Happy 1st Birthday Wyatt

It's amazing how in just one year they go from this:



To This:


We're having a little party tonight with friends and having some Pizza, cake and ice cream! I'll post more pictures tomorrow!

Got to the breaking point....

I've found that my children really seem to know how to push my buttons. As I mentioned my children have for some reason or another been difficult to get to bed. They get up there after we brush teeth, read stories, say prayers, and then give kisses goodnight. Then we hear them talking which is fine, but then we hear them out of bed, and then we hear someone crying, and then it's Mom, so and so hurt me. Which obviously wouldn't have happend had they been in bed. So last night we reached our breaking point. I told them they were going to lose t.v., computer, and the wii if I had to tell them one more time to go to bed. So they lost 2 days worth, and then were STILL acting out. So rather than take the entire week away... I tried something different. My friend mentioned her husband and her do this when they have trouble with their kids going to bed. I don't know if this is exactly what they do but this is what I did. I had them all come downstairs, they had to face the wall, and hold a book (it wasn't big) over their heads. They thought it was funny at first, but after 20 minutes they were crying to go to bed. They went upstairs, and Maddie and Eliza ended up doing some more minutes, but after that we didn't hear a peep out of them. I will definately try it again because it was definately more effective than a spanking ever was, and better than threats. Let's hope that tonight will be better for going to bed, and that they can behave to earn their favorite things back by Wednesday.

This is me trying to get the kids to bed lately...

This is how I feel every night trying to get the kids to bed, either me or Josh is up trying to threaten the children to bed. It's no fun. It's like I just want to say: "I'll get you my pretty's.... and all your toys, computer games, wii, and any fun you want to have too! ha ha ha ha ha!"
Yep... that's me the wicked witch of the west!

30 days...

This is what my downstairs playroom is starting to look like. We have 30 days until we plan to be fully packed and then pick up our moving truck to get it loaded. I should feel stressed, but I don't yet. We have a deadline, and have been doing a little bit each day. It has been surprisingly nice to pack, because it has forced me to go through things I haven't gone through in a VERY LONG time. When the military moves you, you don't really worry about how many boxes you have because it's their dime. But with us moving ourselves, it's a completely different story. We are having a yard sale with some friends next weekend, and if we don't sell it, it's all going to the goodwill. And I feel like we're getting rid of a lot. So it feels really nice! So as much as it is a pain to move ourselves, I will be shocked if we haven't gone down in the pounds category when the military moves us again!

Post Birthday Celebrations

Not to be outdone by my Norfolk Girls... my California Girls Amy and Becca took me out last night for my birthday. It was a total surprise as to what we were doing. First we drove and got honked at (because they wrote on the windows of the car)to Coranado and took the ferry over to San Diego.
While on the boat I opened up my birthday present a Twilight T-shirt made by my friend Amy, and a Twilight movie poster!
Then we took a bike taxi to this wonderful place called Extraordinary Desserts... and OH MY GOSH it was awesome! (as you can see what we go from the photo)
But here's what some of their dessert display looked like... sooo yummy!

then we went back to the ferry boat, back to Coroanado then went on base and saw the Twilight movie! (yep I've seen it 4 times, but on base it was FREE!) We had a great time, and stayed up way too late! (I'm feeling it in my old 31 years today!) Thanks for the wonderful Birthday California Girls!!

Should I stay or should I go??

So come on and let me know.... Should I stay or should I go...
I feel like this has been my theme song since Josh told me he would be deploying. After debating on should I stay here in Califonia for 8 months or not I decided I didn't want to stay here for 8 monhts. Not that I don't have good friends here I do. I just haven't been here long enough to form the bonds of friendship that were formed with my Norfolk Girls. So it is to the land of Norfolk I will return. To be within hours of my sister, and a days drive to my parents and inlaws. It will be a pain to move ourselves, but I'm excited to know that I will be among some of my closest friends and I know that they will help me get through it. =)

The Best 31st Birthday present ever

I had a good birthday, aside from the fact during the day I started to feel off and spent most of the night in the bathroom if you know what I mean. Josh and I went and saw a movie, then went to Cheescake factory for dinner. But by the time we got home I felt awful!
I've spent today trying to rest and feel better. And Maddie unfortunately has what I have since she threw up last night and today too.
My girls in Norfolk told me they sent me a birthday package, and I was expecting a total gag gift, even though Jenn told me it wasn't a gag. Boy was I surprised! I was told I had to do a movie. I look terrible because I really wasn't feeling well. And ignore the messy house because you know when Mom is sick and Daddy's at work, the t.v. was my saving grace!
Unfortunately my camera cut me off so I had to do two movies! Thanks girls for the great birthday present! I will see you soon!


So I got gift cards to all the different places mentioned in the poem! And they made sure to only get gift cards that I could use in Norfolk. I definately don't mind!

Happy New Year!

We got some new and unexpected news yesterday. Josh is getting orders to deploy to an Army unit for 8 months. The last couple years the Navy has been sending people from shore duty assignments to augment units in the Middle East. Lucky me- his number came up. Josh will be headed to Ft. Jackson, South Carolina in March for a crash course in how to be a soldier. Then he'll on to an Army base in Kuwait. Good times. Happy New Year to me and the kids!