Vacation

Last week Jeff and the kids and me escaped for a couple of days to Gatlinburg. I was figuring the boys have been there at least four times. I think that is pretty crazy considering they just turned four the first of this month. But we love it. We can not get enough of Dollywood. Christmas time at Dollywood is one of my favorite places. It reminds me so much of Metamora at Christmas time. They decorate nearly the whole park with Christmas lights. We spent the entire day there. Around 4p I was going crazy. The kids were insane. Jeff and Mike zip lined so they were off busy. That was the longest amount of time ever. Looking back the kids were not horrible at all. But I thought I was about to lose it. Jonah kept chewing his shirt. I wanted so badly to strip the kid naked. He had on a brand new shirt. Why this got under my skin so badly? I nearly couldn't look at him. I said to him at least hundred times, "Jonah, stop chewing on your shirt!!!" Even thinking about it now I can feel my blood pressure rising. But when those Christmas lights came on and the sun went down to show all their glory I was a new person. I felt like I was filled with sugar and the whole world was a perfect place. Christmas lights just do something special to me. I was giddy with excitement in a matter of moments. It is one of my happy places.
Jeff and I took turns on the ride home declaring our favorite things and least favorite things about vacation. My favorite things included getting to spend time with kids, having Jeff's never ending help, this super cool mirror maze we went through, experiencing 5 Guys cheeseburgers for the first time and getting up early. Yes, I woke up early everyday. It was the best gift I have ever given myself. I would get cleaned up, go downstairs, make coffee, take all my vitamins, do my Bible study, pray, enjoy the morning sun on the balcony and sometimes even exercise before anyone else was awake. Seriously, I was popping out of bed around 5 or 6a. Now that I am back home I can not get up early to save my life. The really cool mirror maze was so much fun. I have lots of pics. I will upload later. My least favorite things about vacation included not having time to relax (I don't think vacations will include time to relax until the kids are much older), not having any one on one time with Jeff, the drive home (for the second year in a row Jonah vomited in the car) and how fast vacation zipped by. By the way, Jonah does not get car sick. Rather, when he is bored or mad he gags himself until he gets sick. Last year he was mad, this year he was simply bored. Overall, I am really glad we decided to make the trip. I know I say this every time we get home from Gatlinburg, but I think it will be awhile before we go back. We have big dreams of hopefully going to Disney next.

More funny things

This morning I was putting my makeup on and Jonah was watching me. He said, "Mom, what are all those cracks around your eyes?" I said those are called wrinkles. Jonah replied with, "Why do you have so many wrinkles?"
Jacob came up to me this morning with his magna doodle. He had drawn two circles side by side on it with a line coming straight down from each circle. He said so proudly, "look Mom, I drew boobs with legs!" And so it begins.

I am upstairs reading over some of my older post when I hear Jacob say, "Oh man! This toilet seat has pee all over it!" Really?! The joys of having three little boys. I keep telling myself I am going to document all the things the boys say. At this age there are some pretty funny things they say. However, yesterday Jackson told me get out of his business. I thought, 'wow, that sounded like he told me to get out of his business. But I really don't think he knows that word.' I asked him to repeat it. And sure enough very clearly the second time, 'Mom, get out of my business!' I told him to go to the bathroom and wash his hands with soap. I knew he wasn't going to use soap. I followed him into to the bathroom to make sure. I guess washing your hands is his business. I definitely informed him that he has no business that is not my business. I was not amused.
This morning the boys were getting ready for school. Jacob got dressed and went into the bathroom and was checking himself out. Then he informed me that he didn't want to go to school. Yesterday he was trying to walk from the top of the rocking chair to the top of their little tool table. He was not successful. He has a little gash on his nose and he was bleeding. So, this morning he tells me that he doesn't want to go school because he didn't want the other kids to see his nose. I was so blown away. I thought scabs and scars were cool for boys. And I couldn't believe that my four year old was so worried about his appearance. There have been a lot of other things lately. I will try to update more later. Right now the boys are singing the songs they learned at school while laying in bed. These are the moments I truly treasure.

Loving this time of year!!

I don't have much time (imagine that, haha!). I am in between fall activities with the kiddos. Today has been a really good day. Jeff is away today at Attica, Indiana four wheeling or mudding with my brother in law. I hope he has a great time. That leaves me with the kids. I took the kids to my mom's work for their fall festival. Their fall festival is really one of the best fall festivals ever. I will definitely NEVER miss a single year. They have so much stuff for the kids to do and everything is absolutely free. We got there and the kids each got to pick out a pumpkin in their little pumpkin patch. They had face painting and a bouncy house. They also have lots of food and a raffle. Again, all free. They even had caramel apples...free. The kids rode ponies. And they have a costume contest. My boys won 2ND place. The three of them counted as one child. They wore their monkey costumes from last year. The second place prize? You are not going to believe this. It was a $75 gift card to Toys R Us. I didn't even spend $75 on the costumes last year when I bought them. I am so excited. My mom said to me that God has a way of helping you when you need it. She was so right. The boys are turning 4 in a few weeks and to say I have been stressing about money is an understatement. Now, I have $75 to spend on them for their birthday. I can't wait to tell Jeff. God is so amazing. My kids were cute but they really did not deserve 2Nd place. The fact there was three of them kinda sold it. No complaints here. Right now we are doing quiet time. When Juliet wakes up we are going to the park for some exercise. We are loving this new park we discovered. There is a paved trail. I already have their bikes loaded up in the van. Then we are going to April's for a healthy dinner. After dinner we need to come home and do baths for church tomorrow. I already have every one's outfits picked out for tomorrow. Tomorrow Jeff is working from 11a to 11p. I will be solo with the kids, again. I don't mind. Jeff working overtime is a big blessing. I have nothing planned for tomorrow. I am going to have to think of something.

I haven't blogged anything in awhile. I generally feel 'inspired' to write when I am having a blah day and need to vent a little. Today is no exception. I really want my blog to be upbeat. However, this is my only outlet so most of my blahness will appear here. I truly am a very happy person. You just may not know it if you only read this. I have felt very blah since Jeff got home from the Great Banquet. I am definitely not feeling like myself. My biggest symptom is being unsociable. That is just not me. But blah. I have these great plans this weekend and I am finding myself very dreading it. I am not sure why. I definitely think I am need of some adult time. Lately, I have not been getting any time to myself. I have been taking kids to the grocery store. Generally that is the only time I have alone. It has been a couple weeks since I have seen any of my friends. Over the weekend the kids and I were sick. I was more blah than sick, but definitely just not myself. Today I can tell I have zero patience for my kids. They just open their mouths and I want to cry. My throat is killing me and I don't know if it is a symptom of being sick or if it is because I have yelled at the kids too much. Geez, I don't like days like this, very melancholy. Wow, are you glad you decided to read this?
Over the weekend we did have an amazing day with family. We had a mini family reunion/family picnic. Despite the fact that much (most) of the family was unable to attend I thought the day was a lot of fun and a huge success. I definitely missed everyone that was unable to attend. I miss the noise and chaos and the catching up when all of us are together. I am really hoping that this is something we can do annually. Growing up I remember my dad's side hosted a family picnic every summer at my dad's brothers' work. My Uncle Tim (whom I really adore and very rarely see) works for IPL. We would picnic at the park in Martinsville. I think it is Martinsville. It has been years since I have been there. But I really remember that time with family. Now having kids I want them to feel comfortable around everyone and be close to everyone. I never want my kids to wonder who cares about them or thinks of them. And I want them to have lots of support and love around them at all times. Lately Jeff and I have been doing a lot of talking about what would happen if something did happen to Jeff and me. Like I said, aren't you glad you are reading this? I am just a ray of sunshine today. But if tragically something happened I would just want people coming out of the woodwork to love on my kids. Even if nothing happens to us I just want that so badly for my kids. Nothing makes me happier then when I see someone genuinely being kind to my kids. Okay, so like I was saying we had a great weekend with family. We picnicked at Brown County. Although I can't take the credit for picking the park, I honestly don't think we could have found a better spot. I LOVE Brown County. Every time I visit there (at least half a dozen times this year alone) I am amazed how much I instantly think of my mom. It is probably one of the warmest memories and special places I can recall going with my mom. It just isn't the same now as it was then. I loved the car ride down there. I loved the shopping and the fudge. I loved the time with her. It is funny because I am pretty sure other people went with us, but in my memory it is just me and my mom. If you are reading this, Mom thank you so much!
Okay, I will really try to get some pics of last weekend on here soon. I am leaving tomorrow night for the Great Banquet. Maybe I will add that to my list to get done tonight. Jeff is working very late tonight. Only God knows what I will be able to accomplish with four kiddos.

Missing my hubbie

Today I am really missing my husband. I think it is knowing that he will not be returning till Sunday. Jeff is at the Great Banquet till Sunday evening. I think if he was just at work and working late I would not be missing him so much. I am really happy and proud of him for attending the Great Banquet, but I am very much wishing he was here right now. Last night I was trying to have fun with the kids. After dinner we played. Then I rented the sequel Chipmunk movie for the kids. They really seemed to enjoy it. I let the boys stay up late and pass out on the living room floor. I even let them eat their popcorn in the living room. Crazy, right? It is for us. We NEVER let the kids eat anywhere but the kitchen for obvious reasons. So, the boys were up well past 11pm and all them were up by 8a. Geez, why don't they want to sleep more? This morning was slow going. Then I met April, Savanah, Braxton and Mom at the park on Fry Rd. Amy P surprised us by stopping by. It was so nice to see her. That was really enjoyable. I really did not want to come home. But Savanah and Braxton needed naps and we didn't have anywhere to go. We came home and I let the boys paint, then make cookies, and play with the race cars with tiny parts. Now they are having quiet time. Well, I am having quiet time in my office. They are downstairs jumping off the couches and yelling at each other. I keep hearing all the home cordless phones beeping and the answering machine keeps going on and off. So, someone is playing with the 'locate' button. I just really hope that Juliet sleeps for awhile. It is so silly. I still have three children to watch. But just being short one kid makes things so much easier. You wouldn't think it makes a difference but it really does. Okay, so plans for this weekend...not much of any. I generally love not having plans. However, this weekend I wish we had a lot going on to pass the time. Alright, I can hear someone screaming downstairs in victory and another child screaming in pain. My time must be up!

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.