Preschool

Ok, so I know I am being overly dramatic with this whole thing but… I am pinging over this whole preschool decision for the A-train.  I realize it is not rocket science and that millions of kids go to preschool but I am so worried about making a bad decision for this child I love SO much.   Any prayers or good thoughts as I make this decision are appreciated.

Long time no blog.. this could take a while

Hmmm… where has the time gone?  I keep meaning to update the blog and then never get it done.  ;

As of yesterday our little miss has been home 3 months.  Wow.. hard to believe all of the changes in her world in 3 months.  She has fit in seamlessly (is that a word?!) and seems to relax a little more each day. 

 

Photo on the left is the day after she came home. Photo on the right is 3 mos later.

Lolo (M’s Dad) left town yesterday and we started missing him right away.  He was in town for M’s ceremony (I don’t want to get too descriptive online) on Monday.  The ceremony went great and the kids did so well.  The A-train was beyond excited at all of the pomp and circumstance.  We sat in the 2nd row with baby B in the stroller and A sitting next to Lolo.  Daddy marched down the aisle with all of the official party and was standing at attention facing us during the first part of the ceremony.  When all was quiet in the auditorium the A-train leans over toward Daddy and in a whisper says “hey Dad… hey Dad.. what are you doin’ Dad”.  I don’t know how M was able to keep a straight face through it all.  Every time the room clapped the A-train clapped the loudest and would just laugh.  He put his hand over his heart during the singing of the National Anthem.  I am so proud of my kids during important events like these as I work really hard with them every day to be good kids… am I bragging?  I suppose I am… but I can ‘cuz they’re my kids and it’s my blog.. so there.  LOL 

I was talking with a gal after the ceremony and she had complimented my kids on their behavior during the ceremony.  She mentioned that during her ceremony a few months back they had gotten a babysitter for their son (who is the same age as A) because she didn’t trust him to behave during the ceremony.  Wow.. I cannot imagine doing such a thing.  Sure it would be easier to not have to contend with the children but at some point they need to learn to sit still and be quiet.  I’d love to share a pic or two from the ceremony but M gave our camera to some guy to take photos and let’s just say he wasn’t a great picture taker.  Good Lord.. not one decent photo in the bunch. 

So, anyway, back to Lolo…  He helped us move out here (as he’s done the last 2 moves), had only been gone 2 weeks and then arrived again last week.  My kids LOVE Lolo.  He is the most patient and kind man.  He plays with my kids and just loves the heck out of ‘em.  Lolo, I really don’t know how to thank you for all that you do while you are here.  We miss you so much and cannot wait for you to come back to visit.  Yesterday the A-train ran into your room to check if you had really left and then he looked up at me and said “When is Lolo coming back home?”   We miss you…

We had a post-placement visit last Saturday with a social worker which will be the only visit we need before we can finalize baby B’s adoption.  We will have to go to court in this state so hopefully that will get done in the coming weeks.

Ok, I think we are up to date now… M’s job is proving to be pretty demanding so far.  We aren’t seeing much of him these days which isn’t that big of a surprise to me.  So, who in the family is coming to visit next….. c’mon people…. find a cheap fare and get out here!!!!  LOL  My parents will be arriving in about a week.. thank goodness!!!!!  Baby B’s 1st birthday is rapidly approaching.. eeeeekkkk!!

One last shameless brag before I go…. last night I asked the A-train what his favorite part of the day was and he answered “loving you”.   How much do I love this kid?!!

Ok, love to all depending who you are…

xoxo

M & the fam

And a honker…

Conversations from the backseat…

Daddy was talking to Lolo about cars and then A says….

I want a car… a convertible… with a gear shift…. a steering wheel…. and a honker. 

——–

In 12 years perhaps I can fulfill that request. LOL

Me!

Conversations from the backseat…

Me… I spy with my little eye.. something that is tan

A… (without skipping a beat) ME!!!!

LOL… yeah, ok.. you are tan.. LOL

Ant update…

‘cuz ya know you are interested.  LOL

We put the kids to bed and decided to clean underneath the oven (which is filthy).  I had looked under there earlier in the day and noticed an ant so I had a feeling something was going on under there.  M is cleaning under the oven and every few seconds I ask “do you see any?” becuase I just *know* I am going to solve this ant mystery.  (I need to get out more apparently)  M keeps telling me.. no, no ants… no, no ants…  After a few minutes I leave my post because I am defeated… my theory of where they are coming from has been disputed.  Drat.  A minute or two later M says… “I found ‘em!!!”  Waaaay back behind the oven he finds the main hangout.. an ant bar, if you will.  LOL  A bunch of ants just hanging out shooting the breeze… uhoh.. here comes the RAID!!!!!!  M sprayed like crazy and we waited… no ant activity.  Oh yeah, we win!!  Feeling quite proud of ourselves we sit down and enjoy the last of our anniversary chocolate pie while watching tv. 

Two hours later I go upstairs to get ready for bed.  I round the corner from our bedroom into the bathroom and what do my wandering eyes see all over the sink/counter….ANTS!  Oh c’mon!!!!  Apparently the little altercation we had in the kitchen ticked ‘em off so they moved upstairs.  There were only like 10 but I was still freaking out.  I run downstairs as fast as I can yelling “where’s the RAID?!!  where’s the RAID?!!”  M thinks I am kidding him which isn’t surprising considering the many times I’ve cried wolf just for humors sake.  We run upstairs.. kill the ants and begin the hunt again.  We spray in the cabinets, in the drawers, everywhere.  And might I add here that even if the RAID can says it is “Country Scent”… they are lying.. it still smells like bug spray. LOL  We continue the watch and don’t see any more action so we go to bed. 

This morning we still are looking around in the bathroom and kitchen but have seen no activity.  I’m feeling pretty good although the Orkin guy is still coming on Monday afternoon.  I just put the kids to nap and came in to use my computer.. I’m typing away when I look down on my keyboard… a flippin’ ANT!  C’mon!!  So, now I have the itchies again and am SO unamused at this point.  I swear I have developed a nervous twitch ‘cuz I think there must be an ant on me somewhere.  Eeeewwww!  Hope you’re twitching now too ‘cuz I like to spread the love.

Back on ant watch…

M

Eeewww!!!!!

When we arrived at the new house we are renting we noticed right away we had an ant problem outside.  There were a bazillion of ‘em walking along one wall on the garage and behind the drywall.  Go to the store, buy ant traps and RAID… dead ants.  Sprinkle ant killer around the outside of the house and hope for good results.  All seems well on ant watch 2008.   I notice an ant on the kitchen counter yesterday.. eewwww.. sooooo grossed out by ants in the house.  Later in the afternoon.. 2 more ants on the same counter…double eeewwwwww.  M notices a few in the upstairs bathroom.. the UPSTAIRS bathroom?!!! WHAT?!!!!  Coincidentally (or not) this bathroom is directly above the kitchen.. things that make ya go hmmm.  I tell M that I think this is a bigger problem than ant traps and RAID.  He’s calling an exterminator today.  I am on ant patrol this morning and I see more upstairs and more in the kitchen.. go to the store, buy MORE ant traps.  Now I have the itchies and am constantly looking around for more critters.  Eeewwwww!  Back to ant patrol….

14 years ago tonight….

I married the man of my dreams and received my MRS degree.  Say it with me… awwwwwwww! 

Dear M,

Thank you for asking… thank you for choosing me… thank you for working so hard each day so we are able to live such a fabulous life… thank you for listening to me drone on and on about stuff that really doesn’t matter but you still act interested… thank you for continuing to work on our marriage - I know I don’t always make it easy for you… thank you for working so hard with the kids… thank you for understanding how important my family is to me… thank you for your companionship during the good times and the challenging times… thank you for loving me unconditionally…

Forever yours.. M

Outnumbered again

Today was M’s first day at his new job.  He is in a training/transition phase right now and won’t take command until his change of command ceremony August 11th.  We all missed him terribly today.  He had been home for almost 2 weeks and even with all of the changes and work that comes with moving we still spent some really great quality time together.  The A-train wanted to sit next to Daddy at dinner tonight and he spent much of the meal leaning toward Daddy and chatting.  I could tell it meant a lot to M.

So, at this point we are mostly settled in now.  We set a new record and had every box unpacked in less than 48 hours of the truck arriving.  215 boxes unpacked in less than 2 days.  Most every thing is put away and now the decorating begins.  The kids’ rooms are all set up and everything that is familiar is back in place for them.  They both seem quite settled. 

We’ve been to the beach twice and it is all A can talk about.  When I asked him the other day what his favorite part of living here was he said without skipping a beat… the ocean. 

So much fun to watch him experience these new things.   Baby B continues to crawl a little bit more each day.  She is very easy going and has transitioned well which is a huge relief.  She is beginning to verbalize more now and there are times she seems to be saying Mamma… but it is usually when she is irritated because I walked away from her. 

Not much else going on.  I’ll end this post with a photo from this past weekend. 

She woke up a crawler

Wow.. what a crazy day.  Our household goods shipment showed up today which made for a busy time.  I put the kids down for naps at their regular time (I switched them cold turkey to the new time zone) and they both slept for 4 hours.  It was exactly what we needed in that we spent most of that 4 hours furiously unpacking as many boxes as possible.  The house is in pretty decent shape considering everything arrived today.  With each move we seem to get better and quicker about the whole unpacking part. 

Baby B finally wakes up from her nap and is in a fabulous mood.  Finally caught up on her sleep, I believe she did.  I fed her her bottle and put her down on the carpet so she could move around.  She finally figured out how to go from sitting to crawling and vice versa before we moved which was a nice milestone.  I looked down and she just started crawling today.  I was shocked and proceeded to demand that everyone (Daddy, A and Lolo) stop what they were doing to come watch my girl in action.  She isn’t crawling constantly yet but she will crawl a little ways and then do her big flop move the rest of the way.  It was as if during her sleep her little mind finally figured it out.  Way to go, girlie!

Not much else from me for now.  I am e x h a u s t e d from all of the unpacking.  I am headed to bed now so the madness can begin all over again in the a.m.  Miss you mi familia!!

xoxo

M & the fam

Conversations from the backseat…

A.. Mom, do dirtbikes have backseats?

M.. No, A, I don’t think they do.

A.. I don’t want a dirtbike.  I want the other kind of motorcycle.

M.. Why?

A.. Do motorcycles have backseats?

M.. Most do.

A.. I want the kind with a backseat.

M.. Why is that?

A.. So you can ride with me on the backseat.

Awww.. how cute is that?!!!!  Love this kid!