I Made It!

Well I made it through the day and not exhausted or anything! I didn't end up falling asleep until a little after 3 AM (once I got Emma out of bed and into mine, she wanted to play for a few!) LOL
So....I set my alarm so I'd be up before they arrived, I need to fix my alarm clock, because Chad set it at one point and it's like 20 minutes fast. I'm a girl who wants to know what time it is, I don't need that extra time to fool myself. So anyways, I got up and moved to the couch. Right at 4:30 my doorbell rang and in they came. The baby came right to me and cuddled right in, sleepy and ready to head right back to sleep. Little guy as he kept saying "I don't want to be here" lol was just so tired and didn't really get what was happening and why he was pulled out of bed in the middle of the night. Once Daddy left, he told me "I really don't want to be here" and I told him that was ok, but that he was here and so until Daddy could come back we'd have a nice time. I asked him if he'd like to pick out a movie to watch until he fell back to sleep. So in went Cars and off he went to sleep, even with a smile and giggle before hand!! I laid the baby into the crib and off to dreamland she went immediately!

So....8:30 AM rolls around and we're all up and going for the day. Emma was excited to see new faces, my boys both like little man and all was good. I made pancakes for breakfast, there wasn't even any left for me and I doubled the batch! Little piggies! LOL I was glad they all ate so well! After that I cleaned up the kitchen and the kids proceeded to play. Everyone got dressed, and more playing. The boys played Battleship and Candyland, then played with swords, dress up, and many other things. The babies played, eh...fought over toys, cried for my lap...ok so mostly it was Emma who was NOT happy to have to share me, even my attention and kept doing her scream which made baby girl cry. I finally got them calmed down. I had Jacob take Emma to her room and play with her, while I got baby girl down for a nap, then had Jacob bring Emma out to the living room and laid baby girl down. She slept for about 2 hours. By then it was snack time, then of course more play time. Right before lunch baby girl woke up. I served leftovers from dinner last night, which was stuffed pita bread (Pita pockets is our name) they had ground sausage, scrambled eggs, and cheese stuffed in the bread, then baked until cheese is melted! They're a favorite in our house and Little man liked them! Baby girl just got some jar food, and ate it great!

Once lunch was over, I let Emma play for about 30 minutes and then it was nap time for her! Before I knew it their Daddy was here and Little man said he couldn't wait to come back! So pray that when he arrives early in the morning he's not quite so "I don't want to be here" so Daddy doesn't get upset! LOL

Once Emma was up from her nap, I had a couple errands to do and then over to my friend's house to deliver her birthday gift. We walked the whole way. I am not sure how far we walked, my guess is all in all maybe 1 1/2 to 2 miles???? Not sure! It was a nice walk and it felt good to be out walking. B and I got said birthday girl friend a piece of polish pottery that matches a piece we got. She never got to go to Poland and unfortunately the movers are coming to her house on Wednesday. I'm truly sad to see her leave. She's been here for almost 2 1/2 yrs and I love her and just can't imagine her not here. She has 2 boys who are friends with my boys and a great husband who's a chaplain. I've been blessed by their friendship. She will be here for aprox 1 1/2 more months, they'll leave right before Christmas. Anyways...she loved her piece and said she'll think of B and me everytime she uses it!! The kids all played for a while, we visited, she took a break from organizing before the packers and movers come...then we headed home.

I had dinner in the crockpot. I made crockpot steak. Well that's what I'm calling it! Take a nice cut of steak, make sure there's at least one to two steaks for each in your family, a pack of Onion Soup mix (the dry mix, such as Liptons), a can of Cream of Mushroom soup, and water to cover. Turn your crock pot on low and cook for at least 6 to 8 hours, the longer they cook the more tender. I know many will say they do something similar with their roast, I have too, but it's steak and it's a nice way to have it. My boys eat it up! It's definately one of their favorites! From the drippings just make gravy using corn starch, make up some mashed potatoes, and the veggie of your choice! I think next time I'm going to put some small red potatoes in the crock pot as well and maybe even some carrots...definately making it more and more like how I make my roast. Anyways, it's total no fuss dinner and we have yet to have left overs!

So...we're closing in on embarking for tomorrow. I need to pick up toys in the living room (just some baby toys), I should vaccum but I think I'm just going to wait until tomorrow. I'd like to stay off of my feet as much as possible, because my heals are killing me. All the walking today was great, but wrecks havoc on my feet. I had xrays done on my heals before I went back to the states and of course have never heard what the findings were. My dr was pretty sure it was heal spurs, but she's since left and moved back to the states and well we know none of the other drs would follow up, so I need to call and find out the results, if it is heal spurs or not. If it is, I'll just suffer. I am not going to have them shaved. What I've read and been told was they can and often do grow back and are then more painful. Well considering I struggle to walk after being on my feet for a while, going on decent length walks, or working out...I'll just suffer with the pain I have now. No desire to have it WORSE! Seriously I can't imagine it being worse, but if it can be...no thank you!

I'm off to pick up and then just relax. :)

Long Night, even longer day tomorrow

I'm crazy, no really Emily can attest to this, she knows me far too well! LOL No tonight I'm crazy because it's 1:10 AM, I'm WIDE awake, and at 4:30 AM my friend's husband is dropping off 2 of their 3 children here. M is going to a PWOC conference for the week and her husband has to work, he's a cook and has to be at work by 4:45 am, so he's dropping off 11 month old S and 4 yr old C on his way in. The boys and I cleaned, it still is a mess, but appears presentable, just stay AWAY from my bedroom! LOL

The plan is to put C on the couch and lay S in Emma's crib and all of us return to our regular sleeping patterns as easily as possible. Since at this point I'm worried that I will not wake up I'm thinking of sleeping on the couch until J gets here to drop the kids off and then make my way to my bed, although at this point Emma's still in her crib sleeping soundly so I'm not sure how it's going to work. So maybe I will go to bed, because Emma seems to have a sensor that the moment I get in bed and get comfortable she wakes up to come to bed with me! LOL She couldn't wake as I'm walking past her room into mine, nope she waits. It's like clock work and I mumble my way out of bed and into her room where I'm greeted with a huge grin, the best hug ever, and lots of snuggles and kissed all the way to our room (yes it's our room because reality is she spends just as much time in my bed as I do! LOL).

So ok I made a decision I will go to bed, I will probably make it in there by 2 am, it's 1:42 now, I got up and moved a few more things because I'm so stinking wired. I'm looking over at my "Craft" table right now that's covered in junk. It's a sad state of affairs I tell you. I'll take a picture of it tomorrow so you can see just how SAD it is. No crafts are EVER done there. It's always covered in various things, it's take so long to clean it that by the time you were done, who'd want to do the intended craft! LOL One of these days. I actually am planning on taking it down, putting it my bedroom and maybe one of these days I'll start scrapbooking, heck I have everything I need, I just need to get my butt in gear. But where it is, right now is the future home of an antique hutch that's at the Polish Pottery store in the PXtra. I talked to Chad this evening and he told me to get it! So I am!!!! I'm going to go and pay half of it on Tuesday, when they're opened next and then on payday I'll pay the other half! I'm excited to have it and will share pictures once it's here. Of course I'll have to find someone who can bring it home for me, since it's a huge piece of furniture and I truly need a truck to bring it home in. I do have a few friends who have really insanely large SUV's so they could possibly fit it in there and then just use the men who I know to bring it up. It's all solid wood so it's HEAVY!

Ok, well I seem to have went all over the place here, but the gist of it is...it's almost 2 am, I'm still awake, I have to be semi-awake in 2 1/2 hours to welcome my friends children, get them back to sleep, and keep my 3 asleep. Then get up, make breakfast, (thinking pancakes and sausage links), and just manage to get to 1:30 or so. Thank goodness I made out a menu so I don't have to think of what I'm making for lunch, I can get Emma down for a nap after lunch, keep C and S occupied until their Daddy comes to get them, get my boys started on their school work, and try not to nap and be coherant enough to get their school work done. My goal is no nap tomorrow and just early to bed for me!

Pray please! I KNOW I'm going to be exhausted and I know it's my own fault!!!

Halloween

Our day was good. Last night my friend's son spent the night. They had fun, stayed up late watching a movie, had popcorn...were little boys! They were up too early this morning! Emma and I got up, and I started on breakfast...french toast. The older two boys each had a 2nd piece, Jack and Emma filled up on one. I took a quick shower, rushed around getting ready, got Emma dressed, had the boys get dressed then we were off because I had a facial this morning, well it was micro abrasion/facial...so about 50% relaxing and enjoyable. Chad actually called while I was there, because we had a VTC today and he was just confirming!

We rushed home after my facial so I could get the kids changed into their Halloween costumes, then off to the Battalion we rushed. They were running behind, they had a late start, getting things set up/connected on our end, and then they gave one family some extra time, because it was Daddy's first time seeing his 4 month old daughter! (Ahhhh!!) So our Noon was pushed back to 12:30. We walked into the conference room and there he was, ready and sitting to talk! The kids were excited and Emma too. Chad got to see Emma walk for the first time, which was sweet and just a blessed moment. The boys took up most of the time talking to Daddy, while I took about 2 minutes. Emma even jabbered quite a bit. The 15 minutes flew by and before we knew it, we were given our 3 minute warning. I hurried and took a picture

It's rather blurry, but that's ok! Emma was ticked. She was hungry, tired, and did NOT want to be held (she wanted to walk around). Yes that's our Soldier Man behind the kids! :) So see we got to spend a bit of our day with him!! We are so blessed to live in the days we do. To think that with the amazing advances in technology we can have a real time conversation with our soldier, who's pretty well lifesize!

The rest of our day was filled with lunch, a small amount of school work, all the kids napping, talking to Emily on the phone for a bit, and making dinner (meatloaf and mashed potatoes and sweet peas). I wanted to make sure the kids had a good meal in their tummy before eating the candy! After that we went trick or treating, which is the LAST TIME. I HATE scary costumes, don't want those images in my children's heads. That lasted 45 minutes then we headed to the youth gym, for our Fall Festival which was sponsored by our Chapel and MWR. The kids had a blast! There were 4 jump houses, a box maze, face painting, fishing, duck fishing, balloon darts, and other games, and lots of candy! Emma loved getting on the toddler jump house and jumping! She was so cute, on her little knee's jumping. The boys were all over the place having a blast!

That's all we're doing from here on out, at least while we live here. Only wholesome, appropriate costumes were allowed. It was truly a fun night! Emma btw really got into getting candy. We also took our downstairs neighbor boy with us. Mom is deployed and Dad stayed home with baby sister. He was really, really good. Unfortunately I didn't get any good pictures of just my 3, so tomorrow I'll have to try again with them in their costumes.

Emma enjoying a sucker at the Fest.

Emma at home, getting ready to get a drink.

My boys went home with B, so they'll be home at some point tomorrow! I brought T our neighbor home and dropped him off. His Dad offered to let the boys spend the night there next weekend, we shall see.

Ok totally off subject, but my upstairs neighbor is walking around in freaking high heals and I'm about to lose my mind. I mean serious, come inside and take those stupid shoes off. She does this quite a bit on the weekends and tonight it's just on my last nerve! I'm just not a big fan of wearing shoes inside. I like to take them off for the dirt factor, as well as the comfort factor, so normally before we even walk in everyone's shoes are

Ok so I guess that's it! Oh Jack disappeared on me tonight, we had to go back and get his bucket that he'd left in the gym and then he just left the gym. I was searching for him, terrified. He'd went and joined my friend B, waiting for me. I was so scared I was in tears. I popped his behind and then hugged him and just cried. We talked about how he can't EVER do that again. I've lost one child, by no control of my own...I will not lose another when it's in my control. He's safe though and that's the most important thing. The boys did each get a pumpkin though! We were not able to get one this year, so now they have two. They want to paint on them, so we'll do that. They want to keep them until Thanksgiving. I doubt they last that long, but we'll keep them for as long as we can! I'm hoping since we're not carving they'll last longer.

Ok well as hard as I try, I can NOT keep my eyes open. I hope you all had a good Halloween!

Tales From The Front...

I have our other blog up. For those who don't know, I also have a deployment blog. Chad and I ultimately were supposed to be blogging together, but it's never worked that way. I will post mostly here, but will write over there from time to time, so please come follow me there too. My hope is that one of these days that man of mine will blog away right with me! It was both our goal, so we'll see!

It's not always easy being an Army wife, but it's my life and I am thankful for it. I ONLY write there when Chad's deployed, btw.

http://talesfromthefrontandtheonesleftb.blogspot.com/

Pictures

Ashley left a comment and I have recieved a few over time so I figured I'd address it.

We love outside pictures, but you need to keep in mind we live in Germany. For those who don't know what fall and winter are like in Germany, let me paint you a picture...

Rain
More Rain
Rain with Snow mixed in
Wintery Mix
Rain (again)
More Rain
Rain
Rain
Oh and More Rain


As you might have guessed, it rains A LOT here and if it's not raining in the fall and winter it's normally FRIGID or snowing. We actually live in the State of Bavaria. It's beautiful, we're set in an area that often does not get a lot of snow, but is often VERY,VERY,VERY COLD.
Our first winter here, we got record setting snows. Then the last 2 we've barely gotten any snow at all. This year they're predicting a fair amount of snow for our area. It honestly is seeming to follow Chad's deployments. When he's gone, we get snow...when he's home just rain.

So as you can see, outside pictures don't exactly work right now. Inside or outside, pictures just were not good for Emma today. I know this child well. Our photographer asked me if she was ready for a nap and I said "oh, no, she doesn't nap until after lunch, normally lays down about 1)...our apt. was for the 10:00 hour. Well as soon as we left there and headed towards home what did that girl do...she fell asleep and proceded to sleep until 1:30 when I had to WAKE her up for an apt I had! I know she's teething (a good reason for her grumpiness, no actually just simply nasty attitude), I also think she may be going through another grown spurt. She's nearly 15 months, so it'd be about right for one. She's also fiercly independent, and well rather spoiled. Yes I take responsiblity for that. It IS my fault. I can't say I'd change most of it, although I'd make a few adjustments with her. Ultimately it's her personality, it's how God made her and I just need to figure out how to deal with this strong personality!

I do always appreciate suggestions and please know I take no offense, just thought I'd explain why sometimes being IN studio is a simple must. Had we been here when she actually turned 1, we would have been outside. Back in May before Chad left, we went to a beautiful park here in town and had family pictures taken as well as Emma's 9 month pictures. I am pretty sure I posted some of them on here, go back to May and take a look at my enteries.

Well, it's late and I'm one tired Momma!

God Bless

Another blog

If you came from the AOL journals, then you may know that I had a deployment journal, I've finally taken the 5 minutes and got it transferred:

http://talesfromthefrontandtheonesleftb.blogspot.com/

This right here is still my main blog and the one I'll write in the most, but hope that Chad will one of these days write a blog entry and if so it'll go over there.

It's ONLY 1 PM

This has already been a long day. I had Emma's "1 yr" pictures taken today, she's 14 months old, and pictures is ONE thing I really like to do "on time" I'm a little obessive about them! LOL I'm ok though. Well Emma wanted virtually no part of it. It probably could have went better had the boys not immediately showed her the horse, which is a Christmas prop and sat her on it. She loved it and did NOT want off of it, of course! So I finally get her over to the pretty little wicker chair that our photographer set up. She sat in it for a couple shots, then wanted to go back to the darn horse. We tried a higher chair (VERY high), got a couple shots on that as well. Then we finally gave in and brought the horse over, we got a few cute shots on it. Then she decided she was done. WHAT? I still had another outfit (Linda, it was the K-State outfit you got her) and Halloween costumes. Oh goodness. Well she was NOT smiling in her CUTE and ADORABLE K-State outfit, but we still got a cute picture. Then it was time to dress my little bear as a sweet lion. The boys were in their Halloween costumes as well and were happy as could be to have their picture taken, well Emma's SCREAMING her head off. We got a few pictures (she's screaming) the boys are smiling. At one point Emma pushed Jackson off the platform they were sitting on, oh yes, it was a "lovely" session. By the time it was time to pick out photo's she was SCREAMING and oh you all will say you've heard screams, but Emily can attest, Emma's screams is "special". My eardrums were KILLING me. I was pretty well PAST annoyed and heading into anger. Yes, oh yes I really, honestly was so mad at that point I could have spit nails. I paid for our pictures, thanked our photograher who's a friend of mine and was so beyond patient with Emma and her stinking FIT, oh GOD bless her...and we left. I had to make one last stop, grab some paperwork for an apt I have at 1:45 (in 15 minutes now) and then we came home, where Miss Emma fell asleep and has been sleeping since. No lunch yet, just sleep. I don't know if she's getting sick, growth spurt, or still teething...if it's one of those I feel horrible at being so mad at her, but I'm human and one can only take some much ear peircing screaming.

And here it is, time for me to wake up the child who I admittedly have spoiled beyond anything sane, and have to go to my apt, come home in just enough time to take the boys to SAS, come home and clean my butt off, because B's kids are coming over and this place is rediculous, messy, and I'm admitting I've just been lazy, procrastinating, and not caring all that much.

Ok..I have to go. I'll most likely write more later tonight.

A little this and a lot of nothing

I'm tired and absolutely will be going to bed soon! Our time changed this past weekend over here in Germany and the rest of Europe. The extra hour of sleep you think would have helped, but nope...the good thing is that lately I've been going to bed earlier, except for last night I was up late, but I was talking to a friend online who's having a hard time right now and friends are always worth staying up late(r) for.

Emma's been insanely cranky and just in a bad mood. Of course being the oh so observant mother that I am...I just realized she got a new tooth through. Gee can you guess why she's so crabby? I am pretty sure she's working on more so I've been generously dousing her gums with orajel and even gave her some pain reliever today because she was just screaming her head off and it was that or I was considering putting her out in the hall way in our stairwell. Oh did I just type that!?!

I have to say I have not had a lot of patience with the kids the last few days. I'm fairly crabby and always tired. I think the lack of sleep over the last 8 1/2 yrs is definately catching up. The past few weeks feels like I've done nothing but run and although this past weekend I didn't do anything, being sick is just as draining, if not more draining than when you're on the go constantly. I wish I could say tomorrow is a down day, but it's not! I have Emma's pictures at 10 am and then an apt in the afternoon. I'm watching my friend B's kids tomorrow, I'm going to go get them at a little after 5 tomorrow, then we're going up to the elementary school here on post and taking all the kids trick or treating there, then we'll come back here eat and relax until B and her husband come and get them. They're going to a Hail and Farewell dinner, so it'll probably last a couple hours. Of course Friday's Halloweek so we know that day is going to be crazy. Friday morning I have an apt to have a facial, then after that we get to have a VTC with Chad! I'm excited! I'm going to have the kids change at my friends house where I'm having the facial at, into their Halloween costumes so Daddy can see them, plus the Rear D's having a costume contest so they can join in on that! After that, we'll come home, have lunch, and then the boys will do some school work while Emma naps. After that I'm going to the gym to help set up our PWOC booth, which is a maze out of cardboard boxes. Someone did it last year and it was a HUGE hit, the kids loved it! At 5 is when the Fall Festival starts and I'm taking my 3 and my downstairs neighbors son. I know it'll be fun, but I'll be rightfully exhausted I am sure! Oh and on Friday the weather is supposed to be "A WinterMix"....lovely! Thank goodness we'll be indoors!

Ok, well I've pretty well blathered about nothing for long enough and am finding myself closing my eyes and fighting harder and harder to keep them opened, so that's a SURE sign that it's time for this momma to head to bed. I have a 5 yr old already cuddled up in it, so hopefully he warmed it up, but I doubt it! LOL

Good night and God Bless

"Not Me" Monday

Ok before I begin, please everyone be in prayer for McMama as Baby Stellan will be arriving THIS WEEK! It's exciting and most definately prayer-worthy! So fill her up with your prayers and love!

Now on with the "show"...

"I was as healthy as a horse this weekend. I do NOT get sick, oh no not me. I did not hate the Army this weekend as I sat plastered to the toilet, thinking how much easier life would be if my husband were home and not in Iraq, not me obviously".

" I did NOT mess up and give my boy's soccer coach the wrong gift card as a thank you on Thursday and just discover the mistake today, no not me"

" I did not yell at my 1 yr old as she screamed her Octive C high screach this weekend, because I am the most tolerant and gentle mother on this planet."

"I did not throw up for 1 hour STRAIGHT and pray I did not have an accident elsewhere, Sunday morning, not me and thankfully I did not!"

"I did NOT enjoy the fact that from Friday evening until Saturday evening my boys were with other people, and were two less "things" I had to deal with, not me, no never!"

"I did not whine about my husband being deployed to Emily for the umpteenth time last week, not me. I'm the model Army wife, who sits by and never complains, see's only the positive, and never dwells on the negatives of the fact that her husband is deployed for 15 months."

"I did not run out of Pepsi last night and become a raging lunitic, not me, I'm not caffiene dependent...nope, not I".

"I did not find a bit of joy in the fact that I lost 8 lbs by being sick, no I should only lose it the right way, by eating right and working out hard".

"I did not fill out my absentee ballot with joy, thankful that I'm an American and allowed to Vote".

"I did not make my boys clean up under the diningroom table and their sister's high chair today, oh no not I. I'm not mean and a bit lazy like that, and make my children actually help around the house".

" I did not sit at the computer while my boys were cleaning the dining room, I'm surely not that lazy and mean".

"I did not put up the gate to the kitchen to keep Emma out, because frankly she drives me crazy while she's in there, oh no not me".

"I did not leave the clothes still piled up on my loveseat, most of the unfolded, because I'm too lazy to fold them and put them away. I love laundry don't you know?"

"I did not decide that the stairs in our apartment building would suffice for my excercise today, as I went up and down them 10 times doing laundry, no not me"

"I did not have a bang of envy, once again, for my neighbors who live on the 2nd floor because it's one less flight of stairs, but same size apartment as my own, while carrying my super heavy laundry basket up 4 flights up stairs today, oh goodness no, not me..."

Ok, so if you wish to join, click on the button at the top, and read the rules for Not me Monday and join in! Don't forget to be praying for McMama and Baby Stellan!

I'll do my "Not Me Monday" post later today. I just have a moment, finishing lunch and then have to run an errand. I'm posting to say I'm feeling all better! The bug has left the body! LOL! The kids all seem to be fine still too! Here in a bit I'm going to call a friend and see if she can watch the kids while I go to a luncheon. I'm looking forward to it. I'm going with "B" so it'll be nice to spend 2 hours with her and other ladies!

I have to get laundry done today, well some of it done. My goal is to get the laundry off my loveseat, folded, and put away!! I did make up the menu for the next 2 weeks so on Wed. after PWOC I'll go to the commissary and get all the groceries I need for our meals. I did it for all three meals and snacks as well. Well I need a few more snack idea's. Right now I have apples, grapes, oranges, and at Jacob's request nacho's, and I have popcorn (we use the airpopper), so if anyone else has some simple snack idea's for the kids. Oh I'll have string cheese too for the kids, and carrots and dressing to dip. I need snacks that are Emma friendly too. She doesn't have a ton of teeth, but can eat almost anything (obviously not nacho's and popcorn), and she's not a fan of cheese slices yet.

Ok got to get lunch


Tcheuss (bye in German)