no good.... she was not mature by 1 point. she wasnt in the mid-range or the mature so i was pretty bummed out. Now, i would start my doses of Steroids to mature my little Kiley's lungs, but first they needed to stop the contractions that i had been having all night! so, i get more IV fluids and start taking procardia and the irritable uterus of mine calms down. Now, i am scheduled to have my Cesarean on December 19th as long as there is plenty of staff available due to the placenta previa. and there was....
so, now it is December 19th and they wheel me on down to get prepped for the C section. I am amazingly calm unlike with the amnio. the scariest part was when they were matching the blood for transfusions right on my lap! That really scared me... then i am wheeled on down to the C section room. I get on the table and the anesthetist comes in and puts in my spinal. They have counted all the tools and all the docs are scrubbed up and ready to get things prepared. As i am getting ready to lay down due to the spinal being in, the big surgical light blows out. so, they get a new lightbulb and find out that it is not the lightbulb that is out but the fuse and they cant fix that... now, time is ticking cause you have about 3 hours for the spinal. They wheel me out of that OR and bring me in to the next one. Thank god it wasnt being used! now they need to re count all the tools. Imagine if the light had blown 10 minutes later! i would have been all opened up and then what would they have done?! not like they could have wheeled me out and in to the next OR all opened up! I was kind of our of it the whole thing. I knew what was going on but i felt numb. Then, i heard them say at 11:15 am "skin" and then 11:21 "uterus" and then at 11:23 am on December 19, 2004 i heard the most beautiful cry.......... my little girl had been born. I tell you, after having that amnio show her lungs to be immature and then hearing her beautiful cry, i felt like the world stopped for a moment! Her apgars were 9 and 9. Then, there were lots of strange feelings when they were putting me back together. and i did not need the transfusion blood. Thankfully. Then at 12:09pm i was getting wheeled out to go in to recovery.
It did not seem like it was that fast when i was in there... but it didnt even take an hour! well, Kiley was doing some "whining" and the pediatrician had to come in to take a look at her. At first they said she was fine, but then she started to not maintain her body temperature. Then, she had a feeding of formula and vomited it up with a whole bunch of mucus. Those were all signs that she needed to be taken in to the NICU for observation and to figure out what was going on. Now, i was an emotional wreck. i had just had a c section, i was drugged up and my baby was being taken away from me to the NICU. i tried to get up before the 12 hours had passed and i could not do it. so disappointed, i had to continue to wait to be able to go down and see my baby. I also had problems after the C section with maintaining my oxygen levels and i would start to fall asleep and the alarms would go off and my oxygen level would be below an 80. I had the anesthetists coming back in to check on the situation. I was then put on oxygen.... it helped me a bit and the alarm finally stopped going off every time i started to fall asleep. Now, as for Kiley, she had what they were calling bowel loops. (septic illeus?) they tossed around the idea of hirschsprungs disease. they talked about possible surgery depending on the problem. She was not allowed to eat due to the concern of introducing bacteria in to her system. She had IV fluids.... then a little more than a week later, after she had the barium enema test which showed normal lower bowels, and she pooped out the rest of the meconium, she was allowed to eat! and then she started pooping! and mommy continued to pump breast milk for her. She was not allowed to take the breast due to them measuring her food. now, she does not like to take it! She came home finally on January 6th 2004 weighing in at 6lbs 9 oz.
at birth she was 6lbs 1 oz and 19 1/2 inches.
Now, to learn my baby and my baby to learn me...................
thank you for reading... i know, lots of boring drama!

AND here is one of my little updates i had typed out....

Hello all... my mom bought a new laptop today and DH's comp has a modem problem so i have not been able to get on... sorry on what i missed!
anyways, here is my little update on my little peach Kiley.
She now weighs in at a whopping 6lbs 15 oz. ALMOST 7 lbs~!
She is now on 43cc of breastmilk every 3 hours. it is a little more than an ounce. still not able to go on the breast due to all the bowel issues she has been having. She had a barium enema the other day which showed her colon to be free from any abnormalities (it cant rule out all problems though)
so, anyways, she is still a bit jaundice but since the food intake has been increasing her bilirubin levels have been going down although she is still a bit yellow. now that she is eating more and taking in less of the IV fluids (gatorade and twinkies) she is opening her eyes a bit more! so nice to see her blue eyes! tonite they took her off the IV! they have to keep checking her blood sugar levels though before each feed now... poor baby, getting stuck in the foot all the time! so, she is almost a cordless child! AND she POOPED on her own 2 times tonite without the suppository. She has been getting a suppository every 24 hours due to not pooping on her own and now that the poopie isnt meconium anymore (starting today) she is pooping on her own. so, basically they still dont know what is "wrong" with her but it is very reassuring that she has pooped on her own now... she had a suppository at noon and pooped at 3ish today. then had two more poops so those count as pooping on her own! little steps but great ones! so, i really dont know when she will be home yet but boy i cant wait! some docs say a week and some say her due date... thats ok ... so, everyone please keep your fingers crossed that Kiley continues to eat, grow and POOP on her own! and hopefully we will be able to try the breastfeeding soon.... her suck is quite slow and "weak" right now due to being on IV fluids for nearly 2 weeks! COME ON KILEY!
ok, also, i am PARANOID that she has been getting the breastmilk from another mom. They would have to tell me if they did that right?! i am PARANOID!

Five Question Friday~

AGAIN! IT is FRIDAY! MY FAVORITE DAY OF THE WEEK! LOL!
Go join in the fun with Mama M. and let us know more about YOU!

1. Which boygroup did you like most in your teens?
Ohh... I was a fan of the New Kids on The BLOCK... saw them in concert a whole bunch of times but, as an adult I am not following them... boo... boring huh?!
2. Do you do Christmas cards, letters, photos, nuthin', all of the above?
I send out photo cards that I make on Walmart.com and then pick them up, shove them in an envelope, slap on a stamp and return label and write out the address (I KEEP TRACK of who I send them to and who I get them from, so if you aint sending, you aint getting... I am like a thrifty santa... checking my list...)
3. If you could meet one celebrity who would it be and why?
I would love to meet Ronald Reagan. Oh wait, he is dead. That is who I would like to meet because I think he is... was... the man. Alive... hmmm.... John Travolta. even though I dont agree with Scientology, I would love to give him a great big hug. Poor guy. He just looks so sad since Jett passed away.
4. Favorite thing to cook with (i.e. stainless, non-stick, Dutch oven, microwave, debit card...or, perhaps, a cauldron, etc.)?
I use whatever I have... nothin fancy... but I am a crock pot fan! (oh lord, my kid just came in the room and he has done some nasty business in that diaper... GROSS... TMI..... SOMEONE PLEASE COME CHANGE IT FOR ME!)
5. What is the one thing you wear the most, besides your unmentionables?
I love my crappy wardrobe! Full of long sleeve T shirts and pants that scream NAVY TRASH WIFE... Why bother getting dressed up? I am off to change a disgusting diaper.... why would I wear anything else? Comfort... its what its all about.

Holmes Beach

What happens when you tell your kiddos they can get in the water, but ONLY their feet????

Grandma ends up in the store at the beach buying 22.00 sweatshirts for the girls because they were SOAKING wet when we had gone to the beach TOTALLY unprepared and they got WET when we told them not too.... Ah well.... What an experience.... the joy....

Five Question Friday

I have not posted in a while so I figured I needed to get something up on here!!!! I always LOVE Five question fridays but always feel like I cant sit down for a minute to type anything out!
So, here it goes,.... Five Question Friday!!! Thank you Mama M.

1. Does Santa wrap the presents he leaves at your house?

Santa Wraps everything at our house! Although, this year there will be some super oddly shaped items so I need to figure out how Santa can get those wrapped up nicely! Santa does not do bows or anything like that. He fills the stockings with some goodies but mommy also throws little things in to the stockings for the kiddos too!

2. When is your "big" Christmas celebration...Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? Tell us about it...

When I was growing up we would go to my paternal grandparent's house on Christmas Eve, have our gifts on Christmas morning (oh, and go to church for midnite mass on christmas eve) and then we would go to my maternal grandparents for a big christmas dinner and gifts on Christmas day night.
Now, things are different. We are a military family so we basically do things our own way. I am hoping to make a nice dinner for all of us and maybe invite another family over. I dont know yet though becuase I have not talked to my hubby and for some reason someone always seems to be puking on the holidays around here so I dont like to make plans. We do Christmas gifts in the morning after Santa drops them off. The kids open the stockings first, usually when we are getting up and moving. We dont usually have any money to buy gifts for one another (me and Chris) so the gifts is strictly about the kids. My parents gave us money for a trip to Florida and Disney so the gifts from them will also be less this year... because the trip was an awesome gift!
On Christmas Eve I give the kids brand new jammies to wear. We hope to make some cookies this year too! (minus peanuts/peanut products!)

3. Are you big on keeping tradition every year?

Once we are settled in a permanent place I am hoping to develop traditions, especially as the kiddos get older. Next year Chris will most likely be in Diego Garcia so I have NO clue what the holidays for next year will be like! SO NO TRADITIONS!

4. Do colored lights or white lights tickle your fancy?
I LOVE THEM ALL! We have a giant christmas tree that has been growing in our yard and the 1st 2 christmas' here it was all blue lights, last year and this year it is all red. Our inside tree is hideous but I wanted the kids to have what they wanted... maybe I will get some pics up! the more lights the better!!!! Mish mosh it if you want!

5. Do you decorate outside your house for Christmas?
HECK YEAH although this year we are very much behind because of our trip to Florida! The more the better for that too!!!!!!!!!!!

Wordless Wednesday... black and white.

Attempting to get a Photo for Christmas cards...

Every year I assume that it is going to be a quick photo opportunity and I am going to get the picture worth a million bucks... every year I snap a whole bunch of pictures and come out at the other end with NOTHING worthy of a Christmas Card photo... I am hoping to get some more opportunities to take some pictures of the kids for a Christmas Card. IF my cards go out late, you know why! I am on a mission to get that perfect photo! I may end up having to settle for a minor disaster though... but hey, that shows their true personalities, right? OR I could do like Ali and make a collage of individual photos of the kids.... hmmm.... something to ponder!

my head is spinning a million miles a minute...

This morning I got the phone call from the hubster with news I totally was NOT expecting to get....
He called to inform me that he was selected to go to Diego Garcia for a year... unaccompanied... meaning... without us.
Even though my heart has sunk.... I am still SO thankful and grateful that he will be going there versus so many of the other places he could have been sent....
Now the decisions of what I will do for that year with me and the 4 kidlets and 2 pupsters...
As of right now it looks like I will be moving down to Florida to be near my parents.
I am looking at renting a place in a decent area with a fenced yard and isnt too far from my parents. AND it has to have a decent school... this will give me something to scope out a bit more once we get down there the end of this month.
Breathe.... phew... I wasnt expecting he would get these orders. (although we dont have them in our hands)
This plan
is still scribbled in mud and anything can happen.... looks like October was indeed a "no more".....

A week in review...

*Mom had her catheterization on Tuesday and the news was not good. The artery they were going to put the stints in is blocked and they can't put the stints in. Because the artery is blocked end to end, they also can not do bypass. Please pray that a safe and healthy resolution can be found. Being the worry wart that I am, I immediately asked her if she could have a transplant. Worse case scenario kind of thinking again... geesh. They have put her on plavix and returns to the doc on the 13th. Please think of her.... She has been having struggles with her heartrate being 40 at rest and 60's with walking.... I dont know if that was just medicine related or had something to do with the blockage. They have taken her off a medicine that could cause the low heartrate and I dont believe they have mentioned anything about it so maybe it has returned to normal since coming off the medication.... maybe I forgot to ask mom if her heartrate was normal... that wouldnt be unlike me... not out of ignorance but more out of the millions of distractions in my house...

*Did I mention we are going to Florida at the end of this month to see my parents??? I am so excited and looking forward to going but I am NOT wanting to rush getting there because that would mean it was closer to the visit being over.... We are also going to be spending a couple of days at Disney World! I can NOT wait to see the girls enjoying Disney!

*Thursday marked one year since Sydney had her ablation in Boston and was declared "Cured" of her Wolff Parkinson White Syndrome. I am not going to be ignorant to the fact that it could come back... so I prefer to call it Dormant... like a looming volcano waiting to burst... yeah... I worry too much. But for now, she seems to be doing GREAT!

*Cookie booths for girl scouts have consumed my entire week.

*I purchased the most hideous Christmas Tree on the market.... my tree would make Charlie Brown feel bad for me.... but, it is what the kids want and when they are grown they will remember that we bought them the tree they desired! Wait til you see it!

*I had a fun time shopping the 90% off clearance section at Target for Halloween items. Kiley has been living in a leopard leotard for a day now and I dont foresee it coming off any time soon. She will be devastated when I dont allow her to wear it to school....

*Hudson keeps running out the door... and he is FAST.... and he is BLACK... and when it is NIGHT... oh lord....

......... thats a brief synopsis of my week!! Didnt want to leave you all hanging........

Wordless Wednesday... THE MAD WITCH

Five Question Friday!

ITS FRIDAY!!!!!!!!! HOP ON OVER and visit MAMA M. at My little Life!!!!!! I love to just answer random things about me!!!!!!!! Have a SAFE and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!

1. What were you doing the last time you really had a good laugh?
It was at our Bunco Night I believe!!! My friend Julie had the most outrageous costume on and we just had some awesome laughs! I do laugh alot with my family though, but that was a belly laughing kind of night!
2. Who was your first CELEBRITY crush?
MICHAEL JACKSON!!!!!!!!
3. What is one talent that you wish you had?
I wish (only one?!??!) I knew how to Knit... REALLY Well... I dont know how to knit at all but I would so love to know how. I wish I could play the guitar too. There are so many things....
4. How often do you and your spouse go out w/o the kids? Is it frequent enough?
The last time was March 6th. SO... does that answer your question? And the time before that was I think in 2006. NO it is NOT frequent enough. That sort of counts as NON EXISTENT
5. What colour(s) is your bedroom?
White. We live in military housing and I have not been brave enough to change it because even though we know it would look a million times better, we would have to change it back before we move out to the nice generic military economy paint.

Soccer 2009

I will add Kiley whenever we get her photos back!

Browsing the Sears Brochure...

... I have decided there are some non-essentials I could live without... but wouldnt mind having anyways.... Well, some are non non-essentials....

Just because I can, I am going to share my list with you!

I already have a Kitchen Aid Mixer. It was a 30th birthday gift from my hubster. He also got me a Dyson and a Mom-to-Be Massage/pedicure/manicure package... oh and they did a hair wash/dry thingie. That was 2 years ago!..... I dont use it much... so, like I said... Non-essentials. I dont need one of those. Scratch it off the list.

Ginsu Knives. I wouldnt mind giving them a whirl. Nothing like having a good knife in the kitchen!

I DONT need a fondue... and it is a non-essential I dont care to try. What about you?

I dont need a kegorator, humidor or wine chiller... Non-essentials for sure. Add that to the list with the fondue. Oh, and also include in that list the Shot Chiller. DO people REALLY Use that stuff THAT often??? I would think those are bar essentials.. for a commercial bar... not someone's home. But, I am a simple gal... so.. maybe you need one??? If you do.. Sears has them.

I could definitely use some GOURMET COOKWARE... THAT would be an ESSENTIAL... My son pulled a frying pan off the counter waiting to be washed... and the whole handle snapped off... down a frying pan. He was actually trying to get the tray to his high chair off the counter... the frying pan came with it. Gates on the kitchen... definitely a good idea. So, the cookware would end up on a list of NEEDS vs. WANTS. The red set is nice!!!! Throw in the matching tea kettle!! I make single serve coffee....

OH WAIT... DID YOU SEE HOW MANY COLORS THEY HAVE FOR THE KITCHEN AID MIXER?! I have light pink... The Susan Komen one. GOOD. GOOD CAUSE. BUT... no... I dont need ANOTHER one... but the COLORS.... How would I CHOOSE?!?!?! Pear??? Boysenberry??? Cornflower blue??? Cobalt Blue?? Ice?? Oh lord... so glad I dont have to choose... I already have one... I DONT use it.

A NEED is a nice decent sized Food processor. I love falafel and my attempt at making some was GLORIOUS! BUT I had to do it in increments... my little tiny food chopper was a little too small.... 9 cup Food processor... HERE I COME!

GRIDDLER GRILL... You can come home with me. You would help me eat more healthy so you belong in my kitchen. Just remind me you are there so I can remember to include you in my weekly menu. OK?

Rotary Waffle maker... We dont need you... but you remind me of college and how we could make waffles. Big mess... big PITA... but I think we could have a blast with you. Make your way to my shopping cart... we will decide when you get there if you should stay there....

LOOK! A toaster oven! We have had a couple of them... barely used them. Do I need another one??? PROBABLY NOT... but... but.. it is red and would match the cookware I mentioned earlier. OH.. and a matching coffee pot AND regular 4 slice toaster... That could be awesome! WITH the RED FOOD PROCESSOR!!!!!!!!! SCORE!

IRON SKILLET.. dont know what I would do with you. I think Ju had one when I was in Louisiana visiting. Maybe one would like to be here with us???? Maybe not. I dont think it would feel very loved.

Ahh... the AS SEEN ON TV specials...

Aqua Globes! YEAH! YES! ME! ME! Oh wait... not only would I forget to water my flowers... so, Aqua Globes could be USEFUL... I WOULD PROBABLY FORGET to fill the AQUA Globes... JUST like I would forget to change the garden flag or refill the bird feeder. Sorry Aqua Globes... not in my house.

Smooth Away... you think???? No hair? No shaving??? Has to be a scam. Nothing in life could be THAT simple... and ON TV... People pay BIG BUCKS for hair removal... I dont believe you Smooth away. Sorry.

Pedi Egg... might be worth a try... OR I could see a doc about the skin problems I have. Yeah, the latter is PROBABLY the better option. No Pedi Egg...

Strap Perfect for the brassiere... I dont think you work on ginormous bras. So, you get to stay where you are. You are not welcome here. UNLESS I have my issue resolved... medically. THEN maybe I could find you useful.

Snuggie. Seriously. A blanket will do.

Pedi Paws... use to go by a different name. It used to be the Pedi File. Seriously. GOOD JOB changing your name. Won't buy you. Sorry.

Slap Chop... I am faithful to my little food processor.

Rotisserie. WAY easier to walk to the supermarket on a whim to get one made already. WAY less work... WAY less cleanup. NO rotisserie for me!

Well... my awesome son walked away from me with my catalog. Maybe he is going to get a job and buy me something!!!!!! So, there you have it... my thoughts as I browse the Sears Brochure!

I get anxious when...

Recently I have been feeling anxious and probably need to follow up with the doctor. It seems to be PMS related (I know TMI) .... but here are some things that bring the anxiety on full force...

*Living paycheck to paycheck and feeling like payday will never come....
*Not having a job of my own to contribute to the house
*PMS
*being late for an important date
*worrying about where we will be moving in 8 months or so
*a full schedule
*not knowing exactly what I am supposed to be doing with Sydney and all her recent evaluations and the school. Which way is up?
*watching my Sydney work her butt off during soccer, trying just as hard if not harder than her peers.. and playing a total of 7 minutes of a game.
*the incredible mess this house becomes
*van woes that need to be un-woe'd
*Dishes in the sink
*laundry in the bedroom waiting to be folded
*thinking of living here another whole year without my husband
*having to find new doctors for Sydney when we move
*my son fighting me because he can... all the time (at almost 2!)
*how cr%ppy halloween will be for my son since he is allergic to peanuts. Karma really got me on that one.
*Eczema and fighting lotion.
*the thought of freezing cold temperatures
*not having time for myself.
*wanting to give my kids the world and everything they want.
*not being able to do the above.
*the kids NOT being grateful for the fact I (we) bend over backwards for them (something they will not understand until they are grown.)
*the fact I have not worked in over 6 years. That gets me down.
*being eligible for WIC when my husband has been in the Navy on active duty for 15 years.
*swine flu

I could go on and on about the misery... I am sure many people are feeling the crunch of the times...

I am SO SO SO grateful for...
*being able to be home for my kids.
*I have a vehicle. It is running. I can put gas in it when I need to.
*my parents making it possible for us to visit them for Thanksgiving. EVEN getting a trip to Disney World!
*I will get to see the faces of my children at Disney World... PRICELESS.
*My husband has a steady job and it more than provides for our needs.
*The ability to see the world and experience life in different places.
*my children are healthy.
*we have(mediocre) health coverage.
*We have a roof over our heads and we have plenty of bedrooms for everyone.
*the generosity of people we know and people we dont know.
*free snow boots for our children. Given anonymously.
*reduced and free school lunch.
*WIC
*Turkey Dinner and Christmas gifts for the children given anonymously by generous people.
*My daughters awesome doctors.
*my children are eager to learn new things and be active and fit.
*awesome friends and family.
*finding joy in the small things. AND the big things.
*having a full schedule.
*knowing that everything always seems to work out. No matter what the outcome.

Just a puddle of brain thoughts.... Hope you all enjoy the last week of October... 2nd Brrrrrr month... 2 to go... then we get in the misery of the new year fridged temps!!!!!!!

Five Question Friday!

1. Whats your favorite horror movie?

Hmm... They are definitely not my favorite genre of movie. I am trying to think of the movie that I saw recently that was just creepy. If I can remember... oh, it wasnt horror but it was called Obsessed. Totally recommend.


2. Bath tub or Hot tub?

HOT TUB! I NEED ONE! Our bath tub is too puny for my big butt... but I do read in there once in a while.


3. Do you prefer to view a movie at the theater or at home?

I havent been to the movie theater since I lived in Texas (early 2006) so I would have to say at home. I am too frugal to spend the money! Although, I should check out the free movies on base more often.


4. If you could chose a maid, cook or chauffeur, which one would you choose?

MAID! As long as that also includes doing the dishes after I cook up an awesome dinner! I Will share the dinner with her.... she has to do the dishes though.



5. Electric Slide, Boot Scootin' Boogie, or the Macarena?

Ahh... the Macarena... I went to Cancun after graduating high school in 1995 and the macarena was not here in the US yet. I brought back an authentic CD with the macarena on it and introduced it to a bunch of people.... Then it became big... SO FUN! HAHA!



Hop on over to MY LITTLE LIFE and share your five questions on this FRIDAY!

A New Hobby!

LETTERBOXING!!!!!!!!!!

Totally recommend it! If you enjoy taking hikes with friends and family ... even your dog. Some are accessible on bike rides... if you want to get out and enjoy the great outdoors... if you are looking for something that is typically FREE... this is the hobby for you!

*cost could apply for getting in to areas such as state parks where a fee may be applied to entering the park.

Yesterday I went to Wadsworth Falls State Park with my girl scout troop to find out what this letterboxing hobby was all about. I had briefly heard about it and have heard of people doing it on facebook but didn't know exactly where to start or what I was supposed to do. The ladies who led the excursion were WONDERFUL and completely KNOWLEDGABLE about the park and the trees and everything. We learned about different kinds of Oak trees, Hemlock, and of course the STATE Flower of CONNECTICUT!
The GIANT Mountain Laurel which is also an EVERGREEN! This is the same one we saw only I didnt get a picture because a million other little girls from other troops were sitting on it! This tree was somewhere between 200 and 300 years old!
We saw some poison ivy vines which I never would have known what it was and would have reached out to touch it because it looked so soft and nice to touch...

and in the same area we saw a grape vine which wasn't nearly as pretty but definitely produces something much more delicious and yummy! We saw Beech, Maple and Birch trees. We saw a beautiful hawk. You have to have an awesome awesome awesome eye to find some of the DEER Tracks the guide showed us! I never would have seen the tracks in a million years... even if I was trying! We saw some old foundation of a home from the 1800's. It was just an awesome trip and we found 4 letterboxes.

I can't wait to find more! I have already printed out 6 boxes in a state park near my parent's house in Florida which I am hoping to locate when we take our trip to their house next month!

Give it a try! Let me know how it goes! OR.. let me know about your recent letterbox finds!

Wordless Wednesday.... My Second Born

*This will not be so "wordless"... MckMama had posted a pic of her second born... and well... There is just something about second born's. They weren't first, and they aren't last... they are floating somewhere in the middle of a bunch of kiddos... they look up to the eldest and guide the young ones. They try to find their own niche... knowing what the oldest is up to... and trying to feel their way around this world while becoming who THEY are...
My second born has certainly kept me busy. She has been so easy going through everything and I am eternally grateful for that. She has been teaching me and showing me strength. She has a brave face. She has a strong will. She won't let you down. She won't let herself down. She is an amazing kid and I am one lucky lady to be able to say I AM HER MOM! Everyone needs a little Sydney in their life.....

Where in the World?

Where in the world is this place?

Do you know?

Have you been there?

Do you know anyone who has ever been there?

What is it called?

How long do you think you would survive there?

Five Question Friday

I have not participated in a five question friday in quite some time! So, hop on over and visit Mama M. and join in the fun! It's the WEEKEND! And a 3 day weekend at that! WOOHOO!

1. What is the one thing that you reach for the most in a day (excluding phones and computers)?

My Soda! Diet Pepsi usually!!! (and this is excluding grabbing my rabid son from one disaster or another)

2. What is the farthest you have been from home?

I used to live in Waipahu, Hawaii on Oahu. I went to visit it before I lived there though when my dear hubby and I were not married yet! I went for a visit on spring break as he was already stationed out there. I was living in Rhode Island at the time.

3. What kind of cell phone do you have? Love it or hate it?

I dont know!!! LOL! It is a good phone though! has a keyboard. Reddish color.

4. Coke or Pepsi?

PEPSI (Diet please! I consume too many calories as it is!)

5. If you could go back and change anything about your wedding day, what would it be and why?

I got married in Hawaii!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What would you change?! LOL! I guess have it where I grew up so more people could be there and share our day with us!

In the mountains of new hampshire

On the day I entered my 33rd year of life... we decided to go and enjoy the leaves changing color in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. As I turn another year older, the leaves turn color and the tree begins a new phase. I am hoping that there are only good things to come and that I can change. I hope to be healthier in this 33rd year so that I have many more birthdays to come. I wish that the photos could really show you how beautiful the mountains of New Hampshire are at this awesome time of year. I have to say, I think the fall is my favorite of all seasons. EXCEPT when the bitter cold settles in. We had to make the most of the opportunity to head up to the mountains because we do not know where our journey will bring us in 9 months. (NO BABY)... in 9 short months, Chris is due to transfer. We do not know where or what will happen but we need to make sure we make the most of our experience here in the northeast.

If you ever get the chance, you have to see the leaves of the mountains as they change color and give your senses an awesome invigorating sensation! Oh, and the SMELL... I wish I could bottle it up... incredible.

Wordless Wednesday... Leaf Peeping...

Wearing babies is HOT!

ESPECIALLY for DAD's!!!!!!!!!!

I love when my husband wears our son... even at 22 months old I can't get enough of it. The Ergo has been our greatest blessing. A friend of mine let me borrow it and I used to wear Kiley in it when she was nearly 4. And I would push the baby in the stroller (or vice versa)

Now our little man is eager to climb aboard and go for a ride. You cant even tell when he is on you! I was not able to return the Ergo to my friend before she moved to Japan... so, we still have it but it is still getting used to the max! I love that both my husband and myself have mastered getting our son in the Ergo without anyone around to assist. I recommend the Ergo to ANYONE! It has been a life saver for us and will be making the trip to Florida next month! ,

Go check out the girly twins on their daddy and mommy... There is NOTHING like a baby toddler wearing.