2 Weeks

 Our parent's are on their 30th Wedding Anniversary honeymoon!

I have written before about how much I adore my siblings, or at least I think I have. I've been given the opportunity to house-sit and "watch" them for about 2 weeks.

I definitely use that term loosely because they can be pretty self sufficient. I'm more of just an authority/accountability person. I make sure they don't break the rules & stay alive. Yup.

 

So we've been going to friend's houses, going to parks, exploring local businesses, grocery shopping, cleaning, and cooking a lot. Watching movies, playing basketball, swimming; all the fun things you do on a budget. Driving to Hobbly Lobby to craft special flower halo headbands that she (marybeth) and her friends are going to model for my shop.

The siblings have been so helpful. It's not so hard coming here and helping keep them in line, but it is difficult uprooting 3 children from their routine and putting them in a different environment for 2 weeks, just to go back... They have watched my kids while I have napped (happened once), watched some here and there so I could take another sibling to a friend's house, watched them in the car so I could run in somewhere, etc. 

Daniel fixed the headlights on my van (apparently I have to turn the lights off before I turn the car off or it won't cooperate, even then you have to do a series of knob turning and then this girl has to take a nap because it's just too much).

Michael didn't complain when I put a playpen in his room for Carson to take his naps and sleep at night or when I sent Sehara to bed early and she got scared and made a makeshift bed on his floor.  

Marybeth wrangles the kids together pretty quickly and Tyler has been my right hand man, ready to go at a moments notice. He calculates the grocery bill and tracks things like that. 

They have all pitched in to help me help them. 

We've been able to spend much needed quality time together, where they get to learn about this real/new me, the girl who has calmed down, and learned some patience and life lessons. They are starting to shed this drill sergeant view of me and I like that.

I get to see how they have grown up, too. You can't hide much when you spend just about 24/7 with someone. Areas they need to work on (so I can see how they do in the future), listen to their woes, see their brilliance and laugh with them at their mistakes.

Anyway, this is where I have been!  I haven't been hiding or skipping out on things but I have definitely needed a break from some people in Ohio. #home

Busy, Indeed

True to my word, I have been busy keeping busy. We have had such an exciting summer.

Some things that we've done:

As a family:
A BIG trip to Texas for the Pugh Family Reunion. It was amazing. The drive there was so good for us (Tim, Missy, and I) to get to know each other on a deeper level. You get to truly see a person when you are literally with them 24/7. It was great.We were gone for a week. That's a long time!

Sehara:
Sehara got to go so many places. She's been down to Kentucky, spent so much time at friend's houses. She had been to Fort Hill Christian camp. and to Berea, KY for the Eco-Village reunion.

The kids and I (sometimes Tim, depending on work):
We jetted to Berea.Which was another big deal. We have been to play-dates almost every Thursday that we've been in town. We have explored Fairborn, and a little bit of Beavercreek and some of Centerville. We still have a long list to get to. We have spent a lot of time with friends. We went to Young's Jersey Dairy. The kids love that place. We also enjoyed the 4th of July Parade. Us girls go every Tuesday to Lady's class. The kids especially love the splash pad.

We've tried new restaurants, seen some movies, gone on long family walks, explored parks

Looking at my list, it doesn't seem like as much as I thought, but when I think about it, we have to schedule things around church, and naps, sports, diapers, and all that fun stuff.

We still have some things to do:
Kings Island
Ice cream and window shopping in downtown Fairborn with Kayt and her kids.
Berry picking at different farms around here.
A weekend trip to Kelly's in Kentucky.
A weekend trip to my parent's house.
The spray park and snow cones at the Greene with Kayt and kids.
Visit with Connie and see new places,
Visit Kaylee and meet her kids,
Visit Amanda and meet Elijah,
Visit Jodi and meet her girls,
Visit Donna!
And, get more traffic to my blog!

It may take until the end of the year!

A Good Morning

I feel pretty good today. Like I told my mom, I think I stopped feeling sorry for myself this morning.

Or it could just be that I actually woke up, got a few things done, took Sehara to the bus stop and had fun with her on the way. Then I got back here and put the recycling out, fed Madeline, got Carson up and cleaned him up and then played with him, too. Like, I actually got on the floor and chased him. Tim woke up in a good mood as well and that helped. I helped Carson interact with Madeline gently and successfully. I even fed Carson breakfast (I usually pass him to Grandmama for that).

It's a complicated process to have all of our ducks in a row. I'm glad they lined up this morning.

Blessings Abundant

I have had a few pretty bad days. I had a huge anxiety attack yesterday. It's just been bad. Today I decided to make myself count my blessings instead of dwelling in my head about all the crap I shove down so I don't have to deal with it.

So, I put Madeline down on the floor on a blanket for the first time and played with her. Then Carson woke up and was pretty confused as to why she was on the floor but he still played, too.  Sehara was busy riding her bike. Today was rather warm...

I'm letting Carson kiss Madeline again. It's been rough teaching him to stay off her, but for her safety, it's important. I don't want my kids to fight with each other, I don't want them to have that kind of relationship. It's inevitably going to happen between some, I know, but I'm trying to prevent it now.

She's 7 weeks old tomorrow! She's as cute as a button too. She observes a lot and soaks it in. She doesn't like to be cold or uncomfortable and she'll let you know if she is. I like that... a little honesty goes a long way.

They took a mini nap together, although neither was aware of it. Carson was out like a light when I laid her next to him and she fussed a minute then calmed down. I even got a few minutes to nap. Seems to me that as soon as I doze, one wakes up.

I've got a lot to be thankful for. Look at my little family! We are nowhere near perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but we're awesome and that's great. I'm glad I'm in a better mindset today to realize this. I have more than I've ever had and I ought to be happy about it.

Not Ready To Share

I'm not ready to share my birth story yet.  We have a healthy baby and I feel physically great and that's all that matters right now.

I did want to say that Tim and I are trying not to be disappointed in the lack of visitors we received at the hospital, or now even. We have tried so hard these past two years to immerse ourselves into church activities and kids parties and friend's social things and we have been busy bees doing it. It sucks to sit back and observe that we have put so much into family and friends and it wasn't given back.

We have gotten apologies and apologies for it, but it really doesn't make it better, although we do accept them.

If you can't celebrate a life, what can you do?

The people that showed up were the people we couldn't have done it without! So, thanks so much to you guys! :) We know who we can count on and put our love and time into now.

Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes and Dating

I tried a new recipe.  I made those cupcakes in ice cream cones and the kids love them.  I don't really like ice cream cones so I haven't eaten one.  The cones turned came out of the oven a little soggy so I'm going to need to look that up and see if there is a way to prevent it.

S says she wants them for her birthday for her class and I already plan on making a few for Carson's birthday.

Kids love cupcakes in ice cream cones.  It's such a contradiction.  As a child, I would have hated it, it is like mixing food to me. I guess I still wouldn't like it since I won't try one.  I think it's the soggy cone. I dislike soggy things.

I'm making those cowgirl cookies next from Bakerella.

I'm still waiting to hear if S was elected student council.  The other kids running missed school (hello, that should show you who really should be elected) so they postponed their speeches. We are really encouraging her to get as involved as she chooses to, to hopefully keep her on the right path.

Carson got a big boy haircut and boy is he a cutie! He's been so fun lately, playing very well and he's just hilarious. Just looking at parenting differences between children is amazing to me and I finally feel like I'm doing right by my children.

Tim and I mixed things up this morning and went on a breakfast date. We took S to the bus stop, waited, then headed to Waffle House.  Waffle House is my weakness. Every now and again, the idea of greasy breakfast food makes me so happy. The only downside is how early it was.

I have read when you go on dates with your spouse, you aren't supposed to talk about kids, money, or work. Well, that's all we have to talk about.  Actually, this morning we didn't talk very much and it was a great date.

On the way home, we laughed a lot about things the kids are doing and how funny they are.  I'd say it was a success.

What to do, What to do!!

HEY YOU!!  Yes, you!  You know who you are!  Do you enjoy reading my blog?!  If so, why don't you follow it?!  Says here that I have a scarce few (6) followers but I know you're reading it too.  Either that or these people are clicking 5 times each everyday.  Follow me!!!!!!

Ok, 'nuff of that junk.  Seems we have a new year on our hands.  I love new years.  I have yet to make a resolution, I have been thinking of some but I just can't wrap my head to committing to anything right now.  I used to boil at the idea of making resolutions and made goals instead.  Who am I kidding?  There are one and the same.  I must nail down a definite few by Friday and post them.  

I'm trying to figure out some ways to make my blog cooler.  It's kind of boring if I do say so myself.  I read some of my earlier posts and they are pretty funny.  I should try linking them up!  That would be a lovely thing to do this year.  A blog flashback.  Hmmmm, on my A-game. Oh, man!!

Look at my boy! This was his first time in a "chair". He is so cute. I have been thinking about my kids, and future children and all the blogs/articles I read about people really loving their children and thinking about having more. (Well, we will have more, that is, if we don't all die at the end of this year (j/k). I think we'll start trying this summer, so that's like in 6-8 months.) I can't help but to ask myself how can I love another baby like I do Sehara and Carson.  The amount of love I feel for them is so much right now that I can't even imagine how another could squeeze in .  Then I remember how I used to think women who wrote that very same thought were off their rocker.  Of course you could love all your children as much as the first (and second).  I just hold on to the thought that somehow, my heart will get a little bigger.

I need to get thinking on some ideas!! Goodnight!

Day Eleven

Eleven is weird to spell.  Have you ever done so?
I decided to relax with Tim and my kiddos today.  It was tough at first because of being so upset with Tim, but he made me work it out.  No more silent treatment for him (today).  It lasted a good four hours.  I can say that one of the best qualities in him is conflict resolution.
Sehara, Carson, and I are watching "Up" right now. She is anyway.  I never saw the end of it so I suppose I'll pay attention really quickly. 
It was super cute!   I am working my way through a bag of dove milk chocolates tonight.  I need to clean up a bit as well.  Everything is messy.
I'm thanking God I didn't have to take Carson back to the pediatrician today,  His problem cleared up.  I know it was a reaction to his shots. I'll bring it up before he gets more. 
Speaking of reactions.  I ate Okra today.  As usual, it is very tasty but it gives me the poops in under two hours.  I won't elaborate on how I know it's the okra.  Use your imagination.  MENTAL IMAGE. 
I need to get off of here and clip my toe nails and take the paint off.  It's nasty looking. 

Summer News

Needless to say, it's been an amazing summer. Well, I am as broke as a joke, but that won't change until I am out of college, so I am not worried too much about it. :)
I met this wonderful guy named Tim. He is literally the sweetest man in the world and I think I have met my equal and it's amazingly easily to say as much.
Good news about my classes is that I passed with an A and a B. Which is amazing for me.
I have a friend that has been staying in and out of my house and she is pretty cool so we're having a blast with that.
That's all for now.