What do I hear??

Right now I hear,

Sarah crying because she wants to watch a princess video and dance to a song. She is dressed in a dress-up dress as a princess.

Daniel, surprisingly, is quiet playing with a nun-chuck.

Megan and Joseph are wrestling and screaming, yelling, fighting. I wonder how long it will take for someone to get hurt and cry???????

Now the video is playing...

Brent is quiet in the living room, looking for some peace and quiet, trying to watch Survivor on the DVR.

Oh, now Daniel is standing on the side of the couch yelling "MOOOOMMMMMM, MOoooMMMM!!"

The dishwasher needs loaded and should be running too, although you can barely hear it. Grapes from dinner need to be put away, homework needs to be done, house needs picked up a little, and kids need to be put to bed in about 30-45 minutes.

My back and my stomach is really, really achy right now. Stress from all this thinking about how much I need to be doing and all the chaos of sound around me??

I think I will go and join Brent......

Call me Mrs. Fix-it

Home ownership is a big responsibility, not only do you have to make sure you send in your mortgage payments every month and the daily upkeep of cleaning and tidying, there is also a lot of maintenance.
I grew up with parents always fixing this or building that. They even built a cinder-block castle in our backyard for us kids to play in, 2 stories. It was pretty cool. So I learned a bit from them. At least with home maintenance, as far as cars go, I know a little. I can change a flat tire and figure out how to get a van with a dead battery parked in the middle of the garage out, unlock the wheel and get it in a position to jump start it.

Back to the house repairs.....having a leaky kitchen faucet, that could get expensive on the water bill needs to be taken care of soon. Or the Christmas outdoor lights that suddenly stopped working in the electrical outlet they are plugged into, or the toilet that keeps running after you flush.

Then there is the clogged drains and the inadequate heat to one area of the house. The loose screws holding up the cabinet doors or the handle insert on a closet door that keeps popping off(craft glue kept this one on). There is also the door(s) that don't shut right because the screws are screwed into holes that have now become to big and the door seems like it will come off when opening, or doesn't shut right. The kitchen disposal that has stopped working.

Some are easy enough to fix, others need a professional. Like the washer that stops draining water but is full of wet clothes, or the gas oven that, when opened, spits a fire ball out at you. Or the furnace that needs cleaned and checked. The dryer that smells and isn't drying. The microwave that runs when the door is opened (bought a new one! yikes!).

All of these things are things that have happened while we have lived here and all of them from the leaky kitchen faucet to the kitchen disposal have been fixed by yours truly, MOI!

Leaky kitchen faucet....that made a bit of a mess because I didn't get the hot water completely shut off while taking apart the handle to fix it. Flooded the counter.

Christmas lights needed reset on the GT electrical plug that was connected to where the Christmas lights were plugged in at.

Running toilet, needed a new seal around the base of the inside, easy fix and couple bucks later. Clogged drains, a little mix of baking soda and vinegar plus a small plunger..... unclogged.

Doors that don't shut right, require a little dowel rod glued into the holes,

new screws and a good screwdriver.

Kitchen disposal, first it was resetting the button on the bottom. (who knew sometimes you have to reset a disposal) But after it went out again, bought a new one, basically unscrewed the old one, screwed the new one back on, plugged hoses back

into it and there you go, new disposal!!

If it is a big appliance I will let the professionals handle that, but for all

these other items, bring it on house, I can take ya!!!

(if you made it through this post, Thanks, probably not one of my most exciting, but I am proud of myself for doing all this, and if you have a leaky faucet....give me a call ;)

Attempted...

to take, at least, 1 decent christmas picture for Christmas cards this year and here are the results:

Daniel refusing to sit by the kids and Sarah clearly not cooperating

Not going to get her to smile

Daniel wondering off, so Brent pretending to be Daniel

Change of scenery???? In front of the Christmas tree?

Yep, no better

We did manage to get 2 good ones to choose from and so here is the winner.....drum roller please, dum,dum,dum, duuuummmmm.....

with enough cropping and put into a card format, it actually turned out pretty cute. And what did we do to get Sarah to smile finally, you might ask??? Gave her a Cheez-it cracker "That's all I wanted so I would smile!" she said. AAAHHHHHH, 4Year olds!!!

Already slacking

Yesterday's post was written in my head but not on here and posted until today, so I am already slacking in my 31 days. Although there will still be 31 posts.
My favorite things to do while preparing for Christmas:
*Decorating the tree and around the fireplace - which are the only 2 area I really decorate, until this year I hung up lights outside!
*Have hot chocolate and toast for breakfast as much as possible, at least the kids, who doesn't LOVE hot chocolate and toast
* Wear long sleeves and socks everyday, to try and stay warm and cozy
* Make Christmas goodies, i.e. cookies - choc. chip, sugar cookie, snickerdoodle, fudge, choc. covered pretzels, mmmmmmm yum
* take pictures of the kids to send out christmas cards
* talk to the kids about the true meaning of Christmas and how we need to keep why we celebrate Christmas. (hopefully if you ever ask the kids this question they won't respond with something like "to get presents!")
* listen to Christmas music
* Go through toys and get rid of/store some to make room for new ones coming in a few weeks
* Watch as many Christmas movies/shows as possible, the Hallmark channel is my fav, especially on weekends
Christmas time is always so wonderful!!!

What special thing do you do?

Dear Friends

Some friends you keep in touch with all year round, talking to them once, twice a week or 3 times a month. Then there are some you keep in touch with 4-5 times a year, that still remain dear friends, that is the 2 I want to tell you about.
When I moved here 12 years ago, I was assigned to Visit Teach two Sisters who lived together, one in really not so great of health, Neva, the other a friend who cared for her, Gloria. Neva was a nanny to Gloria's children and they were good friends, so after their kids were all grown up, the moved in together and became best of friends. They have been through ups and downs together.
Neva, in and out of the hospital more times than I could count. Gloria always beside her and helping. Sometimes the tables were turned and Gloria was in need of care, but others stepped in and helped and Neva trying to help.
There have been many times we have received a call saying "this is it, you better come say good-byes, Neva isn't doing well" and Every time she is back home soon. Amazing.
We got news yesterday that Neva is moving to a Manor Care in Kansas City and Gloria, an ever amazing woman and care taker, is moving in to care for her mother in North Dakota. Their 34 years as roommates coming to a close. We will miss them, even though we didn't see them often.
They will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers and we will continue the 3-4 times a year, through email and mail friendship.

10

I know everyone is one pins and needles waiting to see what my next blog post is about! ;)

10 things I believe every parent needs:

1. hugs and kisses from their spouse or child EVERY DAY

2. an extra hour in the day, or two

3. a magic snap that cleans the house in an instant. I would say maid but I don't think anyone should really have to clean up after us or anyone else. (unless you love that sort of thing)

4. a set easy menu to make our meals, and a cook for those nights when I don't really feel like cooking.

5. a good nights sleep EVERY night

6. children that listen and obey and are happy all the time :)

7. the perfect car/van/suv that fits your every need in transportation (mine would include an RV for those longer road trips, but who wants the maintenance and cost of one of those!?)

8. a seperate room for all the toys, and the toys go there on there own when they find themselves out of the room (because you know the kids won't put them back and I would just rather get rid of them then put them back!, I know I'm mean, but toys are my nemesis)

9. to NEVER, EVER get sick

10. and last, to have all the LOVE in the world for your spouse and kids and that love to be felt by all, all of the time


I know most of these aren't for real but some of them can be. I try to work on #10. If I can have my kids know I love them no matter what all the time, then I will be a successful parent and that is all I can ask.

What would you add to my list??????

18-months old!!

2010 Halloween

Daniel is 1 1/2 today! I can't believe our last little babe is

growing up so fast!

Today we went to the Dr. and here are his 18 month old stats:

33.3 inches in height - 77%

25.6 lbs - 44%

He is steadily and gradually growing from the time he was born. A few things

Daniel does and some words he an say:

mama, dada, SaRAh!, nigh nigh, love ya, tank you, kitty, dog, hot, cold, car, vroom vroom, truk, tig (tigger out cat), milk, more, pease (please), cheese, and he also says some animal sounds

He is CONSTANTLY climbing on top of the table, the back of the couch

and the top of the bunk bed.

He is a joy and we are so happy he is part

of our family. We love him to pieces!!!