Just some thoughts...

Didn't do a whole lot today... and it's now 9:37p.m. and it's so quiet because all three of the kids are asleep. It's very nice. A few months ago my friend Marie and I decided we had so much in the way of scrapboking supplies we would take on the challenge in Erin Lincoln's book
The challenge is to do 100 pages with the supplies you have. Well we started off pretty good, and then I got sidetracked working on a going away project for my friend Melissa who was moving, that I barely worked on my own stuff. Then when that was done I was kind-of ready for a break because I had spent a lot of time working on that. So I decided to not do 100 pages. I'm going to do 30 pages to start. Starting last night. I did two scrapbook pages, and I am not doing them in any chronological order. It's more fun. I know I will never be "caught up" so I might as well enjoy myself and do it however I want. If I'm feeling really brave I might post something I've been working on. I realized I rarely talk about the creative stuff I work on, I do something that is creative as much as possible. I think it would drive me crazy if I couldn't do something that was artistic. I also started reading "The 8th Habit: from Effectiveness to Greatness" by Steven R. Covey. So far it's very intersting to me. I picked it up at the library the other day and started reading tonight. The eighth habit is To Find your Voice and Inspire others to find theirs, doesn't that rock? I think so. Anyway, I'll have to finish the whole thing and then review it, but so far I like it.
Okay, if you read this far I will share something about the kids that happend today! Eliza climbed the stairs! Yep all the way up! She surprised me, I didn't even think she even had a thought about going up the stairs! Boy, did she prove me wrong. And she went up 3 times on her own! (I was behind her all three of those times) The first time though she got up half way when I walked in the living room and realized she had climbed the stairs! Needless to say I was shocked! She is changing so fast, it's amazing! Well it's now 9:55p.m. and I think I might get some rest as I'm having some friends over and we're going to scrapbook... should be fun.

gee, I'm so glad it's raining....

Well it's raining. It's okay though, because it forces me to do the things I've needed to get done now for over a week. The first thing I've really needed to do, mop the floor. So while the floor is drying I'm posting on my blog. (my reward!)
I also have needed to get ALL of my towels washed and folded. When we had company we used a lot of towels, and then all of a sudden I realized we were down to just the few towels that I had washed, YIKES! So my first loads of laundry today are towels and sheets! (I usually put that load last). Then I have laundry to do. And all of my bathrooms need cleaned. I'll probably clean those tomorrow. I've already cleaned the kids rooms, and we moved the train table to the attic, so it's more of a playroom now than before, there are a lot more toys up there now. I realzed though, that my kids have LOTS of toys, and we need to go through them again and get rid of some, or put them away for awhile.
As I wrote that paragraph Maddie ran full speed through the dining room with her Strawberry Shortcake Ball (running away from Jonas) and I yelled stop too late and she slipped and fell straight back on the wet kitchen floor. (ugh!) She's okay, but I think she might have a headache soon.
Did I mention Josh is gone till Friday. He is. He's doing some training somewhere in Virginia with some Air Force guys. So it's just me and the kiddos for a few days. Looks like were off to a fantastic start of just me and them. (note the sarcasim. sp??)
On a more positive note, Eliza has been crawling ON HER KNEES now for a few weeks! It's amazing how fast she mastered the crawling compared to her older siblings. They were pulling on their bellies for weeks it seems like. She didn't do it long, and now is all over. Her favorite place to go is in the dining room, of course the one room without carpet! I think she likes to go there to see what she can eat, cause she seems to find leftover food that hasn't been swept up yet. Yes, I know it's gross and I don't LET her do it, but she finds it. It's much more difficult to kid proof when your older two have tons of little parts to toys, and you don't have to worry about them choking on stuff anymore and you have forgotten that point in their lives. I've been quickly reminded of little stuff, so I am constantly picking up and throwing away little things that I think she'll put in her mouth. She finds things anyway, and I'm also constantly doing a sweep in her mouth. She also started pulling herself up on stuff, and isn't doing it on furniture yet, but I'm sure it will be soon, and I'm still waiting for her to start climbing the stairs. (not looking forward to it!) Well I am being requested a drink from Jonas. I see green koolaid coming his way or some milk. =) I also have towels to fold. (yeah!)

the pictures, finally, had problems posting!

Okay after many attempts at posting these pictures (can I just say AAAAHHH! thanks I needed to scream this this thing) here they are. They are from our trip to Busch Gardens with Joey (aka Will), Jon, Jenny, Me, Josh, Jonas, Maddie and Eliza. Enjoy!

Feelin' Hot Hot Hot!

It is SOOOO Stinkin hot here today! I believe my car temperature gauge read 94 degrees. We went to the park today, and were there only a short time before Jonas said, "I want to go home mom."
We did go for a little walk by the water, but Jonas wasn't thrilled. So we got out of there. I thought it would be fun to go to the park, eat lunch, and play for a few hours. We even got stuck in traffic, I think there was an accident, and so by the time we got there I was determined to stay. It didn't happen. Oh well. We did go to the dollar tree, and got two little blow up pools, but they are so small I think Eliza will be the only one really enjoying them.
We have been very busy the past few weeks. It's nice to have family in town, but then when they go it's almost like a release of air. You build up the excitment of them coming, they come and you go, go, go. Then they leave and you can exhale. I miss the excitment of family being in town now. We went to Busch Gardens with Josh's brothers Jon and Joey, and Jon's wife Jenny. We had a ton of fun, but after the day was over I was worn out! I would definately like to go back again, the kids loved it!
I'm going back home to Indiana (sing the song now if you wish) and I can't wait. I'll be there July 15th Unfortunately it will be just me and the kids, because Josh can't take the leave. (they won't let him)
Both of my sisters will be home, so hopefully (crossing my fingers, and I hope my mom reads this too!) I can get my parents or older niece and nephew to watch the kids for me so my sisters and I can go do something together. Its been awhile. Next summer I think we'd like to go with our mom on a cruise with just the girls... hopefully we can work that out.
Today before Josh left for work, he unbunked the bunk beds and we now have Maddie and Jonas sharing a room so Eliza can have Maddie's room. We just don't think the kids are ready to be in the room in the attic yet. After the other bed was in place, Jonas immediately went downstairs and got Maddie's blanket for her. (Isn't he sweet!)
They seem pretty excited to share a room, so we'll see how long that lasts!
Here are some pictures from the past few weeks!

Time out for women... and more!

Wow, it has been a busy busy week! A lot has happend. Josh's folk, and one of his middle brothers (he has 5 of them, and one sister!) arrived on Monday night, and it seems to have flown by. Josh and his dad, and brother got the hand railing for the attic stairs! YEAH! So we now have something to hold on to as you go up the stairs to the attic, whereas there wasn't anything there before. Then they started building us a new deck in the backyard, it's not done yet, but when it is it will be wonderful!
So here's what we did the rest of the week:
Thursday we left for Washington D.C. and of course the kids just had to go swimming as SOON as we got there, but they had to wait since the pool didn't open until 5p.m. So we went swimming, then got cleaned up and then went to dinner. We then went searching for some cards to play some Canasta (the family game of choice!lol!) and found this Super Dollar store. It had just about EVERYTHING! It was very packed and unorganized, but we found some cards. Had I had more time I would've liked to have looked around some more. Friday we went to breakfast, and then went to the temple. Right after we got finished Josh's other brother Jon and his wife Jenny called because they managed to get a military flight to Andrews Airforce Base and would be there at 3p.m. (we got the message at 2:15p.m.) so we booked over there and picked them up. Rented them a car, then went and ate a late lunch. Then saw some sites in D.C. we saw the WW II memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, The Korean Memorial, and then our kids were done. We went back to the hotel and went swimming, had a late dinner and the kids went to bed. The next morning, Josh's mom, Jenny and I went to Time out For Women in Fairfax, VA. It was so aweseome! It was such a wonderful, and uplifting time. The speakers were aweseome, and the music by Hillary Weeks was beautiful! I hope to go to another one again, they have them listed on their website on deseret book
I purchased two books, one of which I already finished. The book Confessions of an Unbalanced Woman by Emily Watts. So good! It's also a quick read (60 pages)!
I also purchased "The Peacgiver" by James L. Ferrell. I thought it looked good, and I had three people tell me (while holding it and looking at it) that it was a good book! I hope they are right!
My sister Marilyn was there so we had lunch with her during our lunch break, and said goodbye, but I'll see her soon I'm sure! I will post pictures later! The kids had a good time, but I'm glad to be home today. Josh's brothers and Jenny are still here with us through this week. It should be fun! So I will have lots of new pictures to post!

pictures from the zoo and party

okay I forgot to post these! Here are some pictures from the end of the year party and the zoo! Maddie and Jonas were refusing to take pictures with their teachers (Jonas with Mrs. Washington and Mrs. Pierce) (Maddie with Miss Merrie Jo and Miss Deb)figures! But this is what I got!
Then there are some pictures from the zoo playing in the fountain!

Some Maddieisms

Maddie is now 3, and when I say it I don't say it as oh what a great age 3 is, I mean, she's 3 and I am already wishing she were 4. She used to be so easy going. She would tell us when she was tired and go lay down and go to sleep on her own. She was helpful, which for the most part she still is when she wants to be, and then other times it's "I don't want to, YOU do it mommy."
Her new thing when we're in the car if we're listening to a cd of mine or the radio is, "what's this song about mommy?"
She also has been asking me what my name is lately, so I tell her, it's Deborah. So then she proceeds to say it over and over, and she's even been as bold to call me by my first name, but I tell her I'm her mommy so she calls me mommy but other people call me by my name. She also is into asking what letters people's names start with. She knows hers starts with M, and Jonas and Josh are J's and Eliza is E. I'm glad she's intersted so she'll be ready when preschool comes around. I've been writing it out for her and spelling her name so she recognizes it.
I had a huge box with random pictures from high school and college in my opening in my desk, and yesterday Maddie pulled out a picture of when I went to prom my senior year. Maddie asked about it, and asked if it was daddy in the picture, and I said no, that I didn't know Daddy yet, and that I would've loved to have gone to prom with daddy since I didn't have that fun of a night with my date that night. And I don't remember what prompted this, but then Maddie proceeded to tell me, "I don't want to grow up and get big." I told her I know, I wish we didn't have to either! Such wisdom from a 3 year old!