Too hot...

Ugh! I hate this weather. It's too hot. All I want to do is sit inside by the a/c! The kids want to go run around and play but then come in because they are too hot. Time to break out the popsicles! After many times of crying for one...Ivan finally got his own.

Violence

I hate the news. I hear it on the tv, radio and on my home page. I can't get away from the news. The most recent reports are of a surge in violence in Afghanistan. It makes my stomach sick. I just get in complete knots until I read about where the violence took place. Not breathing until I find out. When I realize it wasn't in Mazar I can breathe again. Ben only has like ?working days left in Mazar and then he is en route home. Yet he has to go to ?? which is where the majority of the violence takes place. Ben tells me not to worry but I can't help it. I want him out of there. If I had to do this again, believe it or not, I would do it. But right now I need him home to know that he is safe. I will be able to breathe normally soon.

Yada yada yada

There is honestly not much going on...at all. I was thinking about that page in "Oh the places you'll go" about the waiting place. I feel like that is where I am today.
* Waiting for the bug guy to come
* waiting for my gutter to be fixed so no more disgusting termites
*waiting for pay day so I can get my hair cut again
* waiting for Harmony's teacher to come back so I can discuss her sceince grade before school is out
*waiting for my dishwasher to finish so I can load breakfast dishes
*waiting for motivation to clean the house
*waiting for the boys to stop being lazy
*waiting for something great to happen
*waiting until Thurs. so the boys can go to summer fun at preschool
*waiting for school to be out for Harm, so she stops wining about going
*waiting to talk to Ben tonight
*waiting for the pictures that I ordered
*waiting for Ben to come home....28 more days and counting

Nothing exciting for today...just lots of waiting..........

Green with envy...

Not sure why this posted the picture 2x's...?
I was extremely upset with Ethan this morning. The kids had sat down to eat breakfast and Connor was looking at the box of waffles. On the box was an offer for a breakfast set from the movie "Cars." Connor was looking at it and talking about how his Daddy was going to take him to the movie when he came home and how cool it was. Then Ethan says to him..." It's not cool Connor, it's garbage." Of course Connor defends himself with "no it's not Ethan." Of course the argument keeps going. I was in the kitchen and here comes Ethan with the box and he says "this is garbage right Mom?" I said, " well kind of" because I wasn't exactly sure what was going on. Ethan takes off and puts it in the garbage can and Connor starts bawling. Then I realized what was happening and made him go get it and give it back. I was so dissapointed in Ethan. He is usually a real sweet heart and very sensitive to that kind of thing. I mean I hadn't asked him to clear off the table, or to throw garbage away...he did it out of pure meanness. I was so upset with him. I gave him the whole spiel of how he needs to treat his brother how he wants to be treated etc. etc

I went and took a shower and was still really stewing over the whole situation. I was upset that he was just...being mean. Is it just 5 yr old boys or is it something more. I get out of the shower and here are Ethan and Connor playing "camping". I asked Ethan to come and talk to me for a little bit. I asked him why he had done that and he looks at me with his huge eyes and said, " Mommy I just really wanted to look at it." Ah-ha! Light bulb goes off. He was jealous. It was pure jealousy. I talked to him about the fact that if he had asked Connor for a turn Connor would have given him one. In one way it made me feel better but in another I just wondered what happens from here...

Oops

I accidentall put one pic. twice instead of putting the one with Ms. Skees and Ms. Katie. So here is the one I meant to put on there! :)

My hectic life...

I think my blog name is pretty acurate! This week was a whirlwind of things going on. I have been bad about emailing and calling and any sort of communication for a while so here is a nice looong update! :)

Mon-saddest day of the week for me. Why? It was the last day of stay and play. The boys were signed up at preschool to stay an extra hour on Mondays. Monday marked the last one. So I was busy trying to enjoy the freedom because now...me and the boys. Together. All day...every day! Wish me luck.

Tues-Off to the Va Aquarium with Harm's class. Let me just tell you...there were some very interesting conversations being had on that bus! Once we arrived we started counting the volunteers vs kids. We had 7 adults for 16 kids! So Harmony and I got to go off by ourselves. At first she was bummed because she wanted to go with her friends but she realized how nice it was to go at her own pace...she loves to read every single plaque that has info. on it. The other kids not so much. After we went to a park so the kids could eat lunch and play. Came home, picked up Ethan, picked up Ivan and Connor and I cleaned and after Ivan took a nap...I crashed. Field trips are exaughsting! BTW-the bug guy came today and took care of the termites. That's what the bugs were...termites.

Wed-This was actually a somewhat non hectic day. Dropped Connor off for his last day of preschool. Sad. He didn't care but...of course all of the parents do. Tried to run a few errands while I was boy free. Well almost. I dont' really count Ivan. We went to Target and found cute little tins that I have no idea what I am going to do with but they are way cute. We headed to the commissary for a "quick trip". I swear that is impossible there. Saw a friend and chatted with her for awhile. Got in and got the much needed milk. Connor was all smiles on his last day. I swear that kid is so care free he doesn't let anything get to him. I babysat on Wed night for my friend.

Thurs-Another field trip. Yep another one. This time we headed to the zoo. Harmonys school gave the 1st graders a whole week of field trips because their classrooms were being used for SOL testing. Anyway...off to the zoo. This time there were not as many parents and so I had 6 kids with me. That included Harmony. I got a good group. This trip is what made Harm realize how nice it was to just have Mom. The other kids were off and running and she was trying to read all the info about each animal. Our zoo, I feel, does not have that much to look at. It is very spread out but...not much to look at. They gave us 2 hrs before we had to meet at the park and the kids were done in an hour. A couple of the kids had money so we went to the gift shop. Harmonys favorite. Back to another park and by this time it was humid. As the boys say, " It is hot and sweaty outside" I couldn't wait until we were home. There were tons of kids at the park, including middle schoolers that kept pushing the little kids around. Babysat again.

Fri-End of the year party for the boys. So sad. Ethan saying goodbye to Ms Skees made me teary eyed. He is so sweet and really does love his teacher. He told me that the only girl he likes is Ms Skees, but I said what about Ms Katie? Ms. Katie is a Ms. Skees too and so he said yeah her too. Katie has worked in their classroom for a few months. The kids "graduated" from preschool and got some cute scrapbooks. I love Connor's teacher because she is like me. Takes tons of pictures! So I have an adorable album of stuff he has done all year. Plus a disc with over 700 pictures that she took throughout the year. She charged $1 and I think it was the best deal ever! We came home and babysat for my neighbor, then she babysat for me so I could take the older kids to the beach. We just missed a thunder and lightning storm. Came home and babysat and then....vegged. We did nothing. Sat around. It felt nice. When I put Ethan to bed he asked me if it was a school night. I said, " no bud you are done, today was your last day. So he started crying and said " but I wanted to go to kindergarten tomorrow." The kid loves school.

Today we are doing...nothing. I was going to take the kids to a movie and decided that we all need a day at home. I am going to clean and hopefully get some scrappin' and card making done this evening. We will see! Anyway, since I am not even sure anyone reads this I am done. Off to clean house and all that other exciting stuff...

Conversations with a 5 yr old...

I had some very interesting conversations with Ethan today...
E-" Mommy I wish I didn't have my head anymore."
M-" Why don't you want your head anymore?
E- " Because then I wouldn't need my pillow."
M-" Uhm ok Ethan whatever you say..."

Later when we were leaving the beach....
" Mommy I don't want to leave. I want to stay and play and live here forever."

This week has been a crazy week for us and so the kids have had lunchables almost every day for lunch. Right now they are having a Pirates of the Carribean(sp?) promotion that includes a free tatoo. So Ethan is covered in pirate tatoos. One is of a P that leaves you branded as a pirate...
M-' ooh Ethan you look like a very tough pirate."
E-" That is Mr. Pirate to you."
( I did tell him not to speak to me that way...even though I thought it was pretty cute!)

se7ens

OK, You really have to be careful who your friends are or you are going to spend all day answering questions about yourself on your blog! ( Just kiddin' girls I love yah a ton!)
A new one from Deborah since I harrassed her about not answering mine:
se7ens
7 things I want to do before I die
1)run a marathon
2) graduate college
3) spoil my grandkids
4) go on a cruise with Ben ( no kids!!)
5) have a sister weekend with my sisters and Mom, just laughing, talking and enjoying each other
6)be organized
7)lose weight and be healthy


.7 things I cannot do:(only 7?)
1.) I can't keep a clean house
2) I can't keep my patience
3) I can't stop buying new shoes
4) I can't keep my car cleaned
5) I can't sew
6) I can't try new things w/o worrying about failing
7) I can't change a flat tire

7 Things that attracted me to my spouse:Well since I met him when I was 14 my first thought was looks( I mean what else is there when you are 14?) So I am going to fast forward until we started dating

1) Ok, his looks still mattered when I was 19
2) his sense of humor, although his jokes were usually aimed at me ( and still are!)
3) He made me happy
4) He took care of me
5) so smart and successful
6) he is forgiving and understanding
7) laid back
!
7 Things I say often:
1) What the heck are you doing?
2) No, I am not done checking my email
3) If you can't play nice then just don't play together
4) Don't hit each other
5 No we are not having chicken nuggets again
6)Where is my cell phone?
7) I love you

7 books I love:
1) To Kill a Mockingbird
2)The Great Gatsby
3)the scriptures
4)Maya Angelou books
5) Mary Higgins Clark books
6) Believing Christ
7) dumb romances ( not Harlequin or anything like that!)

7movies I could watch over and over:
1) Back to the Future
2) Goonies
3) Ghostbusters
4) Napolean Dynamite
5)Indiana Jones
6)While You Were Sleeping
7) Sleepless in Seattle

people I'd like to hear se7ens from:
Cindy
Susan
Darla
Mom
Christy
Jenn
and anyone else who feels like doing it :)

ABC's of me...

Cindy must really want to know a lot about me because she has sent me another one....
A-Z's of Me
A - Age: 27
B - Bed size: Queen
C - Chore you hate: mopping
D - Dessert you love: german choc. cake
E - Essential start your day item: alarm clock
F - Favorite actor(s):Johnny Depp, Ben Affleck, Harrison Ford,
G - Gold or Silver: Silver
H - Height: 5'4
I - Instruments you play: nothing
J - Job title: Mom, wife, homemaker
K - Kids: 4: Harmony Lynn (6 almost 7), Ethan Thomas (5) Connor James (4) Ivan Grant (15mo)
L - Living arrangements: a crowded townhouse w/ 3 bdr and 2 bathrooms
M - Mom's name: Julie
N - Nicknames: stinky, pee
O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: None
P - Phobia: mice and falling down stairs
Q - Quote you like: "Life is not measured by the breaths that we take but by the moments that take our breath away"-
Right or left handed: right
S - Siblings: Mark, Darla, Susan, Steve and Tom
T - Time you woke up today: 5:45
U - Unique habit: I don't think I have any
V - Vegetable you hate: cabbage
W - Worst habit: losing my temper
X-rays you've had: teeth,
Y - Yummy food you can make: I don't know, I am a semi-homemade kind of a girl so I never really cook anything with out a little help from Betty Crocker or Kraft or..
Z - Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Camping

Last weekend was the father/son campout for our stake. I didn't think anything of it since Ben wasn't here. But then my friend Deborah called ( love yah!) and her husband volunteered to take the boys with him. I told them and they were so excited. They said that they had a lot of fun but were absolutely exaughsted when they got home! Anyway, Deborah sent me some pictures of it today, so here are my little campers...

Just like his Dad...

No matter what type of groceries that I am bringing in...they always end up in some kind of tower. This used to be the "juice box banana tower but I insisted on putting the bannanas in the fruit bowl. He played with little people in his tower. He is just like his Dad and wants to be a builder and a fixer when he grows up!

Bumper Stickers

I saw these two bumper stickers today and loved them. I keep reciting them so I could remember them and then I thought...blog 'em!

**" If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you are reading this in English, thank a soldier."

** " If you are not willing to stand behind our soldiers, I am sure they would let you stand in front of them" LOVE that!

Tagged once again

I know everyone loves hearing about me! However, I promised I would respond to this one. Although Cindy, I have to tell you, this is the first one of these that has been censored!LOL! My friend Cindy sent this to me and some of the questions she felt needed to be censored. So these are my answers to the questions....

1) How long have you been married? 8 years in July
2) How long did you date before you were married? Nov-July
3)CENSURED
4) How long would you say the "honeymoon" phase lasted, and saying it's still going doesn't count? Well considering I got pregnant after only 4 mo. and Ben went back to school after 6 I would say not very long
5) How did he/you propose?He didn't, our counsel was to break up or get married and we knew we wanted to get married. He gave me my ring by taking me dinner while I was at work and when I asked if he had any gum he said no but I have this...and he gave me my ring
6) Does your spouse send/bring you flowers?sometimes
7) Do you consider your spouse a romantic? if he tries
8) Are you? Yeah, too much probably
9) What is your favorite romantic date together? We don't go onto many creative dates but I do enjoy cuddling up at the movies
10) Do you and your spouse hold hands in public? yes
11) Kiss in public? yes
12)CENSURED
13) Does he/she give you a kiss when he/she comes home at the end of the day? always
14) Do you have pet names for each other? yes
15) What are they? my lobster ( it's a long story but it has to do with the show Friends)

.
16) What is your favorite physical feature on your spouse?His eyes are gorgeous, and I love his hands
17) Do yo have a date night?not anything regular, just when we can get a babysitter
18) Do you sleep on your own side of the bed or do you cuddle when you sleep?no cuddling, roll over and go to sleep or I would never get a decent nights sleep
19) Have you ever been caught with your hand on your spouse's butt? No one has ever said anything to me but it's there often enough
20) How many times a day do you tell your spouse "I love you"?well since he has been gone I only get to talk to him once a day so it is usually only a couple of times, but when he is home... I tell him a lot I just don't count
21) CENSURED
22) Have you and your spouse ever been "interupted" by your kids? no
23) CENSURED----
.24) CENSUREDSo, if you've read this, feel free to be tagged. Why should I be the only one..............................

"bad nuts"

OK, after that last post I got to experience some bad nuts. It was feeling warm in the house so I went to go open the screen door. On the wall next to the door are a series of little tiny holes...with bugs crawling out all over the place. It is disgusting. There are bugs everywhere in the dining room. I asked my neighbor to come and look and see if she had experienced it before. She has lived in this complex for a couple of years...anyway she thought that they were flying ants and yes they are definatley inside of the walls. I called maintenance and because it is Sunday they are not going to call anyone until tomorrow. Gee thanks. Yeah just a reminder of the bad nuts...

Mixed Nuts

I read a lot of people's blogs. There is a lady whose blog I read who is an amazing scrapbooker, she's LDS and her husband is over in Iraq. So I love to look at her stuff. Anyway, the other day she was sharing a story that she had heard at stake conference. So I am going to give a short version...There was a little boy who loved cashews. His Mom bought him a can of mixed nuts but told him that he couldn't eat just the cashews ( Darla!) that he had to eat the whole can, not just the ones he liked. He ate the can and a few days later his Mom bought him a can of just cashews. He started eating them and after a short time he stopped. When his Mom questioned why he didn't eat them he responded, " well without the bad ones, the cashews don't taste as sweet." The speaker compared this to our lives...how all we want is the sweet stuff in life but without the bad stuff....maybe the sweet isn't that great. I was thinking about my life and I know I complain- alot. I just thought this was a good reminder. Here are a few of my cashews...

~Ben...I love him more than I can say.
~my kids...they are completely nuts somedays but my life would not be as sweet without them
~the rest of my family...I feel grateful that I get along with my siblings and with Ben's side of the family
~a dvd player in the van...ooh yeah that makes life much easier
~security...while Ben's job may not be the most ideal it gives us a lot of security
~IM and email
~good friends...moving out here I have learned who my friends are and I am so blessed,,, I mean without my friends how could I have gone on a vacation by myself to see my sister while Ben was deployed? I am lucky
~microwave...wouldn't want to live life without it
~cell phone although I use it to much to just gab I am grateful that I have it if there was an emergency...I also love that I can connect with the majority of the people that I love with just a touch of a button
~chicken nuggets, fruit snacks, Easy Mac and juice boxes
~ I am grateful for the Gospel. I may not be the most perfect of members but it gives me direction in my life. I know the church is true.

With that...I am sure it is just a partial list. I would love to hear about other peoples cashews! :)

Confessions of a BAD mom

This is it...an insight into the "wonderful" mother that I am...
* my kids had pancakes for dinner last night
* I hit the snooze button 6 times before I got up...knowing full well that the 3 older kids were awake
* letting them watch doogle so that I could take a shower
*Harmony made Ethan's breakfast
* I told them they could finish watching Doogle if they cleared their places...and then I did it for them
*my kids did not have one piece of fruit in their lunches today...unless you coun't fruit roll ups...
* I blamed us being late on the guy who was ahead of us going 30 in a 45 but really it was because I was checking my email
* I did not defend Harmony to her teacher when she didn't turn in her homework
* I told Harmony she will not be going to her sleep over tonight until her homework is done
* The thought of getting rid of my kids for the night excites me more than I should probably admit ( Father & son camp out for the boys...a friend is taking them)
* I put Ivan in a tank top not knowing that it was pretty chilly outside
* driving on empty and realizing that I forgot my debit card ( but as luck would have it...the gas station closer to my house is only 2.69 when last week I paid 2.94..score!!)
*sitting at the computer when I need to fold a load of laundry
*getting Ethan's thank you cards out 2 weeks late

and the day has only started it is only 10:05! To Be Continued...

Stay at Home Mom

Wow, today I actually feel like a stay at home Mom! Believe it or not...I have only been in the car once today! I have had this weak cold for a couple of days but when it comes time to go running...it has really worn me out. Yesterday when I was on the treadmill...I just couldn't run. I felt so tired. So I just walked. Today however I decided to just take the day off. At about 7:15 this morning my doorbell rang. I opened it and it was my neighbor and friend Angie. I always refer to her as my neighbor but she is also a good friend. Anyway...she asked if I could watch her kids this morning because she had to take her cat to the vet. I told her sure. Since I wasn't sure if she would be back in time for me to get Ethan, I asked my friend Deborah if she would mind picking Ethan up for me. This story really does have a point, I promise! Anyway, Deborah said it was fine so I hurried and made a quick trip to Wal Mart (aka the doughnut store which Connor chose over Target) and came home. Angie left for the vet and what have I been doing? Cleaning, handing out snacks, putting Ivan down for a normal nap, not one in the car, and doing all those other Mommy things. It just feels so nice to not be rushing around like most days. I love my life but it is really busy. I guess sometimes it is just nice to sloooooow down. I think I spend to much time at the Y and I am sure my friends would agree. Anyway, I am off to enjoy a diet coke and fold laundry. Fun, fun!

Kid Signal...

I have decided that there is some kind of universal kid signal that lets them know when their Mom is either A) going to the bathroom or B) on the phone. Sort of like the bat signal...I swear as soon as I am in the bathroom is when they "need me". Right then and there. Of course there are always some very serious problems that need to be taken care of...where are my sandals? So and So hit me...Can I play on the computer? Etc. etc needs that have to be addressed....

Beach season again...

I picked Harmony up from school on Friday and she began to tell me all the details of her day that had made it " the worse day ever". I wasn't interested in going back home so I tried to think of something fun that we could do. The weather was fairly warm so I thought it might be fun to go play on the beach. So we went home grabbed towels, buckets, swimsuits, etc and headed toward the beach. They had a great time playing in the sand and getting their feet wet. Eventually Harm and Ethan had a little bit more than just their feet wet but I had anticipated that! We went home after a scary incident but they had a great time. Nothing happened to my family in the incident but we knew we needed to leave. Anyway...it is definatley beach season again as Harm went again today!

Spring program

The boys had their Spring concert today. It was soo cute. I gave them a few days of warnings that on Friday they would be wearing there church clothes. This morning Ethan came down in a Batman shirt and my first thought was "great we are going to have a fight on our hands" But when I told him he said that he had just forgot and went back upstairs and changed. Phew! Last year all I heard was that he didn't want to wear handsome boy clothes. Both boys sang all their songs, no crying, fighting or anything! Then they got to go outside and wrap the maypole. I was kind of surprised this year because they didn't actually finish wrapping it. Maybe they just felt that it took to long or something. Anyway, the boys were cute and they did a great job. It is hard to believe that the school year is winding down! Ethan has 9 more days of school and Connor only has 5! Here are some cute pics from today!

Tagged again....

Well I read my friend Cindys blog so I have been tagged again. This is about Ben though not me. Well it is about me but...Ben I love you and I can't wait until you come home! I hope you enjoy reading all the little things that I love about you!



2 Things you compliment your husband on while in his presence.
1) Working hard so that I can stay home with the kids
) He is a total success in his life. He has never failed at anything he has set out to do.

2 compliments you make about your spouse to your friends1) That he is really nice when I spend too much money
2) that he doesn't complain when I am always late making dinner

2 traits you married him for.
1) He was my best friend and supported me through a lot of things
2) He could make me laugh

2 Days you cherished the most with your husband being together ...ok I am going to skip our wedding and sealing because I think those are the most obvious
.1) the day he left for OCS, the very first time that we had ever been apart
2) when I helped to make him a Daddy for the first time


2.Material things you could give your husband if you just inherited a fortune
1) a tool that he always drools over every time we are in Sears...can't remember what it is called though
) Season tickets to go and see the UofO play

2 things you would miss if he left for2 weeks.( Let me just say right now that 2 weeks would be a piece of cake compared to the 45 days that I have left!
1) being held) talking to him whenever I wanted 2

2 thoughts that crossed your mind when you first met/saw your spouse Well we were 14 and.1) He is sooo hot) 2. how can I get him to notice me?


2 favorite dates1) doing something he wants to do because he never picks 2) and of course going out to dinner and shopping

2 funny odd things you love1) His "hole" since Ben will read this I am not going to go into any fruther detail)2) The dance to the Elvis song but once again he would kill me if I went into detail

2 places you have lived with your spouse1) Eugene, OR) Port Hueneme, CA


2 favorite vacations1) going to pick him up from OCS
2. going to the beach with the kids right before he left for OCS

so if you read this and you have a blog...guess what your tagged

The rest of the day...

Harmony is still mad at me for telling people about her getting in trouble. I just can't help it. It's so cute. She is really into riding her bike again. She goes back and forth between her scooter and her bike. She is such a little pink girl. Everything she has, everything she wears...pink.

Connor was so funny today. We went to Michaels to get a gift card for a friend of mine. He asked me what we were getting and I told him a birthday gift. He said, " Oh mommy I will get it for you because I am good getter for Mommy's." He does love to get things...it's true. The boys have been watching Hercules like crazy. For those of you who haven't watched the movie every day for the past week, there is a Michael Bolton song called I can go the distance. Connor asked me where the distance is.

Ivan is...the baby. If he has something and one of the other kids tries to take it...watch out. He will hold on for dear life and scream bloody murder. Or if they have something that he wants he does the same. He wants constant attention from his siblings. He has learned to point to his nose if we ask him and then he will start clapping if we do.

So that is it for the excitement at the Turner house...

Sick Day

How do you tell when a kid is sick? Easy-if they ask if they can take a nap! After picking Ethan up from school, he rode the whole way home with his head on the arm rest. I asked what was the matter and he just said that he got really tired while he had been playing on the playground. He seemed fine once we got home until around 1:30....then he was asking me to take a nap. He only slept for 2 hours but when he woke up he was really warm. He laid on the couch for the rest of the afternoon. Poor kid. I feel bad for him. Here is a pic. of him with his most "sickie" face...

More birthday....

Yay! I am so excited that I can actually post pictures today. I have friends who are able to post pictures on but every time I would try, this site would say 100% published but...no pictures! Anyway I am glad it worked this time!

We celebrated Ethan's birthday at Mt Trashmore park yesterday. The weather was perfect! No rain and it wasn't too hot. He had a lot of kids come and they ran around and played. Obviously, there was a Batman theme! He enjoyed everything. When we finally got in the car to go pick up Harmony, who was attending a different birthday party, the boys crashed in the car! They were so tired. When we got home it was already 5 and we still had to eat Ethan's birthday dinner. He chose to order pizza, which was fine with me because I was worn out and wasn't interested in cooking! The kids played with presents and toys from goody bags and then headed off to bed. I still can't believe that Ethan is 5. I was talking to Mom the other night and she said " for some reason I had it in my head that Ethan was turning 3! I am so glad to be out of the3's with that one!

Anyway thanks for all the cards and gifts that everyone sent. I know Ethan felt very loved!

Batman birthday

Ivan enjoyed Ethan's party too. Here he is with our neighbor Sammy. Ivan was sitting on my friends lap and Sammy felt that Ivan was taking "his spot". They are cute together.

Officially a Handful

5:45 this morning " Mom, am I 5 yet?" "yes Ethan you are five. Can you show me how many you are on your fingers?" " Mom I am all of my fingers, my whole hand." "Well Ethan that makes it official you are a handful." Off he ran to watch a cartoon because I was not getting up with him yet!

I can't believe that Ethan is already five. Whew, time has sure flown. Today has really hard on me. The birthdays have been the hardest for me. I hate that Ben has missed all of his boys birthdays. I hate that Ethan wants Ben to be here and he can't. It is so hard. It makes me sad for Ethan. It makes me sad for Ben because I know if he could be here he would. I am ready for him to be home.

Ivan is absolutely miserable...so that doesn't help matters any. He has 3 teeth coming in. When he gets teeth he makes sure everyone knows. He has had a fever, runny nose, drool and crying and crying. I once read that there are no symptoms when it comes to teething and that when people blame runny noses on teething that it is false. Whoever wrote that article, I would beg to differ. Ivan is miserable.

Speaking of teeth, about 15 min. after my conversation with Ethan, here comes Harmony. "Mommy? My other tooth fell out and I can't find it anywhere!" Oops, I think she might have swallowed it or something. Anyway the tooth fairy has to make another visit tonight and wouldn't you know it, she doesn't have change...again.

Last night I was giving Connor his bath and noticed that he has a sunburn on the back of his neck. So I said "Connor you have lines from the sun." "Really what color are they?" " They are red." " Mommy, how can the sun turn me red if the sun is yellow?"

My kids. What would I do without 'em?

Batman birthday

The day is coming closer. Unfortunatley it is supposed to rain on Sat. afternoon. We are having the party no matter what though. 13 kids are coming so far and I know Ethan's heart would be broken if he didn't have his party. Today my neighbor asked him what he would like for his birthday. Now I wasn't there otherwise...he told her" you have to bring me only Batman stuff. Just Batman and nothing else." Later he told me what he said to her and I said, "Ethan that is so rude." He just looked at me and said, " well it's too late now."

Some of my best conversations with Connor are in the car. I think it is because we are in there so often! He kept asking me question after question, just like usual. I finally said, " Connor stop you are driving me nuts." He said, " yeah I know." Did that stop him? No of course not!

Ivan vs. Mommy...who will win?

Every night after I get the big kids to bed, I go into clean the kitchen. Every night Ivan follows me in and proceeds to empty out the kitchen drawers. Now, he does this all through the day to, but I don't clean that mess up very often. Not until he is completely done. So I look at him and say his name. He looks up at me with those brown eyes and shouts "Mama!" Then continues on with his project. I say his name again and we repeat the process. Finally I go over and say, " no no Ivan" and give him something else to do. So while I go and put the stuff in the drawer, he toddles over to the dishwasher. He now knows how to open the dishwasher. He opens the door and starts pulling out all of the silverware to sample. All of the silverware goes on the floor and he goes for the plates. By this time, I go over and stop him. Like magic, at that very moment...it's bedtime. I love this stage.

Counting Down...

OK Cindy, if you read this, I'm sorry! We were looking at the calender the other day and realized that we only have 45 days left until Ben is home! I am excited and anxious. This whole thing started so long ago and is finally coming to an end. I can't wait for him to be home!

I haven't written for awhile because nothing really "blog worthy" has been going on. The kids are insanely busy. This week alone we have 4 birthday parties. Plus preschool is wrapping up soon. So there is a lot going on with that.

Ethan is so excited for his birthday party on Sat. We headed to Party City today for napkins, plates, goody bags and some Batman masks. Very cute. Ethan now refers to himself as Batman. Of course Connor is his trusty sidekick Robin. They give me a lot of laughs playing Batman and Robin.

It's hard to believe that Ethan is turning 5 and will start kindergarten next year. He doesn't seem old enough! You hear it over and over about how kids grow so fast and it really is true. He grew up way to fast.

Harmony finally lost her tooth. It was driving me crazy. She would keep messing with it so that it would be crooked in her mouth. We finallypulled it out. However, when the tooth fairy checked her wallet what was there? A $5 bill...that is all. So I asked my neighbor to listen over the monitor for the kids and ran to Target. I said, " don't worry I will be back really soon. There is nothing that I need. I am just going to get change" What do I come back with? Three bags. Target is a good place for someone whoe doesn't need anything!