This past Sunday we did take the kids to church, despite their sniffles. It was a pretty eventful Sunday. Jacob has a new friend, the little boy named Aiden. It is so cute. After church services there was a pitch in we stayed for. Jacob insisted he sit with Aiden. It was the first time not to have one of the boys with us. I kept looking over at him. He was sitting with Aiden and Aiden's family. He looked so grown up eating and laughing. Aiden told his Grandma that Jacob was his best friend. How adorable! They have only spent two Sundays together but Jacob just loves him. We also had our first little dispute between one of my boys and another boy at church. There were some other older boys at church. One of them hurt Jonah. Okay, when one of my kids gets hurt I am like a crazy lady. But when Jonah gets hurt that is a whole different story. I am like a crazy mama bear about to attack and eat you for lunch. I know the boys are all the same age but something about Jonah and I am all protective. Jackson and Jacob will kinda gain up on Jonah and it infuriates me. When I look at Jonah I still think of him as only being 3 pounds. He is just so delicate to me. And he is so precious. So, we had a lot of firsts at church on Sunday. But don't worry, I totally kept my coo. Oh, plus the whole 'pitch in' at church is so out there for me. Growing up attending mostly Catholic services I don't remember much outside fellowship. There might have been, but I don't recall. I felt kinda awkward on Sunday, like when you don't know what to do with your hands and you just keep fidgeting. I am weird. After church we all came home and went to bed. At that point it was getting more obvious that the boys were really not feeling well. Monday was spent with four sick kiddos. Sunday night they had low grade fevers. By Monday morning the fevers were gone, but the kids were definitely not feeling well. Almost all four of them slept all day. Evening Jonah started vomiting. Jonah is so super sensitive to vomiting. He can do it on demand. Seriously. I never really worry when Jonah starts vomiting. This morning during breakfast I looked over at him and he had the worst expression on his face. I said, "what is that expression on your face?" As I was saying face he totally vomited on his waffle. Then he looked at me and said, "can I have another waffle?" He went on to eat another waffle and two servings of yogurt and held it down. I asked him if he was going to school today and he said, "Yep!" So, I took all four of them. By the way, if you know someone whose child attends Crabapple and they are sick my kids have totally NOT been sick and I made this story up. We do NOT get other kids sick. *wink, wink*
This morning I got up at 4:45 to get ready to take the kids to school. I know I really don't have to get so early. But Jeff gets up at 5a and I really wanted to be out of the shower before he left for work. I wanted us to be able to have one cup of coffee and talk before starting our day. Okay, so Jeff left for work and I needed to iron my shirt. While ironing my shirt I decided to turn the news on. That is really random. I really never watch tv, especially the news in the morning. However, when I hit the guide button I noticed P90x was on qvc. I have been praying like a crazy lady lately for God to help me with my weight. Which he is probably like, "really, Jackie? Just stop eating!" But regardless I have been praying for help, willpower, guidance, a divine intervention..anything. When I turned the tv on and they were selling P90x I totally ordered it. I am pretty sure it is not a sign from God but at 5:30 in the morning I felt pretty confident that it was. I have not informed my husband yet. I think he will be supportive, but considering we don't have a dvd player for me to actually watch the videos. That may be an issue because you know what is coming next. We have to go buy a dvd player. We had one but the kids broke it beyond repair.

Sleepless in Indy

It is 3am and I am exhausted. I want to sleep so badly. However, I keep having nightmares. Now, I am forcing myself to stay awake for fear of going back to sleep. This is ridiculous. I haven't had nightmares since our pastor came and blessed our home...until tonight. Still they are not nearly as horrible as before. And I am in my office. Where before I would have been too terrified to get out bed. So, is that progress? I just get frustrated because I really thought this was behind me. But I am wondering if eating a cookie right before going to bed is actually the culprit. Don't they say you shouldn't eat before going to bed? My alarm is set for 5am. I guess in a little bit I will just get in the shower. We have church in the morning. I am really debating on taking the kids or if we/Jeff or me should stay home with them. They all have the sniffles. Jacob came to my bed at midnight and said he is so sick. He was coughing horrible and couldn't sleep. I just checked on the other two boys. Jonah peed the bed tonight. I tried to wake him to change the bedding and his clothes. But he is sleeping so soundly he wouldn't move. Is that horrible? When I put more blankets on Jackson he moved around and began coughing again. I am almost thinking they shouldn't go to church. Sometimes it is so hard being a parent to make decisions like that. Really, could it be like allergies/sinus? But since they all have it then it must be contagious? I don't know.

Tonight was our niece Emily's 7th birthday party. They boys had a blast. It is so cool to watch them interact with other people and see them come out of their shell. I really had a good time seeing everyone. Emily got her ears pierced for her birthday. Isn't that so grown up? It looks really cute on her.

Jeff has finally decided to attend the Great Banquet in September. He will attend two weeks before me. I am so excited he has made this decision. Something I didn't think about was being home alone. Geez, I used to live alone but now I get all freaked out. I think we will have to make some arrangements.

I have now been up for over an hour. Prior to coming upstairs to blog I was writing in my journal. I decided to write out our financial goals. I wish we had more short term goals, but the majority of them are going to take a lot of time. I am so impatient. I guess of few of them are short term. They include rebuilding our emergency fund (since we depleted it for our van), gathering enough cash for the boys' birthday and then Christmas, saving enough cash for Jeff's college tuition, continuing to grow our emergency fund 3 to 6 months of living expenses, reimburse the 20% down we used on our current home and then saving to pay cash for our next home. I really don't want to be here any longer than need be. But I think if I don't go back to work it will be a long time before we can start packing. Ugh! That is frustrating. I want to start looking for my 'dream' home. Anything worth having is worth waiting for. I will keep repeating that to myself.

Life list

Today was the boys second day of school. Things are going really great. I am feeling very blessed for the opportunity to be with Juliet and manage to be productive at the same time. Tonight I hung out with Nikki and Tiffany. My husband is especially sweet. I had two girls nights out this week! Tuesday I had a great time hanging out with Kico. I always very much enjoying catching up with Kico. Tonight I hung out with Nikki and Tiffany. I have no idea where the time goes. We met at Tiffanys at 7p and I didn't leave until after 12:30! They say it is me that is so long winded. I think that is ridiculous. I like to keep things short and to the point. Regardless this has been a very good week of seeing family and friends and starting the school year.

Recently I updated my life list. Some people refer to list like this as bucket list. But I have no plans of kicking the bucket anytime soon, unless God has other plans for me. I like to keep list like this to remind me of my goals, dreams and things that I would just like to accomplish. Some stuff is silly and out there. But it is kinda meant to be a little out there.
1. Hike the Grand Canyon
2. Visit Alaska and experience 24 hours of daylight
3. Jog the mini marathon (I walked it in May)
4. Make a complete Thanksgiving dinner (I am really intimidated by the turkey)
5. Go on vacation for Thanksgiving
6. Take the kids to a different state every year for vacation
7. Sponsor or adopt a child
8. Meet Paula Deen
9. Visit Holy Land
10. Become a photographer
11. Build my kids an amazing playhouse, like ridiculous
12. Weigh under 180 (I know some of you are amazed and think I can check this one off my list.)
13. Go to NYC at Christmas time
14. Be more outgoing
15. Be confident, stop doubting all my decisions and be more comfortable in my own skin
16. Make a quilt (I was almost able to check that one off)
17. Be fit and in shape
18. learn Spanish
19. Have a garden
20. Run a flower shop after I retire
21. Visit Maine and Ireland
22. Have a log cabin on some land
23. Have a second modest lake house (which lake to be determined later)
24. Finally obtain my degree (I would work on this one, however I still haven't decided what I want to be when I grow up)
25. Read the Bible in a year, but continue to read it over again every year
26.Learn to make furniture
27. Buy $1000. pair of shoes
28. Drive a dump truck (This is the only one I have checked off. Thanks, Mike)
29. milk a cow
30. skydive.....maybe
31. be the proud owner of my dream car, a Woody. You know, one of the old jeep wagons. Yes, that is truly my dream car.
32. Learn to drive a motorcycle (this one was added to the list prior to having kids. I am not so sure about it anymore)
33. To grow my relationship with Christ everyday closer to him
34. To learn how to live more simple (It is really weighing on me to cancel all cable television. However, I do not have the nerve to turn it off. Why? Am I addicted to my tv? I hardly watch it, but the thought of it not being there terrifies me.)
There you have it. I am constantly adding to it. What is on your list?

First day of school!

Today was the first day of school! It went so very smoothly. I am really excited for the school year. As soon as the boys got up this morning they were eager to get to school. At school the staff takes the kiddos right out of the car. There isn't time for meltdowns or tears. They are whisked away so quickly. It was darling. Jeff drove and as he pulled out of the parking lot I kept looking back, but the boys did not. They were so cute walking together up the sidewalk. But no tears were shed. We all did good. While the boys were at school Jeff and I made our first trip of the season to the apple orchard. We went to Apple Works and stocked up on apples. It was so easy taking Juliet. It was like we were on vacation. We weren't there long. Then we drove back home and put together a picnic lunch. We surprised the boys and took them to the park after school for the picnic. As a bigger surprise their cousins and aunt met us there. Needless to say, all five kiddos (including Jeff) are very asleep right now. Pure heavenly. One quiet house so worth the $312 a month. Oh, plus they did already learn things today. One thing I am going to hear so much this year is,"Miss Chris says....Miss Chris does it this way....Miss Chris..." Miss Chris is the boys teacher and they were already talking up a storm about her. Which I am thrilled about. I really want them to love her. Today they learned how to wash their hands. It is so funny. I have showed them the same things two hundred times this summer about washing their hands. Don't turn the water on high, use soap, use warm water, don't forget to dry their hands. But magically when Miss Chris showed them today it finally stuck! It is a miracle. Regardless it was so darling when Jackson said,"Miss Chris says turn the water on low so we don't waste it for the kitty cats." He said it so sweetly in a low voice. I have no idea what it meant, but it was darling. When we picked the boys up from school they were so pumped. They were all talking so fast I couldn't understand what they were saying. Jonah said,"I played with two....no three other kids! And we rode in a plane and it went high into the sky! I played with Will and he is nice!" Jackson said, "I cried because I wanted you and Daddy. I colored you a picture today!" Jacob said, "I didn't cry only Jackson cried. I was a big boy!" Today was a very good day. Okay, I am still having issues posting pics. They always upload in a random order of craziness. When we got home to make sandwiches I couldn't find Juliet. She was in the closet eating her cookie. We recently switched the boys from car seats to booster seats. She was sitting in the car seat in the closet eating. I hope not a sign how she will be later in life. Anyhow, it was very cute. She is funny. I asked her where is Jacob, Jonah and Jackson. She started pointing at the door and talking up a storm. I couldn't understand what she was saying, but she told me a whole long story. I asked her if she wanted to go get them. She grabbed her blankie and ran for the door. I guess she missed her older brothers.

Here is Juliet in the closet.

This was the drop off line at school this morning. Miss Chris is the lady with dark hair posing with the boys. They are all in the same class.

They each had a big bag of school supplies they had to take with them. They thought that was so cool. They loved having a grocery sack with stuff.

I love this pic. I am not sure who this lady is. But I LOVE when people are warm and inviting to my kids. Nothing melts my heart more than to see people open up to my kids. I love that she was so excited to see them.

Jacob on the way to school. I love their little outfits today. Grandma Glo recently bought these shirts for them. They had a new outfit for today.

Juliet. My daughter is so precious. I don't think she has ever taken a bad picture until this one. I think she is still cute, but not a fav pic. Sorry.

My handsome hubbie loading the kids into the car.

Jonah!

Jackson! We went out front this morning to take these pics. I can't believe we had enough time for photos. These almost look like mug shots in front of that wall.

Jacob.

Jonah!

Family photo

Jacob getting his shoes on. I wanted to document every moment of the morning. I was so excited for today. It isn't just the first day of preschool, it is the first day of school period. The boys are getting so old. I was thinking how it seems like not that long ago when I was so sad to have three little babies in a hospital together. I remember when they were born wondering if they would ever be big enough to walk, get dressed by themselves, or even talk. They were so tiny. I didn't think they could ever possibly grow big. That was such a hard time. Jonah was only 3 pounds 5 ounces at birth. Now he has this great big voice and he runs around like a daredevil.

Jackson putting his shoes and socks on by himself. The boys had oatmeal for breakfast.

Jonah is completely dressed and ready to walk out the door in this picture. But he was desperately trying to go back to bed.

I am thrilled how today turned out. This was a day I could relive over and over again. I am so proud of my three little men!

One more day till school starts!

Tomorrow morning the boys start preschool and I am kinda nervous. I am more nervous that I will forget something. They have a list of stuff that needs to go with them. And now that the boys are in school that is more responsibility for the parents. At the meet your teacher day they immediately asked me what events I wanted to volunteer for. I kinda wanted to say, "um, yah I am paying you so I don't have to volunteer." Volunteering and mingling with other parents is really out of comfort box. I can definitely be an introvert at times. This is so one of those times. I think the boys will do fine. I am more nervous they will get into trouble or be known as the boys that pee all over the bathroom toilet. They have no idea what is in store for them. But really it is only two days a week for a few hours each time. So little time such a huge monthly payment. We are paying $312/month for all three boys together. It really isn't that much compared to other schools. However, my van payment was only $200/month. We know how cheap I can be. OMG! I was just getting ready to type that after this I am going on a mission to find my camera cord so I can upload pics of the kiddos tomorrow. And I can't even take it I just find my cord. Guess where it was was this whole time...under my keyboard! How did the kids get it under there? Haha! So, yeah pics tomorrow!

Relaxing Sunday

Today was a pretty relaxing day. The whole family took a nap together after church. At least Jeff, Juliet and I took naps. I have a feeling that the boys were actually enjoying the freedom for awhile as we slept. But it was nice to close my eyes for a few minutes or an hour. I didn't however sleep in until 2:30p like some lazy individuals. Haha! You know who you are...
Church was okay. I was in the toddler room today. Okay there were five children and four of them were mine and I kept thinking, 'these children are horrible!' The fifth child (the one that was not mine) was an angel. He was so polite and kind to the boys. I felt so horrible for him. His name was Aiden. The boys have a friend named Hayden. Jonah said at least 500 times Hayden, Hayden, Hayden...Seriously over and over again. Aiden kept saying, "that is NOT my name!" Jonah was so incredibly annoying. I finally put him in time out facing the corner. There he yelled at the wall over and over again, 'Hayden, Hayden, Hayden!' It was a long hour. It didn't end there. After services we went back to the sanctuary for donuts and coffee, with Aiden. Jonah started all over again in front of everyone. Aiden's mom was very nice about it. I was really starting to get embarrassed. Jonah was obviously making fun of him or giving him a hard way to go or something. I did forget to mention Jackson at the beginning of services. The kids stay with the adults for worship time, then they go away to play. During worship between songs the worship leader was praying and it was quiet. Jackson starts yelling repeating, "I am starving, I am so hungry, Mom! I am sooo very very hungry!" Jonah kept running laps around the chairs. And Juliet was so cute. As soon as the music started she grabbed Jacob's hand and started dancing. As if to say, 'come on, dance partner.' It was an interesting day at church. Our church is extremely laid back so I didn't think too much about it. But regardless parents always want their kids to be perfect in public, especially at church.

Apology

Jeff made me feel guilty for being so descriptive about my grandma. He said I was a little harsh. I was really being sarcastic about holding her under the water. But seriously, I would never hurt someone. It just helps to talk about it. Anyhow, I am feeling much better today. I am sure today will be a great day. It has started off a little bumpy. Jeff went golfing this morning. I am really excited for him. However, I am not so excited about it that he needed to turn all the lights on and keep asking me questions at 6am. Every time I answered him he would say, "what?" That drives me crazy lately. Whether I am asleep or not every time I tell him something he says,"what?" I know he can hear me. I am constantly repeating myself. So, lately I just ignore him and I have stopped repeating myself. And you know what?? He totally heard me. Why is it a habit to come back with 'what?' after everything I say? It makes me want to tie him down with duct tape and pluck every single hair out of his eye brows with tweezers very slowly. Is that too descriptive? Maybe I will just start hiding all his cans of tobacco like I used to. That was kinda entertaining. Anyhow, I feel bad about talking about my grandma and I am sorry. And I guess I should say I am sorry for talking about my hubbie too. I would never hurt the hand feeds me and my kids. Plus, he is actually a pretty awesome husband but don't tell him. He probably wouldn't even hear you anyways.