You're Going To Miss This

If you click on the picture above you'll go to Pam's blog who's started this weekly meme. This is my first time and it's a fairly new meme, so I hope lots of you will come and join in. Ultimately we're to share things either from the past or present that we're going to miss that's in our lives from kids, spouses, places we live, etc. Life....!

1. I'm going to miss my children being carefree and not understanding the ugliness in this world. I see my 7 1/2 yr old already questioning the ugliness in this world (he asked me what abortion was via the stupid election junk... sad I tell you).

2. I'm going to miss being the one they believe can make all things better for them.

3. I'm going to miss my friend B, who's leaving in a matter of weeks.

4. I'm going to miss listening to my children play with B's children, hearing their laughter, the plays they put on (and make up themselves), their whisper's, their orniness that only little boys possess (girls have it too, but it's a different kind of orniness!).

5. I'm going to miss the look on Emma's face when she see's ME walk in the room, because I'm still the most important person in her world. Wow, the way it makes your heart swell! I still have those moments with my boys, but if you're a Momma you know that it changes as they get older...there's more great things in this world and you're not the only wonderful thing!

6. I miss the feeling of riding a horse. The freedom I've always felt when the horse is running, the wind blowing their my hair. Laughter and tears always come so much easier during that experience.

So...join in! I think I'm going to really love this meme!

Emma's 1 year old pictures

Here are the pictures we had taken of Emma about two weeks ago for her "One Year" pictures. She was NOT happy by the last one, which I think will be quite obvious to all of you! LOL These are the real moments here!!

Recipe

As asked for via Erin ;) The recipe for the Enchilada casserole!

2-3 lbs of ground beef
1 package of dry enchilada sauce mix
1 8oz can of tomato sauce
1 can of enchilada sauce (we use mild, use the one you'd prefer)
enchilada shells (corn shells)
1 large bag of mexican cheese

Cook up ground beef, drain, rinse, and return to skillet, add the CAN of enchilada sauce to your meat and heat up.

In a sauce pan warm up the dry enchilada sauce mix, tomato sauce (and the water....ultimately follow the directions on the sauce mix).

Take 9 x 13 baking dish and spoon in and cover the bottom of the pan with the sauce mix. Then add a layer of your shells, top with meat mixture, and top with a layer of cheese. Repeat, ending with cheese. Cover with foil and place in oven, preheated at 350 degree's and cook until the cheese is melted.

That's it! It's an extremely EASY dish and we all love it! You can serve with a salad, biscuits, or just alone! Enjoy and let me know if you make it and how your family likes it!

I Made It

I finished day 4 of watching my friends children and actually today I had all 3 of her kids, because there was no school today (Parent-Teacher conferences). I will say that in many ways, today was the easiest. Their oldest is only in 1st grade, but she's a classic older child in that she jumps right in and helps with the younger ones. She helped Jacob in cleaning up their bedroom (still a long ways to go, but there is progress). When her baby sister was crying and Emma was crying, she came right in and helped to get her sisters attention and make her laugh! What a blessing that little lady was to me today! I sang her praises to her Daddy, so I hope he went home and sang her praises as well.

Tonight my friend B's son, little B is staying the night. He's Jacob's best friend. Right now they're watching Adventures In Odessy! We love AIO! Great biblical lessons and so fun to watch (or listen to!!). I made Enchilada Casserole for dinner and B had 2nds, he can sometimes be picky, although he knows he must have a thank you bite (his mom's rule that I've sense adopted...ultimately they have to take a bite and say thank you for providing the food, even if they don't like it...gratitude goes a long way). So anyways, he loved it. It's a popular dish in our family. A friend from high school shared it with me once when I went to visit her, when Jacob was a baby (and Chad was deployed to Kuwait...before the Iraq war!). It's one of their family favorites. I have shared it with my brother and it's one of their favorites, and so on....so dinner was wonderful.

I bought some Pringles and let them have some Sunkist. I offered popcorn when we first got home with B, but they never asked me to make it! We use a air popper, no dangerous cancer causing toxins and it's just over all healthier! They LOVE it. Ok they love all popcorn! LOL Anyways, I didn't have to make it and can't say I minded that! LOL

Tomorrow I have to get some laundry done. It's been 1000% neglected all week. I also have to start working on my bedroom. It's awful. I'm going to take a picture of it, for myself and myselly. I'm far too ashamed to ever share it. I can literally barely walk in my room. There's so much in there. Baskets of clothes that need to be packed away, given away, or thrown away. Boxes of various items, boxes of papers that need to be sorted, and just various things stuffed in there because I can close my door and no one needs to see our "dirty little secret". I have our dirty clothes in a bag in there (it's a laundry bag at least), and all the clean clothes one in a hamper and some just piled on top of other things, that need to be put away. I also have a basket of clothes that are Emma's. We were overly blessed by hand me downs, they've been sorted through, but now need to be put away. I've simply been too lazy.

I can blame a bit of the laziness from being tired after the day of extra children, reality is...they were easy, but having 2 girls 15 months and well on Saturday baby girl will be turning 1, well it's work. I have NEVER had a desire for twins and this only confirmed that for me. I'm a whimp! I'm sure if God saw it fit to bless me that way, I'd do fine, we'd find a way for it to work for our family and go on with our life. But it was overwhelming.
Yesterday at PWOC we had a special and at the end we had lunch. Lasagna and speghetti, breads, salads, and yummy cookies! All was fine and then I had to go get the kids. In my brillancy I thought "oh I'll feed them here, then I don't have to go home and make them something"! So the boys made their own plates and I made a plate up for the girls. I had the girls strapped into their high chairs, went to the table to get napkins, and in the 5 seconds of being gone from them, Emma got into the lasanga and started feeding herself and baby girl! Thankfully friends caught her, had her cleaned up for the most part, and pushed the food out of reach. I then proceeded to feed the two most demanding, hungry little girls. If I was feeding one, the other was yelling at me to feed them. It was a REALLY FUN and PEACEFUL process. Thankfully they were done and then it was time to clean up, load up,and head out. The boys had disappeared, so I had to round them up. I felt like I was being pulled in 5 different ways and I literally was. The girls were NOT happy to be strapped into the stroller, especially Emma who thought she should be able to run like the wind, unfortunately she has a Momma who restricts that at times! LOL I found Jackson and little man, and was on the prowell for Jacob. Found him and then the other two boys had disappeared. Oh and during this time I was taking leftovers home, figuring someone would holler the minute we walked into the door they were hungry (and they did...including me! LOL) so I had something to feed them! The younger boys were finally found, outside in front of the chapel with our friends older son (he's watched my children before), but they both still got into trouble for going outside without my permission. Little man I know has done this to him Mom on various occassions, but he understand without a doubt that he was NOT to do that to me ever again.

We finally made it home, both girls wanted to be held. Baby girl wanted some milk, so I got her a sippy cup and made that up for her, Emma wanted to nurse so I did that, then it was nap time for Emma. I got laid down and was sitting in my rocking chair with Baby girl, who was actually sitting beside me and I felt her head fall. I am pretty sure she did not get her morning nap, so she was getting it in one way or another! She only slept for maybe 45 minutes and Daddy showed up to get them. I will say I was pretty wiped out.

After they left and Emma woke up the kids and I walked up the CAC and I got Emma's 1 year pictures. I'll make a new post for them. I loved them! I gave our photographer free editing reign and she did a perfect job!

We had an early dinner, bathtime, and then off to bed they went!

I will not miss getting up at 4:15 AM. Hats off to those who have to, but for those of us who don't...no desire! I always went back to bed once the kids were here and settled. Baby girl went into Emma's crib and went back to bed and little man laid on the couch, watched a movie and fell asleep and our door was locked. I normally got about 3 to 3 1/2 more hours of sleep and I slept hard in those hours, but having them broke up hurts! I'm looking forward to tomorrow morning! The boys are still up watching another dvd of Adventures in Odessy, it's 11 pm! I told them I'll make breakfast burrito's for them, but I think it's going to be more of a brunch. I have fruit to stave them off until I have the desire to make them! LOL

On a somber note....Chad called and sounded sooo down. I had hoped he'd call back, but it's 1 am there now, so that's not going to happen. He called my cell phone too, but it was charging here at home so I missed his call. I feel so bad. I know he's lonely, discouraged, and we haven't been able to talk about the election either so I'm going out on a limb to say he's disappointed in how that turned out as I am. Please pray for him. Pray for his peace of mind, pray that he will get the support and encouragement that he needs there, and that he never feels that God has left him. That he feels the Lord surrounding him at every turn and is holding him tightly.

A True American Hero

He showed amazing grace, gratitude, and a humbleness that no many who are in his position have or could. I'm truly and utterly disappointed in our nation. I am disturbed that any one who professes that Christ is their savior could EVER vote for a man who thinks it's fine to murder babies who are born alive, because they're inconvient for their parents. I'm disappointed that people led with their emotions vs their heads. That some voted because of the color of skin, and not because of where their beliefs lie. We have absolutely made our bed as a nation and we will suffer the consequences.

We had the opportunity to have real change in the White House, leading our Nation. We had the opportunity to have a true American Hero, who was brave enough to stand up to an American Enemy, lead our country. To have a man who's dedicated his whole adult life to serving our nation in one manner or another. Who was brave enough to bring a woman who was unknown to practically everyone, other than those in Alaska, to be his running mate.

You want to be moved, touched, and humbled...take a listen to Senator John McCain give his consession speach. He was elequent, kind, gentle, and brought me to tears.

Now is the time, if you've not already began, to be praying for God's mercy. We deserve EVERYTHING God allows to happen to us. We have made our beds, we've been greedy, selfish, and yes racist in a whole new way. We have thrown our future, our children out like dirty laundry, because they were not perfect, desired, or planned and said they're a burden so lets just murder them. We have given into satan time and time again in lifestyles of greed, ignorance, the list just goes on. We have been ignorant and refused to do research. We've elected a man with virtually no experience, who thinks it's ok to have his church leaders cuss America, who has no issue socializing with terrorists, and thinks we should try and negotiate with Iran. Who has no concept of how the Military runs, never even bothered himself to join a single branch of the military. We're a nation who got swept up with a nice smile, good speaches, and a lot of empty promises that can not be filled.

I am disappointed and heart broken.
I have cried many tears today and will cry even more come January. The knot in my stomach seems to be growing and growing. I believe without a doubt God's wrath is upon us and we deserve every amount of it.

Well America, I hope you're happy. When the promises fall down, when our nation stays in war, and when our deficit coutinues or gets ever worse. When our rights are stripped and our constition is destroyed, remember you voted him in, you voted the Senate and the House in. You wanted change...well you're about to get it. Just remember who is responsible for that change, when it starts falling down around us.

And so goes life

The time has come that I'm going to be in a state of goodbyes. My friend A leaves next month. She actually has her home packed up tomorrow. Pray that all goes well with the packers and movers. Pray that her boys handle seeing their items packed up as well as possible.
As if seeing A leave isn't hard enough. Tonight the phone call I've been dreading came.
B called and her husband got the official word, they are indeed leaving. They must report to their new post in Arizona by Dec. 10. My heart aches.
I want to make something so clear, I KNOW I'll survive and I KNOW we'll be able and will still talk via phone and internet, but it will not be the same. I have spent day after day with B and her family. We hang out so much. We eat meals together almost weekly, sometimes multiple times a week. Jacob and her son are best friends and Jackson loves them too. Emma loves B and I think likes her daughter! LOL We all love B's husband too. Chad and him are good friends and I know he's going to be so disappointed when I talk to him and tell him. We have not told any of our children yet and I've not decided yet when I will. I will talk to B and find out when she's going to tell her son and then probably will tell my boys.

I've done my crying, and am ok right now. Just a sadness is in my heart. It's hard to imagine her not being here. They moved here a year after we did, but since then we've spent so much time together and gotten so close that she is truly like my sister and as she calls me her "Triplett" (she has an identical twin sister). I'm just going to treasure the days and time I have left with her and Thank GOD that he allowed us to cross paths and allowed us to get to know each other and love each other. A friend like B is a rare gift.

Get out there and Vote

Turn off the music on my play list (scroll down to the bottom of my page).

I'm an Army wife, I'm extremely patriotic, and this is one of my husband's very favorite songs, EVER. I don't know of a time I've listened to this song where I've not at least gotten tears in my eyes.

Today is the day we elect a new President. It's one of the most difficult jobs, that I personally would NEVER want, but is so important. They're a defender of our nation, decision makers, although not always the ones who have the final say on those decisions (don't forget the Senate and Congress). They are the ones in which all or most of the blame is laid upon. The men who've held this position, this job have aged tremendously in their 4 to 8 years in service. Beyond just the Presidential election though, we have other positions up for election and they are just as important in many ways. Kansas has Lynn Jenkins running for a Congressional seat for the first time. Her parents are family friends of ours. I love her parents. When I was young, my parents rented a house from them for 3 or 4 years. They became like grandparents and have remained an important part of my life in the last 20 + years. To know that Lynn is in Washington fighting for our state, is amazing to me. So for me that Congressional seat is big. She's running against another woman who has not so much hurt Kansas, but is not one I can support 100% as I can Lynn.

We have to vote with our heads, more than our emotions. A politician may "move" us, but I think we all know that being moved is not all that is important. I don't need to be constantly "inspired" by someone. I need to know that when they're put to the test they're going to go at it head first, with fists clinched, and will not give up until the battle is won. I need to know that their character is strong. I need to know that the people they allign themselves with are for our country and not wanting to see the demise of it.

I need to know that those who are representing us on a local, state, and national level are doing so in their absolute best abilities. I need to know they have experience, where it counts. I want someone to stand up and behind my husband and his job, and that if that person is the one "leading" them, they are doing it with the knowledge that only one who's been in the Armed Forces has. I think it's imperitive that a Commander and Chief be one who has military background or a close family member who's in or been in, and shows me they get what an AWESOME responsibility it is to be in the military and to lead it.

I don't need an organizer, I want a leader.

Not Me Monday

MckMama did not one this week, but hey no one said the rest of us couldn't!! She's a little busy with MckMuffin home, nursing, diapering, you know and juggling 3 others...life's a little busy!

Join in! Just make sure to go to her page and read the RULES! :)

I did NOT agree to take on my friends two kids for 4 days this week, no not me, I'd never be crazy enough to do that!

I did not get less than 4 hours of sleep last night, and now be wired AGAIN. Not me!

Emma did not take off her shoes Saturday night on the way home, then proceed to take off her socks, while we were WALKING (she was in the stroller) and it was only about 35 degree's outside and I did not possibly get down and tell her to knock it off, no not me.

I did not stay up late last night cleaning, because I'm most definately NOT a procrastinator. NOT ME!

I did not yell at my husband via the internet phone last night, he's just in Iraq, in a war zone, missing us, so I most definately would not take what little time we have to get annoyed with him and actually yell at him over something silly. Not me, I'm the ideal Army wife don't you know that?

I did not vote via absentee ballot. Not a chance. I do not care who my husband's next BIG BOSS is, who cares about who the next Commander and Chief is? I don't think it matters if one has military experience and the other has none, not me. I don't care that one wants to take our country into socialism, I think democracy is over rated. No, you see I did not vote, oh no...not me!

With that...did you vote?

>

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!!!