We had a visitor!!!

Who was it you may ask....let's see if these pictures help out any...Yeap, good ole Frosty The Snowman appeared today for the first time this year!!!! We love playing with Frosty!

Everyone was in their pjs under the snowsuits. We just couldn't contain the excitement to get out first thing this morning. We've been waiting for the first snow, and Turner excitedly announced snow on the ground first thing this morning with the enthusiasm of it being Christmas morning!!! Once he looked out and saw the snow, there was no more laying in bed this morning.

So Many Things...

So many things today to be Thankful for, were do you even begin.....

1. Thankful that we had family close by to welcome us in to their home
2. Thankful for the whole day off to spend with my family
3. Thankful for the health of my whole family
4. Thankful for the boys falling asleep on the way home so that we had special time with Mackenzie tonight.
5. Thankful that Aaron still has a job to go to tomorrow
6. Thankful for this blog to keep a diary of my life
7. Thankful that daddy just asked Mackenzie to snuggle on the couch next to him and she said yes, but that she wanted to snuggle with me when I lay down
8. Thankful that we can all sit here and watch the Incredibles and all enjoy it
9. Thankful that Austin fell asleep on me tonight in bed while I was trying to get him to go to sleep for a nap
10. Thankful that my daddy just called me to say "Happy Thanksgiving" because I'm still his little baby
11. Thankful that Turner still thinks I can fix anything in the world
12. Thankful for a husband that I'd marry all over again
13. Thankful that we have such a happy family
14. Thankful that I've never really had to deal with a tragedy in my life
15. Did I say thankful for the health of my family, I can't say that one enough
16. Thankful for the holidays to make you remember all the wonderful things to be thankful for.

Hope that each one of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving day. Thank you for sharing my life with me on this blog.

Birthday Wrap-up

What a fun and busy weekend we had. Friday night I worked then had to do Wal-mart grocery shopping afterwards and didn't get home till about 11, Saturday went to work from 10-2, then had to do my shopping at NY&Co. to get my extra discount, got home about 4. My dad and grandma were already there, they had showed up earlier in the day and taken the kids to Monkey Joe's with Aaron while I was at work. Other guests started arriving by 4:15, last ones left at about 8:30 - and I was pooped. Yesterday worked all day long, got home, ate dinner (a wonderful dinner my honey had all ready for me), did showers for the kiddos, cleaned, laundry, kids to bed, mommy to bed. And now it is Monday again and I'm back at the other work. But it was all good. I really like working at NY&Co. I've never done retail before, but I really do like it. And if I must say so myself - I'm pretty darn good at it too.

So here are some adorable pics of Turner's b-day party. He had so much fun. Got lots of dinosaurs and dragons, some games, a puzzle, and a cool alphabet learning thing. He has been playing with his new toys non stop. Thank you so much to all of our friends who came and brought such wonderful gifts. You guys are great.

Sporting his new hat and gloves - this was his first present to open in the morning.

Happy Birthday buddy boy (Austin was sleeping during cake time)

Wow mom, I didn't know there were flying dinosaurs!

Me torturing my little guy to get a pic of the birthday boy with his momma!

And I couldn't leave out the other two!

And to top it all off...Turner blowing out his candles, well at least attempting too!

Ha Ha buddy -GOTCHA! Sorry but I just had to!

The beginning of a new start

So tonight is my official start at NY&co. I'm really looking forward to it. Just something new and different. Yes it will be challenging and difficult at times to keep managing everything, but I think it is a good choice for us right now. Last night I didn't have anything to do, didn't have to be anywhere, laundry was caught up, house was clean....so the kids and I just had a nice relaxing night. I made a good dinner, we did some crafts, read some books, and watched Land Before Time III (gosh I love those movies!). I am very conscious of the fact that now that my hours with the kids will be on the decline, I really need to make the most of each moment I do have and really make it quality time. So my house will probably be a wreck, and the laundry may not be as caught up on, but oh well...I'll have to let it go. I don't have any other choice. Things like that will just have to be reserved for after the kids go to bed. No more lazy nights on the couch, I've got to buck up and make it happen. And of course I know my wonderful husband is going to step up to the challenge too, but you know how guys are - nothing personal against you honey - but they just don't see things the way we do. Guys think it is time to do laundry when they go in to their drawer and they don't have any boxers left and have to make due for a day - women see laundry to do when there is laundry in the basket (which of course is barely ever truly empty). Or maybe that is just me!!! I am a little pyscho about it all - I know honey, I'm sure you are yelling out a "Oh you guys don't know the half of it" right about now! lol So good news is that this also means my shopping spree is right around the corner! Yes, I'll be getting somewhere between a 40-55% discount so WhoooHooo for me! Hey, I can be selfish this one time and put my first 2 paychecks right back into myself right?!
On a little bit of a down note, well a big one, we know that there is a possibility that Aaron may loose his job, and it would be right before Christmas :( Now that would suck. But I know that he will take care of his family no matter what it takes, and I TRULY do believe that he will make it happen. So keep us in your prayers that LOTS of people start needing Finance and Accounting temps around here and order them from him! Let me tell ya, he is really putting in a lot of hours and hard work at this job and it is a really good fit for him, so I'd hate for us to be back to square one. But I also have to keep reminding myself that we will not get handed more than we can handle and that everything happens for a reason. Hey, maybe it would open the door to an even better opportunity. My worst fear though is that with my job not exactly being rock solid these days, that we could find ourselves in a few months both out of work....but positive thoughts, positive thoughts!! Anyways, like I said, just keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
And tomorrow my little guy Turner is going to be 3 years old. Oh my gosh I can't believe it. (Grandma and Pop, we did get your card and gift in the mail!) We are having a party for him tomorrow night. He is so excited. Of course he keeps saying it is going to be his half-birthday and I keep trying to tell him, no this is the big one. Funny thing I want to remember from last night....so this last weekend the kids watched the Wizard of Oz, and afterwards the kids played dress up - Mackenzie was Dorothy and Turner was the whicked witch chasing after her and Toto, so in on of the books we were reading last night there was a picture of a witch, and Turner grabs my face to turn towards him and tell me that he wants to be "the Wicked Witch when he grow up!" Ohhh gosh, I have to say, hope not, but isn't it just adorable how kids believe they can be ANYTHING they want when they grow up - even a wicked witch....gotta love it.

The thoughts of a mom

So I was just looking through all of my blog updates on other sites, got me thinking about the reality of things and how crazy life is.
First I read up on Tuesday - who is doing great - maybe all of our prayers are working! Her mom did a great post today. Very real. And I realize that not only does she have the complicated job of taking care of a 2 year old, we all know how testing that can be at times, but she has twins - so double the trouble (and joys too, I know). And she has 2 older boys, and I've heard the warnings of how brothers are together (one word - destruction?!) and on top of all that normal stuff, they are back and forth to the hospital battling cancer. I can't imagine. Where do you find the energy, the patience, the will power, the time.... I know the love just comes naturally - spills out of us without even trying, but that doesn't mean we aren't still tested with the day to day.
Next I was on to check in on the McNulty quads . So these quads are 2 1/2, times 4! She mentioned the mood swings of mom's...man can I relate. Turner will be three on Saturday, and don't get me wrong, I love the boy to pieces, but he can push me sooo far. I've really been thinking lately about auctioning him off online to the highest bidder - any takers? - ok, not really, well maybe the thought has crossed my mind, but I wouldn't actually go through with it! Lately he is in to his crying stage - gosh that doesn't do it justice - i mean the "I'm going to have a major meltdown basically because no matter what you tell me I will turn you telling me what I want into what I don't want" stage. Everything that doesn't go his way turns in to major meltdown. Last night Mackenzie had gymnastics and so I had to take the boys with me. Needless to say, trying to keep them happy, in a confined space, close to bedtime, trying to keep them quiet, and mommy running since 4:30 (AM that is), and no dinner for mommy yet (I can hear my mom "Uhh Ohh" from here!)- not any easy task right now. I should have prepared better and brought a suitcase full of stuff to keep Turner entertained, so a lot of it was my fault, but whew did he test me. I think that one of the ladies realized that I was about to go out and hook him to the harness and leave him hanging at the ceiling, because she came over and started talking to Turner to distract him from his crying and meltdowns about the fact that when i threw his paper plane (my best attempt to keep him occupied after his 5 minute focus on drawing) "fell apart" (opened a little). But to him mom had destroyed the plane - just one of the MANY ways I was personally trying to sabotage him last night. But then i after I got home, ate a little, and told myself "Patience this is just a stage, this too shall pass", I went in to read them a book in bed and the little guy melts me. Maybe he melts my heart so much because he sets me on fire so often!!
Finally I check up on the other quads and she has written them a birthday message because they are one now...and it is so true how you wouldn't want life to be any other way. How they are such a blessing and make you be the person you want to be, and can in the exact same moment bring out the side of me I'm ashamed of. How each child can be so different and unique. How I can't pick a favorite, but each is a favorite for different reasons. My my......and these are the thoughts and inner battles of mothers each and every waking moment of my life since I was first pregnant (I want to be pregnant and have this baby vs. what is the alien inside of me making me absolutely miserable! LOL). Guess I should have see what was ahead then.
So do dad's have this same inner turmoil or is solely saved for mothers? Honey?????

Fun with baby

Last night I got to babysit our neighbor's little 4 month old girl. She was so sweet...a perfect angel. It felt good to have a little baby around, thanks for sharing Dany!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

So yesterday we got Aaron's new car. We LOVE it. Got a GREAT deal. It is a 2007 Kia Optima, dark grey, it is slick looking. Much richer looking than the price tag. That pretty much took up our whole morning by the time we got up there and got everything done. Right before we were leaving we got an unfortunate phone call. Our new babysitter had to back into surgery....eech, what are we going to do? So after running through a list of options, we decided to go down the list. Luckily for us we got our first pick, our wonderful neighbor has agreed to watch the boys for us this week and maybe next. We feel very blessed to have such wonderful people living around us. And I was much less stressed out to know we had the week covered by 1 person instead of it being a patchwork of people and places. That just isn't good for the boys. I talked to the babysitter last night, and she is still hoping that she will be released for after Thanksgiving. Let's cross our fingers. We are still holding out hoping that everything will get on track soon. Hopefully we are just getting all the bumps out of the way right up front! Today I think Aaron and I may run out for a little while and try to get some Christmas shopping done. I can't believe it. But I figure, we have Turner's birthday next weekend, I'll start working next weekend, the next is Thanksgiving and working, and then Harold and Denise will be in town the following week and we are doing Christmas with them when they are here, so have to have all that ready. Yesterday we saw a few flurries!!! Our first of the season. Oh I can't wait for the first snow. Gotta say, I love the snow. I mean sledding, snowmen, snow angels, hot chocolate, a fire going in the fireplace.....that is heaven to me. And that also means only 2 weeks till we have all of our Christmas decorations and tree up, and I love me some Christmas spirit! Well, I hear a yeh who in the bedroom waking up, so better go fetch him. Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

Back together again

So i've got my boys back, and we sure were all happy to see each other. Just glad to have everyone together again. Can't wait for tonight to have us all at home. I don't feel like I've been home all week. Just been living in my car and at work! We found a car that we liked for Aaron, but they wouldn't budge at all for the price, so we told them to keep it. I mean really, they wouldn't come down at all from their sticker price - retarded. They can keep the darn thing then just out of principle. So we'll be out this weekend shopping away. I have my interview at NY&Co tomorrow night, so hopefully will get on the schedule soon.

Missin my boys

I'm missing my boys, but I'll get them back tomorrow. I've talked to Turner a couple time on the phone though and I'm starting the get the feeling he might start crying when I tell him it is time to go home......
Mackenzie has had a good time having so much time alone with us. Yesterday we went to the store to shop for Turner's birthday. We were there forever, but didn't end up with much. Daddy met us there and then we went out to eat at Applebee's. "Mommy, why does it say bee at the end?" "I don't know, who ever thought that apples would have bees!" Heheheh It was nice to actually sit there and have a conversation with her and Aaron without being interrupted with so many other duties. Tonight we had Parents as Teachers, who of course told us she is a genius!, and then we had gymnastics. So it has been a busy couple of days, not as 'relaxing' as I thought it might be, but I guess that was my own fault. Tomorrow I will pick Mackenzie up from school and drive right down to get the boys. She has missed her brothers, her playmates, her co-sleeper. It will be nice to have my family back in tact. Only 1 more day Nana, then you have to turn them back over!

Bellobration!!!

The greatest show on earth - and they aren't lyin'! We had such a good time yesterday at the circus. It was a full 2 hours long - well worth the $8 tickets that we got. Aunt Caitlyn ended up going with us too.

Afterwards, we went out shopping for a car. Cameron has a second interview on Tuesday, so if he gets the job, we are selling him Aaron's car, and using the money to get Aaron a new (well used) car. Got home, ate dinner, got the kids to bed and then laid down for a nap. Got up at 10 and went to the Comedy Forum. They had a hypnotist and boy was it hilarious. It was a "dirty version". Man was I glad I didn't get up on stage. I had been hypnotized before there, and last night got hypnotized just sitting int he audience. They said that I am a very easy person to get in hypnosis because for 1 - I just like it. I mean, they say that 15 minutes of hypnosis = 2 hours of sleep!!!! Ummmm, I'm IN, is there even a question! I asked them - "So do you have like a Mommy version", why haven't I been hypnotizing myself all this time! So I also bought one of his CDs, because I could listen to this guys voice all the time. They cautioned that I am NOT to use it in the car, because I will be out. The girl is going to send me more instructions on using it since I am so easy. Can't wait to see how it works. Aaron said it was crazy to just sit there and watch me go out.

Today I went out to NewYork and Co. (my favorite store!) to see if they needed holiday help. I just haven't been excited about the Target thing and they have been difficult to deal with, so I figured I would check this out. Pretty much got the job. Sure my entire paychecks will probably go right back to the store, but my wardrobe will be kickin! Tonight I have to take the boys down to my mom. She is going to watch them M-W since our new babysitter had to delay another week because of the complications of a surgery. I don't know what I'm gonna do without my buddies for 3 days. But Mackenzie is staying so we are planning a lot of special time with her.

Lots of pics from my new camera

"Look mom, we've been swallowed by a big pile of leaves"

You kids better watch out - Grandma is an experienced leaf thrower!

See...told ya!

Outside Hardees with Nannan and Grandad

With Grandma

Grandma sure is smitten with Austin, these pictures are priceless.

"Hey mom, look at me all dressed up!"

Note: This was his Halloween costume when he was 11 months old!

Geronimo!!!! Practicing for his future as a Super Hero!

"Hey guys, I wanna see"

"Oh yeah, now I'm chillin. Mind picking up the pace a little?!"

"No mom, I promise I wasn't just about to put this sandal in my mouth"

(my little shoe eater - so gross!!)

Gosh, seems like forever since I've posted. So where oh where do I start?! So Sunday I got a NEW camera! LOVE IT! Got a great deal. I have to download some software before I can download the pictures, so that is why there is a little delay in posting pics, but I hope to get them out of my camera today.
On Monday after Mackenzie was done with her school part of the day, the boys and I picked her up and headed out of town to Moberly. I figured since I'll be working weekends, I may not be able to get out of town until after the beginning of the year. That is just too long, I NEEDED to get down and see the grandparents. We had a great visit. First went to Nannan and Grandads to visit for a little over an hour when we got in town. Then went over to Grandma's. Grandpy and Pat came over after he got off work. Tuesday morning we went out and met Nannan and Grandad for breakfast at Hardee's. Then hung out at Grandma's and played in the leaves while Austin was napping. It as a throwback to my own childhood. I don't know how many hours I've spent in my life raking leaves at Grandma's. Plus, we don't have the big mature trees around our house, so I don't think the kids have ever played in a big pile of leaves. They loved it. I got some really good pictures, I can't wait to download them. Yesterday I came back to work and Aaron stayed home with the kids yesterday and today. So last night I get home from work, I walk in the door and the smell of something scrumptious hits my nose, I walk in and the kitchen and living room are super clean, and then Cameron comes upstairs on cue to take the kids downstairs. My sweet husband and set up a date for us right in our own kitchen! It was wonderful. The kids went downstairs and we sat and ate dinner together and got to have a conversation while we were eating...UNINTERRUPTED! Ate by candlelight and had a glass of wine. It was a wonderful welcome and a great way to start my night. Love you SOOO much honey!!

Halloween Pictures

Alvin and the Chipmunks!

Here are pics of all the kids from last night. The costumes were a hit, good a comfy for everyone, cheap, easy. We had decide dthat this would be our theme a long time ago, about this time last year. It worked out perfectly. The "costumes" were nothing more than adult turtle necks with the sleves cut short and painted socks. Gotta love that! So the costumes were already decided on, but little did I know when we decided on them, just how perfectly they would fit the personality of each kid. Below each picture is the Biography of each character straight off the offical Chipmunks website. I couldn't have described each child better myself! lol

ALLLLLVIN!!!! (TURNNNNER!!!!)

Alvin is an emotional roller coaster. His enthusiasm is boundless and his despair bottomless. The term "look before you leap" definitely doesn't apply to Alvin, who is impulsive, charming, a musical and full of animal magnetism. What others might characterize as half-baked schemes, Alvin prefers to see as "Challenging the ordinary".

Simon

In addition to having an IQ just north of Einstein, Simon possesses a very dry sense of humor as well as a keen wit. His chess master mind allows him to anticipate Alvin's hair brained schemes and devise a solution that is inevitably required. In the end Simon loves Alvin, although he secretly worries that they share the same gene pool.

Theodore

He is the child of innocence. He is shy, loving, sensitive, gullible, trusting and naive. In short, he is any easy target for Alvin's manipulations. in fact, Theodore often holds the swing vote between his two siblings choices of action. Simon appeals to Theodore''s better nature while Alvin goes straight to bribery.

Dave and his Chipmunks


Batman, Simon, and Alvin....A.K.A. Mason (neighbor), Mackenzie and Turner

This was our only family pic and it turned out so blurry. My camera flash decided to die last night...needeless to say, off to buy a camera today - I won't go without a camera!

Dave, Chipmunks, and Dave's mid-life crisis (punk rocker - old school baby!)

Another pic of Dave's mid-life crisis!! lol (Is it so bad that I wouldn't mind this style coming back! I ROCK as a punk rocker!)


That's about all I got. After Trick-or-treating (which I must say just aint what it was when I was a kid, there weren't near as many kids out and houses handing out candy) we went back over to our neighbors and hung out. The kids all had a blast playing together and didn't get to sleep until about midnight!

Oh and I can't forget to post a pic of Cameron as the Joker- freaky isn't it! Cailtyn came out and went with us too. She said she was a poor college student for Halloween - she didn't have to do much to get that costume together!lol