And the Holidays are Over....

Well the holidays are over and I can honestly say while I enjoyed them I am glad it is done. I just had trouble getting into the full spirit this year of things. I kept thinking we are moving... I don't need more to pack up or go through... lets not buy any presents. But of course I wanted presents so that wasn't going to work...
And then there was the tree. We starting decorating it at 9pm on a Sunday night before Bill headed off on a trip... about 20 minutes later I was done. We put the kids to bed and I had the best of intentions of finishing it later. It never happened... what did happen was a pathetic tree. I will have to post pics of that tomorrow. I was seriously embarrassed when my friends and family saw it. But then I reminded myself it wasn't about the tree or the presents... none of that is the reason for the season right. As the boys are getting older I look forward to teaching them that it is not about the presents but about his presence.

So as January begins I get ready to start the crazy crazy part of my life to get ready to move overseas. I am overwhelmed at what all there is to be accomplished, I am exited to go and so so so sad to be moving away from dear friends and my family. Looking at castles is going to be amazing though !!

Alright enough rambling I need to get my kids dressed it is 9:30 after all.

Things I Never Thought I would have to say to my kids

Here are some of the random things I have said to atleast one of my children at some point in their lives. Keep in mind the oldest is a mere 6 years old.

- No you cannot ride your brother like a horse

-No you cannot ride the puppy like a horse

-Take the plunger off your head

-Do not eat food you find under the table

-Do not eat food you find under car seats in the van

-No I don't want to look at your poop

-Yes if you dip your apples and green beans in ketchup to eat them I migh tpuke because that is gross

-We do not throw dog food all over the living room

-You cannot sit in the dogs food or water bowl

-No we are not having Halloween candy for breakfast




And many more gems to come I am sure!

Tis the Season To Be Busy

Here was my schedule today.

6:30 am wake up
8:15 am drop kid off at school (He was suppose to be there at 8)
8:30 Dog to dog spot for day
9:00 Walmart trip for bananas, a binder and black spray paint
9:30 Appointment back on base(which i forgot about and missed
10:00 Appointment number two(which I was only at for 15 min because I had to go get kid #2 from school)
10:45 Went to the thrift store for 20 minutes
11:05 Went home for 40 min to feed all three kids
11:45 Took another kid to school... froze standing outside
12:20ish Came home and attempted to eat lunch, do dishes, laundry, work on my business and play with my kids
2:40 Pick up kid from school along with two others
3:15 Should have headed to story hour but decided I was too tired for chasing Benji through the library (and the other librians probably were thankful I skipped a week becuase of said chasing)
4:00 Made cupcakes for my child who insists he has never had a cupcake (which is a total fabrication!)
5:00 Ran cupcakes to a friend in exchange for some yummy homemade chicken nuggets
5:15 Went to pick up the dog
5:55 Came home - Woke all three kid who were asleep in car
Spent 15 minutes trying to calm down cranky tired kids and get them to eat
6:20ish Ate dinner, realized I forgot basekball practice
7:00 Cleaned up from dinner
8:00 Found a last minute babysitter so I could go to work this weekend
8:15 Cleaned playroom with kids and played the duck game
8:40ish Pajamas and Brushed Teeth
8:50ish Read 6 book to lunatic kids (yes I know they are up too late)
9:20iah Spent over 30 min attempting to get Benji to stay in his bed and sleep
Luckily he finally was tired enough to stop climbing out
10 something Talked to my husband to say goodnight via Verizon
10:45 Freaked out when I realized how close to Christmas it is and completely unprepared I am
11pm Came downstairs, looked at my kitchen and decided computer time was more important and fun than cleaning
11:49 Ate ice cream and went to bed and tried not to think about all the things on my list I never even got to

Every boy needs a dog (or so they say)....but not every mom

Meet Finley the newest addition to our family and often the bane of my existence. We picked him up when he was 11 weeks old... that was the last weekend in July if my memory is correct. While the men of the house are for the most part loving this puppy and adoring him - me not so much.
I am not a morning person or a huge dog person... really even a pet person for that matter. I dislike having to wake up early to walk him, I don't like being jumped on or having to keep everything picked up. It drives me insane dealing with him and my children who all want to play together and then get upset when someone plays too rough. It is a lot of additional work and stress for me while we are in this training/adjustment period.
The second week in August though the responsibility of caring for Finley fell solely on me. I had to walk him twice a day for 5 days...that first morning I was not happy to be getting up and I muttered all the way down the steps, all the way off the porch and half way around the block. When I stopped muttered and complaining about what a stupid dog he was, how early i t was, etc and realized I was alone with my thoughts and it was quiet and the weather was beautiful I did the unthinkable... I started to enjoy myself. I actually enjoyed walking Finley by the end of the week and I decided maybe we wouldn't be best friends but maybe he was not the miserable mutt I had thought he was.
There was a moment a few days after we got him that we had to decided whether or not he was staying. And there was a huge part of me that wanted to say get him out of here. It would have been so easy but I wanted to give it a little time and try and I am proud of myself for that because it was not easy to agree to get him or to agree to keeping him amidst all of the chaos he was causing. Keep him we did and keep him we will. Even though the chaos will continue and I will be frustrated. It is worth it to see the smile on my family's faces.