By the way.....

Brianne, I am not sure if you are reading my blog, but if you are call my parents house this weekend so we can figure out a time to see you! Well, that is if you survive your in laws :)

Getting Ready

We leave tomorrow for NOVA, this week feels like it lasted forever! I am ready to get on that airplane tomorrow. So far I have gotten the boys and I packed about 75 % of the way. Now I just need to finish packing and clean my house. The boys and I are going to go to lunch at Mc Donald's to get some energy out so they will take a nap. Hopefully I can get the floors mopped and the bathrooms cleaned while they are sleeping. My sweet husband decided to call his Dad and invite him over tonight, not sure if you understands we are leaving tomorrow for NINE days! Well, I need to get my boys dressed and loaded in the car. I will post pictures of the boys in VA soon!

Busy Week

This week is going to be a very busy one for us. I am trying to get ready to leave on Saturday for my Northern Va. Meanwhile we are still getting our rental house ready to be rented again. I want to get as much done on the other house on Tuesday and Thursday while the boys are at school. This plan leaves me getting our own house cleaned during the days the boys are home, which is not a small feat! I need to start packing our bags and making lists for who I am going to buy Christmas presents for once I get to VA. I can't believe it is time to start Christmas shopping again! So far I have only bought the boys a few things, and I need to get a move on before there is nothing left! Last year I got all of our Christmas shopping done the day after Thanksgiving, I don't think I can do that this year, but I am hoping to bring an extra empty suitcase to my parents so I can buy some stuff and bring it back. I need to get the boys Christmas pictures done too. I am at the point now where there is just not enough time to do all the things I want and need to do. I hate to feel overwhelmed, but the Holidays, at least at my house, are very busy. Well, I need to get my boys ready for bed and dinner in the oven. Tomorrow, I think I will make a list of all the stuff I need to do before I leave and hopefully that will help.

My Favorite Holiday

Most people have a favorite holiday, my boys love Christmas (as most children do), my husband's favorite is New Years (which I find quite bizarre) and mine of course is Thanksgiving. I am not sure when I made the decision that Thanksgiving was my favorite Holiday, it is just one of those things that happens and you don't even remember when. I do, however, remember why I like it so, and it isn't just the usual, you don't have to buy presents remark. I remember growing up having Thanksgiving at my Nana's house. Nana hated to cook, but she would be busy stirring butter beans and making mashed potatoes. Both of my Aunts would be there, My aunt Nancy would be dressed up and upset about something not being right. My aunt Teresa would be talking to my mom about family stuff and who was doing what. I would be playing in the house with my cousin and best friend Meaghan waiting patiently for our dinner. There was about 20 people in their small house, some of us were young and some old but we were all family. The real fun was the day after Thanksgiving, when my mom, Nancy, and Teresa would get up at 5:30am to go Black Friday shopping! Nancy would always bring everyone a sausage biscuit from Arby's, we would eat and off to the mall we would go. I really love the memories of Thanksgiving with my family, and even though, we have all gone off and had families of our own and don't have that special holiday together anymore I still want to try hard to give the same since of family and tradition that I loved so much to my boys. May we all be thankful for our families this Thanksgiving.

Sick

So I don't think it was the flu mist after all (that got Matthew sick), it seems it was all a coincidence. The good part is that Matt and I got a ton done on the rental house and it is probably about 60% done depending on if we decide all the trim needs to be painted or not. The bad part is that Jack, Matthew and myself are all sick now. I woke up this morning with a horrible stuffy nose and headache. The boys both have a bad cough and runny nose. So I am really hoping we can get better by Thursday so at least I will have that day to work on the other house while the boys are at school, I guess we will see.

Flu mist and Rental property woes

I was a firm believer before this week, that the flu shot and the flu mist could NOT get you sick, NOT anymore! I took the boys to the Dr. on Wednesday to get the flu mist and to get myself a flu shot because I had a free day during this crazy busy month. Well, about five hours after getting the shot I started having horrible aches in my legs, I felt horrible. I went to sleep and felt fine this morning so I thought all was well. Then Matthew starts having a runny nose, which they told me could be a side effect of the mist, by the time I get Matthew home from school and he is playing I look at his face and decide he looks a little red. I get the thermometer and he has a 102.3 fever! Mean while we have an empty rental property that needs to be painted, and I am supposed to meet the Nashville gas guy and someone else over their tomorrow at 8:00am. So this is not looking well, but then I think oh I am sure these side effects won't last long and we will still be able to have my MIL watch the boys this weekend. The phone rings. It is my MIL saying she is sick and won't be able to watch the boys until Saturday morning at the earliest! This day has gone from bad to worse in a hurry! So now I really do think Matthew is fine since he says he feels fine and his fever has gone down with the help of Motrin. I just hope we can get some work done on this house or the double mortgage payments will be coming.

GO VOTE!

This is going to be a historical election no matter who is elected, and every vote counts! So many people have fought and died for our freedom and Democracy, including my Nephew who is fighting for us right now! So be apart of this election and Go Vote!

Trick or Treat!

The boys had a great Halloween this year. Matthew decided he wanted to be a monkey and Jack wanted to be Spiderman. This was the first year they were not the same thing for Halloween, and of course I was a little sad but this just shows the difference in personality that these two boys have! So they had their Halloween party at school on Thursday, and got to go trick or treating in the school, which they had a blast doing. Then on Halloween, we went to our friend Melinda's house for few minutes so she could see their costumes, and then on to the real deal. They had so much fun ringing doorbells, and and saying trick or treat. It did make me a little sad to think they won't be little much longer, and need us to hold their hands going up the stairs to people's houses. Once we did our whole street we went home and they dug in to their candy immediately! I guess we are going to be on a sugar high for a while now!

Matt's Birthday

Today was Matt's birthday, and we had some of our friends and his Mom and Sister over to celebrate. It really turned out nice, I think everybody including the birthday boy, had a good time. The boys really enjoyed playing with their cousin Sam, and I had fun watching them! This Month is crazy with birthdays, in fact every weekend until the end of the month, we have a birthday party to go to! That is just crazy, I had no idea we had so many birthdays in October. Sam's 2nd birthday is next weekend, and that should be a lot of fun, since they have a lot of land and they are doing a motorcycle theme (the boys are going to love that). Well, the one thing I can say about have a party at your house, is that it really makes you clean! Usually my house is a complete mess after a party, especially one like this that has six boys under 5 years old running around, but this time everything but my bonus room is really clean! So I am happy about that, and the fact that maybe I can do some birthday shopping this week instead of cleaning house on the boys school days. Well, I am off to go spend a few more minutes with the birthday boy before bed.

First Day of School!

So I am a little late with the first day of school pictures. Actually this Tuesday will be the third day of school. Anyway I couldn't wait to post these pictures because the boys look so cute:)

So far the boys really like going to school. One of their little friends is in their class and that helps a bunch. Matthew actually told me last Thursday, that he had so much fun at school. That really made me feel good, because I now I know that they are having a good time and I am getting some stuff done in the process! Now my only problem is that I have so much stuff I want to get done in my two days that I can't figure out what to do first!

Back from Vacation

We are back from Panama City Beach, just in time to miss the next Hurricane! Luckily we just caught the tail end of Fay and most of our week was full of great weather and no crowds!! I have to say this years vacation was so much better than last year. The boys enjoyed the pool and the beach more. They also did much better at the restaurants and so we took them out with us and the grandmas almost evey night. It was a lot of fun having both of our moms there with us, it took some of the pressure off of me to take care of the boys the whole time, and we just had a lot of fun hanging out together. We had such a great time I can't wait to go back next year!

Mommy Time

So today is the start of the Olympics one of my favorite things to watch on TV ( besides CNN of course). I have said since the boys were born that I wanted one of them to go to the Olympics and when a gold medal and say I did it for you Mom!! So I started thinking about how I have so many hopes and dreams for my boys, but not much in the way of dreams for myself. Everyday revolves around what I am going to do for the boys and there is no time for what I want to do for myself. I guess I have been in the mindset that being this way makes me a better mother a selfless person who gives her all to her family. I had a breakthrough this morning reading a book I got in the mail from MOPs called the Mommy Diaries. I do need time for myself, and I need to have goals and interests outside of family. This does not make a selfish Mom but a Mom that is happy and fulfilled in all areas of life! So if by chance one or both of my boys wins a gold medal in the Olympics I hope they say "I did for myself"!

It has been awhile!

Wow, I can't believe I haven't blogged since May! Well, we have been busy around here. The boys are working on the potty still, but are coming along :) I guess I have the oldest kids around still in pull ups!!! Anyway, we finally booked our vacation, which I am excited about, we are going to Panama City Beach at the end of the month. This weekend has been nice, we went to the Discovery Center this weekend on a free family pass. Matt and I had a good time seeing the boys so excited over everything. Today we went to the mall, and out to eat. The boys are getting so much better about going out to eat here lately, I really hope it doesn't end while we are on vacation!! Also the boys will be starting school once we get back from FL so I need to get their lunchboxes bought, and their nap mats. I can't believe they are starting school so soon, but I am hoping to get some stuff done around the house those two days, and start my e-bay business up again. There seems to be so much I want to do right now but I am kinda on hold until we get though August. Well, I need to go get my CNN fix before bed!

Visiting VA

We are still visting my Mom and Dad and Northern Virginia, and the boys are having a blast. So far we have been playing outside a lot, gone to my brothers house in Richmond, visited a park that has a train that you can ride around on, and gone to the movies to see Horton sees a Who. Needless to say, the boys are really tired. Today they have been cranky, they just need some sleep I supose. It stays light outside until after 9 O'clock here, back home I thought it was getting dark around 8 or so. So I have had some difficulty getting them to go to sleep at night. Hopefully they will take a good nap today and sleep well tonight, because tomorrow we are going to the National Zoo in DC. I have never been so I am excited too! I will post pictures from the zoo later this week!

Happy Mama's Day!!

Happy Mama's day to all of you hard working moms out there! I don't think I really understood the idea of Mother's day until I had my boys. I know better now all the hard work my Mom did for me and my brother all those years and still to this day. Thanks Ma for being the the best mom anyone could ask for! And thank you to my Husband for giving me a very special, restful Mother's day weekend! I hope everyone else had a great Mother's day as well. This Mama is going to go get in bed and get ready for my week ahead!

Big Boys!

Well, I finally broke down and moved the boys in to big boy beds this last weekend. It went as well as I could have hoped for. I was about in tears though, taking down the cribs. I remember when we put the cribs up in anticipation of our babies. We haven't actually gotten the toddler beds yet, they are on order. Jack informed me that this was not a bed, "it is just a sheet and a pillow!" Their mattresses are on the floor for the time being, their beds should be in next week. In other news, Matthew is getting more interested in the potty, and has used it at least six times in the past few days. This is exciting, but Jack still has little interest. I guess I will focus my attention on Matthew right now and how the sibling competition that Jack certainly feels will come into play soon. Well, I need to go get ready for the day, hopefully I can get some stuff done today.

High Flyin Fun!

Today my husband, the boys, and I went to the air show that was in a town close to ours. The boys had so much fun! They loved watching the airplanes flying and looking at the ones that were parked around for everyone to see. Matthew did get a tad bit upset the first time he heard the fighter jets but it was nothing a little funnel cake couldn't cure:) If you know Matthew, you know he loves his food! The boys actually got to sit in a little two seater airplane, and we all got to go up in an Army cargo plane. I had a great time too, it was my first trip to an air show, and the Blue Angels were unbelievable. I feel completely worn out tonight though, I am ready for bed!

New Hair Cut

Well, we finally got the boys' hair cut for the spring. They certainly were glad, poor Matthew his hair falls right in his eyes :( We took this picture this weekend, after our fun filled day. We got their hair cut, then went to have Who cakes at IHOP. They are celebrating Dr. Seuss with some really fun food for the little ones. Then once the boys got up from their nap we went and got Dippin Dots ice cream! The boys have never had that and neither had I. Jack kept saying I like these rocks can I try your rocks:) Well so far this week seems to be going well for us. Everyone is feeling better and the weather has been some what decent. A friend of ours had us over today to play and the boys had a great time playing with all of their friends. Hopefully we will get to the park this week for some outdoor fun. I've gotta run, more laundry is calling me!

EVIL EMPIRE

Let me start by saying that I am not a protester by nature, in fact I have never been involved in one at all. These stories have changed all of that, and I felt compelled to share them with the people who come upon my blog. I am not asking anyone to join me but to just read and think about this Evil Empire that almost all of us are supporting each month.

The first horrifying story
My Husband came home last night and told me this horrifying thing that had just happened to a co-worker of his. His Co-worker calls on Wal-mart's Corporate office in Bentonsville Arkansas. while he was down there this week, he pulls into the parking lot and sees a two year old child wandering around clutching his blanket. All the child can say is Mama. When he goes inside to see if anyone knows the child or can help he hears this response, "We don't care, you can call the police if you want to but leave us out of it."He proceeds to ask FOUR different Wal-Mart Corp. employees in Multipul buildings in there office complex and gets the same response. So he goes back outside with the child and someone from across the street comes over and says that child has been wondering around Wal-mart Corporates parking lot for 2 hours! So my husband's co-worker proceeds to call the police and the child was taken by DHS. Just think about the amount of people that must have walked by this child all alone in a parking lot and did NOTHING! I know the first response is to say well this is probably just just a few bad people who works inside wal-mart's headquarters, however read story number two and decide if this is characteristic of Wal-Mart as a whole.

Story number 2
A women who is an employee of Walmart is hit by a 18 wheeler and has sever brain damage and has to live in a nursing facility. The family wins a law suit against the trucking company that in the end amounts to $400,000. Wal-Mart sues the woman for $400,000 because they had in fine print that if their insurance paid for something that was later won in a law suit they could come back and collect. So what they did was legal, but was is ethical? The woman is not wealthy, she was using this money to pay for the nursing care. Her son was killed in Iraq shortly after her accident. Wal-mart paid $300,000 in legal fees to win the $400,000 suit! Wal-mart makes BILLIONS of dollars each year and is worried about what amounted to $100,000?! Since this story made the news this week Wal-Mart decided to let the woman keep her money but doesn't this demonstrate to all of us what kind of a company this is?

I say all of this because I could only think, what if this had been my child in story number one and no one would help him? How could a company pride it self on helping the community and then encourage its people to have no compassion? Wal-mart will probably still make billions of dollars of profit this year, but it won't be with any help from me.

Everybody wants to rule the world

Driving the other day I heard that song by Tears for Fears, Everybody Wants to Rule the World. This song took me back to the first few months with the boys, what a crazy time. I am sure everyone knows the first line to that song but in case you don't remember it, it goes "Welcome to your life, there's no turning back". That pretty much sums up how I was feeling during that point in mine and the boys life. I am so happy to say that both the boys and I have come a long way since then. Sure we have our ups and downs, but nothing compared to those days. So anyway, I was really thinking about this because potty training was a bust this weekend, and I was feeling like a failure of a mother and feeling uneasy in this uncharted territory, much like I did in those first months. I am happy to say that my husband talked me off the ledge and really was a great support to me. Also I am just not going to listen to any of the people to have been putting pressure on me to potty train and just let the boys lead the way. I have to say Matthew did pee pee on the potty tonight without pressure from me. I am excited about that but I am not holding my breath. I am hopeful that this next stage in the boys lives will be a learning experience for the three of us that is full of love and patience not pressure and stress.