After I wrote the following post...

I went to pick the boys up from school. The report that I got from Luke's teachers was less than stellar! They told me that he his behavior today was terrible. They said that last tuesday he and his best friend, Luke, were naughty together and today Luke Mad was just awful.

Apparently, he covered his ears when his teachers were trying to talk to him. He kicked his feet at them and hid under the table where they couldn't get to him when they tried to put him in time out! And he told them "no" whenever theyntried to tell him anything.

You can imagine how thrilled I was to hear that!

One thing is for sure, these boys will keep us on our feet, running after them, and on our knees in prayer! And I pray that princess girls will be easy as pie when they get older!

Our Spirited Little Oak

Many of you think you have a strong willed child, but I know I do. Dr. Dobson says so. Actually in his book, The Strong-Willed Child, he describes both my boys - almost as though he knows them!

"Some youngsters are naturally warm and loving and trusting, while others sincerely believe the world is out to get them. Some enjoy giving and sharing, whereas their siblings are consistently selfish and demanding. Some smile throughout the day while others complain and bellyache about everything from toothpaste to turnip greens."

Joseph and I often reflect on how opposite our boys are from one another. It is especially amazing to me. I am very different than my siblings, but always attributed that to being adopted. I guess I thought kids coming from the same mom and dad would not only look similar, but have similar personalities. My boys are proving my theory wrong. They look like brothers, but that's where the similarities end.

We have always had a harder time with our eldest child, but had high hopes that as he got older things would get easier. And lately it seems like they are not. Everything is a battle of the wills. Any request, no matter how small it is, is met with opposition. If I only had 1 child this would be tiring, but with 4 children it is exhausting.

I want desperately to shape his will, while preserving his spirit and am not sure how exactly to accomplish this feat. Caleb has both mine and Joseph's strongest characteristics. He's super intellegent, sensitive, strong-willed, argumentative, intense, and perceptive. Those are a lot of strong qualities for such a little boy.

My prayer is that God will show Joseph and I how to set firm bounaries for this "spirited child" and that our little oak will grow with strong roots in the self-control and gentleness department.

ps. I'm not sure that I loved the The Strong-Willed Child. While it reaffirmed our suspicions that we indeed have one it didn't really give any practical/useful advice on how to deal with him.

Why do they share the wrong things?

The brothers have passed on their flu. The girls started fever-ing last night and were burning up this morning when they awoke. I knew that they had the flu, but something else just didn't seem right. Thankfully I listened to that "mother's intuition" because my sweet little dolls are very sick.

I was able to get them appointments and arrange for our neighbors to watch the boys while I was at the hospital with the girls. Joseph was in the OR, so I couldn't get a hold of him, but it wouldn't have mattered anyway because he wouldn't have been able to leave to help me.

Taking both girls in was exhausting and took 3 hours. They cried and cried and all they wanted was for me to hold them. This is the part where having twins gets so hard. I feel so guilty holding one and not the other. I try my best to comfort both of them, but have to take turns holding them. The girls hated having anyone other than me look at them and screamed when anyone touched them. They didn't love being poked, prodded, having things shot up their noses or being held down for chest x-rays! And I don't blame them.

Their results were so sad...Ella has influenza A and Lily has pneumonia! She probably has influenza A as well, but they couldn't get a good swab of snot. I feel so bad for my little sweet peas! They are so sick and miserable!

I did thank God for our free health care and for medicine. What a blessing to know that we can go to the doctors and get medicine, so that my babies will get better.

Please say prayers for my little girls!

Voodoo medicine that works!

Last night was rough. While the boys are much better, they both have this lingering cough that is terrible. They weren't feeling the greatest yesterday because they were up most of the night coughing. The lack of sleep left them quite grouchy, tired and miserable yesterday. Because I have an amazing husband, he let me go to church, and a women's fellowship afterwards, while he stayed here to take care of the 4 sick patients.

I don't usually like to give the kids medicine, but the exceptions are when they are teething, running fever or coughing (and it has to be at night to get cough meds). Well since they have been running fever and coughing, they have been getting a lot of meds. They actually went through whole bottles of Tylenol, Motrin and Mucinex over the past week. Poor little guys.

Well I was hoping that they would get more rest last night, but at 2am I knew that if we didn't stop their coughing it would be another hard day and this time Lovey wouldn't be home to save me from the "drama kings". Since the Mucinex wasn't really working, I decided to use a technique that was told to me by our old Portuguese neighbor years ago. We tried it once before with Caleb and it worked like a charm, but I had since forgotten about it. You rub vapor rub at the bottom of their feet and then put socks on them. I know, I know - Joseph rolled his eyes and called it voodoo medicine, but it really works!! I did it to both of them at 2am and didn't hear any coughing for the rest of the night!!

I wish that I could report the night ended with me getting the many hours of beauty sleep that I desperately need, but alas I cannot report that. A certain little 3 year old had the kahunas to come in at 2:45 and ask for a snack!!! What? Has all that medicine made him lose his mind?! Has that child forgotten the kind of mother he has?

Let me be blunt for a moment if I may: I cannot handle children being up in the night. There are these amazingly, patient mothers who are up all night with their children rocking them, holding them and whispering sweet nothings to them - most of the night, every night. I AM NOT ONE OF THEM! I love to sleep and desperately need it. With that said, when a child is sick I have no problem loving on them, holding them and caring for them in the night.

But if you want a snack - you are nuts to ask me at 2:45 in the morning!! Insane. I marched that child back to his room, tucked him in and told him I had better not hear another word out of him. He knew I meant business!

Luke is something else. Caleb would have never had the guts to do that. Luke on the other hand has no fear (healthy or otherwise) of me. He has always been my child that is up at night. When he was younger he would be up for hours singing, laughing and playing in his crib. We used to have to move his crib to the middle of the room, every night, because he would kick the walls (he still does that occasionally). He wouldn't cry and apparently didn't need an audience since he was entertaining himself, which was a good thing because I don't think he would have made it to 3 if I was up all night with him.

I will blame Luke's moment of insanity on hallucinations from the medications. And there will be no medicine tonight in hopes that there will be no more hallucinations!

Best Friends

The little best friends are growing up! I look at the picture of them on the left and think, "Wow, they were so little." And they were. I am in love with these little girls. I know, I am totally gushing and guess what? I make no apologies! I seriously could eat these gorgeous girls. I love them so much I want to bite them. So I will go and eat a peanut butter cup instead!

Oh, but before I go I have to tell you a cute story about them... Yesterday Ella was being quite talkative and then would get really excited and start squealing. Well, every time she would squeal then Lily would look at her and laugh. Lily just thought her sister was hilarious! They really are so much fun!

Words of endearment

It has been a long week here at the Mad house with sick children, so when Joseph came home last night and took one look at me, he suggested I get out of the house by myself for a while and pick up dinner. I was more than happy to take him up on the suggestion since I hadn't really left the house in 4 days and that is a long time for me!

Before I went to pick up dinner I stopped at the grocery store to buy beer (and the sad part it wasn't even for me). While I was there, I had an encounter with the teeneage boy that left me giggling like a school girl with a racing heart. I am old enough to be his mom's younger sister oldest sister, but he still left me flushed with excitment over the 5 most special words that I could have heard this past week:

"Can I see your ID?"

Oh, you sweet young boy. How you've made this poor, old, mother-who-has-been-taking-care-of-sick-children-and-is-exhausted, so happy!

Invasion!

The brothers have the flu. Yep, the influenza virus has hit the Mad house and taken out the 2 soldiers pictured above. We have body aches, coughing, sneezing, super lethargic little boys. Oh, and did I mention that they have been running temperatures in the 101-104 range? It began on my birthday night and was really bad yesterday. All they wanted to do yesterday was lay in front of the TV. They didn't eat anything, drink anything and I'm not sure they even moved much all day. Very, highly, extremely unusual. Actually I don't think that they have ever both been this sick before and they definitely haven't been this sick at the same time.

I think that they are feeling a little better today. They haven't eaten or drank much, but they have found some energy to bicker over what they want to watch on tv.

I have them confined to the playroom and feel the need to wear a hazmat suit every time I go in there. Seriously, when Luke coughs I see the germs come flying at me. Last night Luke came into the living room, walked right up to me, climbed in my lap and opened his mouth to kiss me. Now don't get me wrong, I love open mouthed kisses, but not when they are accompanied by flu germs.

The girls don't have it...yet. Joseph took the girls in for their flu shot today. Neither the boys or I got one. Actually I have never had the flu shot. I'm not really into shots. But that's a whole other post for another day!

Please pray that the rest of us can somehow stay healthy and not catch this one.

Love it!

Was that awesome or what?!?!?

My Bucket List

Lovey and I went on a date last weekend for my birthday. I really wanted to go to the movies and see The Bucket List. So we went to dinner and then to the movies and I thought The Bucket List was good. There was a little language but that was to be expect, afterall Jack Nicholson was in it! Outside of that I thought it was a cute movie.

It got me thinking about my own bucket list. I know, I just turned 31 and (God willing!) I won't be needing a "before-I-kick-the-bucket-list" anytime soon, but I decided to make a list of things that I would like to accomplish before I turn 32. So here goes...

1. Learn to do something new.
2. Find a ministry (outside of my family) to get involved with.
3. And of course, there is the running thing. I at least want to run a 5K.

Yep, so that's my own list of thing that I want to accomplish. Kinda like a New Years resolution but I already made those.

And how are things going?...

Thanks for asking! I am doing really good - working out 6 times a week & running 3 miles every other day. Are you impressed with me? Because I am impressed with myself.

Well, I am now having knee pain. At first, it was only when I started running. Now it hurts when the Ibuprofen wears off! I'm taking Ibuprofen around the clock, along with icing my knee. VERY discouraging! I asked the many doctors that I have access to and it seems that I just need to continue the Ibuprofen and ice, and lay off running, lunges and squats. Those are all the things that bother my knee.

Normally, this is the point that I get so discouraged I quit. But, I don't want to be that person anymore. The one that quits when in the face of adversity. So, I am going to keep on, keepin' on. I will have to be patient and creative with this working out thing... Two things I'm not!

I always like a good deal!

So there is this website, whose feed I subscribe to, that does an awesome job sharing where you can get a good deal on baby items.
Check 'em out...

**********BREAKING NEWS**********

We officially have another fully potty trained child!!! (Well, he will still have to wear a pull-up at bedtime, but that is pretty much "fully" in my book!)

That was Luke's gift to me for my birthday. And boy, was it a good gift! For 3 days now, he has stayed both dry and clean AND used the potty to do his business. Can I please get some cyber high fives from you mommies out there?!?!

The best part about all this is that there was no drama. He was ready and did it without anyone losing their minds. So here is what I have learned about potty training after 2 kids:

1. You cannot force it.


2. They have complete control


3. Joseph is the potty wizard. He is the Yoda of potty training. And his job is not yet done...there are still the girls!

As an end note, I have to tell you that I was actually a wee little bit sad that Luke is officially potty trained. One more sign that he is on his way to leaving my nest. So I tell Joseph, "I'm a little sad that Luke is potty trained." He looks at me like I threw up all over myself and was eating it (sorry if you got a visual!) and said, "You are all alone with that feeling!"

Happy Birthday to me! And this year I mean it!!

Today is my birthday. I am 31 years old. No longer am I stepping at the threshold of a new decade, I am now officially in the door. And proud of it!

I used to hate getting older. I have always loved my birthday (my love language is gifts!), but after I turned 21 I had no use for keeping track of numbers anymore. Each year I would woe-is-me-I'm-getting-older and be consoled by the women in my life. Older women. I was one of the younger ones with the youngest children. And now the tides have turned. I am one of the older ones, with older children, consoling these chicks younger than me who are bemoaning their birthdays. How times have changed.

Last year I was totally depressed about my birthday. My mom was the only one who called. Joseph was on a terrible rotation and didn't even come home in time for dinner. And of course the kids had no idea it was even my birthday. Combine all that with the fact that it was my 30th birthday and you have the perfect combination for a depressing birthday. I was so sad.

And now this year, as my birthday has been quickly approaching, I was also feeling depressed at the thought of walking into a new decade of life and leaving the on that everyone says is the greatest - your youthful 20's. And then after that it seems like you are just old. I recently saw in a store some over-the-hill, black paper products for the 30th birthday! So here I have been for the past couple of years, as I approached 30, wishing I was 21 again.

Then I had a change of heart. I started thinking about my life when I was 21. I was a disaster. I was heavily into drugs, making lots of money and spending it all and on nothing. Completely self absorbed, reckless, careless, thoughtless, and had no direction in my life. I was young, living wild and free with no responsibilities or cares in the world. And I was miserable mess. Miserable and lost. And I didn't even know it. Yeah, 21 wasn't so great.

Okay, how about 25 then. Right in the middle. But then as I was thinking about that I remembered what I was doing at 25. I had only been married a year and we had a new baby. I was trying to figure out how to be a mom and a wife - and not just any mom or wife. The perfect mom and wife. I had such high expectations for everyone and everything around me and was always stressed out. Yeah, 25 wasn't the greatest.

Hmmm...so what then? Why do I want to be in my twenties again?...

I realized that I have bought into worldly lies that say youth and beauty are all that matter. Babylon's lies. If I get older and become more wrinkled then I am worth less. Babylon's lies. The older I get, the closer I become to death and then I have nothing to look forward to. Lie. Life is only good if you are young. Lies, lies, lies.

The more I thought about it I realized that each year has gotten better than the last. I got married, had a son, and another and then twin girls. Add a few moves and the amazing people that I have met and that all got me thinking. I am growing and maturing every year. God is using the people around me to teach me and stretch me. I understand Him more now than I did 10 years ago, even 5 years ago! Each year I learn more about being the wife and mother that God wants me to be. I grow more patient and content each year. Each year has been a building block to who I am today and while I wouldn't go back to any of those years they have been needed in shaping me and making me more appreciative of all that I have today.

I would have never in a million years imagined that this is where I would be, 10 years ago. The family, friends and blessings that I have in my life couldn't have even been in my most wild dreams. The love that I have for my amazing husband and children - I could have never imagined what that would have felt like. And that, my friends, is what makes me excited about getting older. So far, with age has come wisdom and blessings beyond belief. So bring on the birthdays! I'm ready to celebrate!

ps. if you want to get me a gift - there is this 2008 Suburban that I like or I have always wanted to go to Tahiti or I also saw this label maker that made me drool last night. Or if none of those work for you, then how about leaving me a comment! I always see all these random places on the map, checking out my blog and I am just curious who you are! And the rest of you...well, I just love hearing from you, friends!

WARNING!!

About the following post, Joseph said, "I am now dumber after having read that!"

Hope the same thing doesn't happen to you!!

I need a clone

I don't eat meat. Red meat specifically. Until a couple of years ago I didn't eat pork either, but have added boneless pork into my diet and do just fine until the boys start discussing where pork comes from at the table. Then I don't eat pork either.

Case in point: A couple of nights ago I made some Honey Pork Chops and my children didn't like them. Caleb kept saying, "I don't like this chicken." Joseph kept responding to him that it wasn't chicken, it was pork. To which Caleb says, "Where does pork come from?" When he heard that it came from a pig, there were some "oinking" noises, talk about rolling in mud and suddenly I lost my appetite. I could eat anymore. I was hungry and mad. I couldn't figure out why we had to keep discussing our dinner. I am now banning animal noises at the dinner table. (Dinner is nuts around here and one day I may blog it so that you can really feel my pain!)

I also don't like meat that is still attached to the bone. And heaven forbid that it have any gross fat, red or vein-y junk in it. That puts me over the edge.

All of this started well over 10 years ago while I was in high school. I thought it was cool to not eat meat, gave it a try and have had a hard time going back. I remember the last burger I had. It was the summer before my junior year in high school, was a Whopper with cheese and I was wearing green shorts with a multi-color striped shirt. I kid you not. And Lovey says I have a bad memory! I haven't had a burger since. I would NEVER order a steak. Never.

A couple of years ago, my amazing friend Michele, made this flank steak that I ate. It was amazing. I kept telling myself that it was the best chicken I have ever had. And it was! That was the last time I ate anything like that. Occasionally I will order a taco from Taco Bell. I'm not really sure what the heck that is...? And as long as I don't think about it I'm in good shape.

I worked for a summer in the middle of the mountains where they ate red meat at almost every meal. I lived off cheese sandwiches and pbj.

I do eat chicken. I don't eat cloned meat. Yes, I said cloned meat. The FDA says that it is okay to eat, but I won't eat cloned meat. So I may become vegan. Or worse...organic! I've read that organic may be the new term for "cloned free"! I never thought I would say this but the Mads may be going organic!

It's the thing to do. I have lots of friends that are organic wannabes, but only know of a few people that I would seriously term organic. My friend Sarah is seriously organic. She wouldn't buy anything made in a jar, that comes from a big store and has ingredients that she couldn't pronounce. Right Sarah? Then I have other friends that say their organic, but still eat at chain restaurants that use processed food. If Sarah is my bar for organic, these others don't come close.

I admire Sarah. She has serious beliefs. That she has had since the day I met her almost 10 years ago. I may not always agree with her, but I completely admire her for living what she believes.

And as Joseph would say, I have derailed. Bottom line, I am not organic. At all. And I do not eat cloned meat. At all. So I may become organic after all.

Boys vs Girls

The Mad Girls

The Mad Boys

CinderLILY and CinderELLA

are 8 months old today!!! And I cried. And you know why. Because I say it every month. It's going by way too fast!! They are the cutest little girlie's. So dainty and petite. And we are madly in love with them. Truly in love!

Look at them! Aren't they adorable?! As usual here is the monthly update on what is going on in their little lives.

• They are still sleeping in the same crib. This will probably be the last month that I will be able to report that. We put them on opposite sides of the crib and they often times find their way to one another. I love that when I put them down for their naps, they look at each other and giggle. So cute!
• They started sitting up - FINALLY! It didn't take long once we actually sat on the floor and worked with them.
• They are eating all sorts of foods, but their eyes light up when they see Cheerios! Lily is much more dainty about the way that she eats Cheerios, but Ella will grab handfuls and usually ends up coughing because she has stuffed too many in at one time.
• Neither girlie is showing any interest in crawling.
• I can tell their cries, talk and babble apart.
• They boys still can't tell who is who.
• I don't think that they are identical. Joseph is still on the fence and changes his mind daily, but I am convinced that they aren't identical.
• They are still holding on to their late catnap. It drives me crazy, but they still love to take a little nap from 4:30p-5:30p. They also take 2 two and a half hour naps in addition to this catnap. Oh, and go to bed at 7pm. That just seems like too much sleep...
• I am still nursing them and I love to watch them interact while nursing. They hold hands, try to take the other one's bow out of her hair, and watch one another. Occasionally they will just grab at the others face or hair. They seem to have a need to touch each other.
• They are starting to want the toy that the other has. I've had to break up a few little tiffs.
• They will watch the boys with total fascination. Lily seems to really like Caleb and will smile and laugh at him. She has that boy wrapped around her finger! The boys both like to feed the girls cheerios - and take a few for themselves. When ever on the twins smiles at him Luke gets all excited and says, "that baby smiled at me!"
• We are all smitten and completely in love with the girls.

Here is a sweet picture of them sitting up...

Growing up

I had a friend tell me some of the most wise words that have stuck with me for years. Her kids are older than mine and one day when I was telling her that I envied the stage of life she was in, she said, "When your kids are younger it is hard because you are so physically exhausted. They require so much from you physically. When they get older it is much more emotionally and mentally exhausting. Both are hard. It doesn't get easier, just different."

And I am just now starting to understand what she meant. Caleb is getting older. He doesn't need near as much help from me as he did even a year ago. He can dress himself (rarely matches and in clothes I don't love for him to wear in public!), he can get in and out of the car, buckle his and Luke's seat belts, get a snack, go to the bathroom, take a shower and so much more without my help. But now he is asking hard questions that make me think (Does God bless bad people? Is hate a bad word? When did dinosaurs live here?) and dealing with friends who hurt him. I have to spend time talking about "manipulation" and recently Joseph and I started role playing how to deal with different situations that come up with friends. My heart hurts for him when I see him being excluded or when I see him trying so hard to make friends with someone who is not the least bit interested in making friends with him. It seriously breaks my heart and then I go into Momma Bear mode and want to... we'll forgo discussing the things I want to do - you don't really want to know about that side of me!

Today we went with some of our friends to Pump it Up and many of the kids that we were with were still so needy for help from their moms. My boys weren't. Caleb is older than these kids and able to do all the activities by himself, and help Luke with anything he couldn't maneuver. I loved watching them today because it reminded me that they are growing up and I need to savor these moments more. It also affirmed, for me, that we did the right thing keeping Caleb home this past year. I struggled with the decision, but now know that it was the right one for us. It has been amazing watching Caleb and Luke grow into best friends and learn to play and interact with one another. They have made memories this past year that I will cherish forever. And when Caleb goes to school next fall, we will miss him, but prayerfully this relationship will continue to grow after having had this years roots planted. *sigh*

My baby boy will be going to school next fall. After much prayer, we have decided that next year he will go to school at a private christian school that I really like. It was a hard decision. But one that we are all completely at peace with. When I was visiting schools, I just kept thinking, "I can't believe that I will have a school-aged child soon." Followed by, "I can't believe I'm old enough to have a school-aged child!" But I will and I am. And I have to be on my knee's before our Father more and harder than ever in my life.

During the busyness of the day I am ready to move on and forge ahead, but in the still of the night I am reminded to slow down and enjoy my babies. Oh, this momma thing is so hard!! * BIG SIGH* Yep, it doesn't get easier...just different.

A few random pictures...

I found some pictures that I hadn't posted. So here they are:


When we went home for New Years, we also got to see my dad and step-mom. They live close to the ocean and this great boardwalk that has rides, games and food. Below is a picture of the boys riding their first ride together.

They were so cute! Caleb sat right next to Luke and both seemed to be in awe that they were riding together without mama & daddy. I'm sure this will be the first of many rides together.

This next picture is of Caleb riding his first big ride without mama or daddy. He was sitting next to his Aunt Lara and thrilled to be riding an airplane ride.

And then the next pictures are of my men on the train, Ella and Grandma, and Luke riding on his favorite animal - the zebra.

Here is something you may not know about me...

...I really like politics. Yep, it's true. I enjoy watching Meet the Press, This Week, Hardball, ect. And there are a few political blogs that I subscribe to because I find them fascinating. If I believed in reincarnation, then I would want to come back as a politician. Good thing I don't believe in it because I would make a terrible politician. Terrible. I am way too blunt, have no filter & I'm way too emotional!

This election is fascinating to me. Can't wait to see what's going to happen.

Here is something I found interesting:

An hour of my life I'll never get back

I had a rough morning this morning. I was awoken by a very loud growling noise. At first I though the sound was in my dream. After I awoke and sat up in bed, I realized that it was coming from the boys room. I ignored the first couple of growls, then I did what every tired-mom-who-hasn't-had-her-personal-time, does. I banged on the wall. I'm not sure if it was my banging or the growling, but the girls were up shortly thereafter. And that is how we started our day.

Before 8:15am both boys had been in time out and I was already sick of the drama. Don't you hate those days?

Luke was drama yesterday and woke up in a dramatic mood again today. I put milk in his cereal and when he came to the table and saw the cereal with milk, he had a total meltdown. On the floor, thrashing and convulsing. I stared at him, ignored him, stepped over him so that I could take care of the other 3 and then sent him to his room when I could no longer take the noise. He came out 5 minutes later and told me that I hurt his feelings!? I guess before I put milk in his cereal tomorrow I will ask him first. D-R-A-M-A.

Luke cracks me up. Even in his most dramatic state, he makes me laugh. Yesterday when I walked out of my bathroom, after getting ready for church, Luke walks around the corner, sees me and says, "You look....(long pause)...horrible!" He was mad that Daddy was making him comb his hair. D-R-A-M-A.

This morning after he wouldn't eat his cereal I told him that there would be no food until lunch. And if he asked for food he was going to time out. An hour later he walks into the pantry, comes out and heads straight for me. I knew what he was going to ask. So I said to him, "You had better think about what you are going to say before you say it and not ask for any food." So he stops in his tracks and looks at me. We have a stare down until he (dramatically) holds his stomach and says, "I think I'm going to throw up." For the next hour he continued to threaten throwing up. D-R-A-M-A!!

The funny thing about Luke is that he is so charming most of the time. He also has the greatest phrases and funniest things to say. He's hilarious! This morning he told me, "You look adorable!" I love that child! I mean just look at his pictures to the right! The Christmas one, of the 4 of them, just captures him perfectly!

So after a morning like that, during nap time today I decided to surf YouTube. Oh yeah, baby. I could have been vacuuming after the 2 dogs that live here - uh, yeah, I forgot to mention that one, but will blog it soon! - or doing laundry or making a grocery list or cleaning bathrooms or... But instead I surfed YouTube. Talk about wasting time, but cracking up! There are some really crazy people in this world! And I get to view them and laugh at them from the comfort of my own home. What a waste of time...but I needed that after the morning I had!

Boys will be boys

At this moment, while I am trying to blog my ever-so-witty & brilliant musings, my boys (big one and 2 little ones) are wrestling on the floor. They are so loud I can hardly think. Daddy plays this game with them every night before bedtime where he is the wildebeest and they are the other animals that are being attacked or attacking the wildebeest. This game has the same ending every night...tears! Someone always gets hurt. Always. Right now, they are laughing and squealing with delight, but in a few minutes I guarantee you someone will be crying. Why we have to do this before bedtime...?

On to other matters. I thought I would give you an update on several recent posts. First, the baby food is going very well! The girls love everything, except anything green. And I'm thrilled to report that although they are behind in many of their milestones, they know their colors. I'm convinced. Whenever I try to trick them by alternating anything green with anything else, they clamp their mouths when they see the green coming, but open wide for anything else. Who cares if they can crawl - they know their colors. Anyway, the homemade baby food seems to be a hit! And, it was easy, way cheaper and I actually enjoyed it so we will be doing it again!

Potty update: Staus quo. Luke is still going potty, but #2 is elusive. I have a feeling that this will be the update for many months to come.

Running is going good. Shaved another 15 seconds off my time. At this rate, I may be able to finish that 5K after all. I am encouraged by my progress. That is until I see Joseph run. He can push 3 kids in the jogging stroller, uphill with a broken foot and still run faster than me. Huge sigh I take solace in knowing that there are many things I can do better than Joseph. I just can't think of any at this moment. It must be this noisy house...

I have been asked by several people about our freezer meals... I love them and will for sure continue making them. It seriously beats making dinner every night. I highly recommend it. They have this amazing recipe for Chicken Cheesy Bundles and they are awesome! You know, come to think about it, I don't think that I have had anything yet that I didn't like. Seriously people - you get to hang out with a friend and chat and laugh, make meals with no little people running around and fussing, and have meals ready for when there are little people running around fussing! Yep, Kellie and I will continue doing it!

Joseph started back to work on Monday and so far it has been cake! He is doing plastic surgery this month and the hours are awesome. Too bad he is absolutely bored out of his mind and tired of seeing boobies all day. I have to admit it's a little weird, but at this point he's seen it all. It has been nice having him home so much. He is working on a tree house for the boys. Pictures will come soon. Having him home has also been an added bonus in the working out department. I haven't taken the babies to the gym yet. I want to. I just need to work up the courage.

Well, the boys are in bed now and I'm happy to report that just because I told you that there would be tears, there weren't. Amazing.

Running like the wind - a slow gentle breeze

I ran today! Best part is, I shaved 2 minutes off my personal best time!! Oh yeah, baby! The sad part is that my personal best has to be really slow in order to shave 2 minutes off...AND still be slow!

There was a point during my run that I was losing focus and ready to give up. And then...bam, this song came on and rejuvenated me! It wasn't that same arrangement, but you get the idea. I think that you would all be surprised to know what is on the IPOD music selections. Very surprised!

Oh my, rambling randomness

Well, I have lots to blog about and nothing to blog about. I apologize in advance. My mind is a jumbled mess from working on my Daniel study. Whew, this was a tough week! My head hurts. On to more interesting things...

On the potty training front, today was a big day. I guess big is all relative, but this was big for the youngest Mad boy. Today was his first day back at school from Christmas break and he managed to stay dry and "he went to the potty lots of times" (according to his teachers and there was an emphasis on "lots"!). We were a little worried that once he started school again he would digress and knew that if he didn't we have jumped a huge hurdle! Yay for Luke!

I have been very tired lately. I think there are multiple reasons for this. 1. I started working out again. and 2. I have a bazillion projects going on at the same time. Good news is that I have stuck to my N.Y. resolution and have worked out 6 of the last 7 days. Bad news is that it has only been a week. I always do well the first week, even the second and then it goes down hill from there. But let's stay positive. I ran 9 miles this past week. Okay maybe that is a tiny exaggeration. I should say I did 9 miles on my treadmill and ran maybe 5 of them. Not too bad. Except for the fact that it takes me longer than it should. WAY longer. As I was lamenting this situation to my amazing hubby he says, "I know how you feel. (this was the point that I started my eye roll) When I was in high school I could run a 5K in 17 minutes. Now it takes me 22 minutes." No, Lovey, you have no idea how I feel! When I'm not on the treadmill, I have been going to the gym for a weights class. One word for this class...painful. My friend Stacy (hi Stacy!) went with me on Saturday and that was fun to have someone I know with me. Now, if I could get her to come with me every time!..

Now, on to my projects. I have been the baby food making psycho queen. Documented below is what I made for my two sweet babies:

It ended up being the equivalent of around 150 jars. Maybe more, maybe less, but at some point one must quit counting or else the fatigue really sets in. It wasn't that bad. It would have been better if I had a large food processor. I borrowed a small one from my friend, but decided that since I will be doing this again (this is where the psycho part kicks in) I need the correct tools. In any case, this is saving us a good chunk of change and it was kinda fun. I got to make some fun foods (avocado!) that I wouldn't normally be able to get in jars for the girls. And I got to mix things and create my own version of "mixed veggies". I found lots of great websites, but my favorite was this one! Awesome!

I also have started making bows for the girl's hair. I was determined to learn how to make them. Determined. I found quite a few websites with directions on tying different bows. Unfortunately, I don't read directions. But of course my perfect hubby does! So, he read the directions on how to make bows, made them and then taught me. Teamwork! Check out my handiwork:

I love the above picture because they are both holding their feet...opposite feet!

Can you tell who is who in their homemade bows??

All good things must come to an end

Oh wow, life is going to change tomorrow.

Joseph has been off for the past 3 weeks and it has been glorious. Just glorious. It has been the reprieve that I have needed from the past year and a half. The break that I have longed for and wanted desperately. And it was fabulous! And now it is over. Huge sigh.

I will miss having Joseph around. He has been completely selfless and has loved all over me in a way that I find tangible. He helped me with the kids, and has done all the dishes & laundry for the past 3 weeks. The man is my hero. How many husbands would do that? He cares about me so much and knew that I needed a break. And loves and appreciates me enough to give me one. Each morning he would ask me what I wanted him to get done that day...my own personal manslave! (Please, have no fear for his masculinity - in order to keep his manliness he watched war movies, drank beer and watched football while doing laundry.) Yep, I have one of the few good ones!

Since Joseph was home and doing all the work, I got to get lots of my little projects that I have wanted to do, done. I have been a hair bow maker, baby food chef and got to organize closets and (drum roll) the pantry! All things that I have wanted to do but been unable to find the time with Joseph gone and crazy busy.

We also got to spend lots of time together as a family. The kids love their Daddy and it was a treat for them to get to spend so much time with them.

We will miss him tomorrow, but the good news is that his next month long rotation is supposed to be an easier one and not too crazy hours. That will be nice for us!

The girl got some new toys!

We went to my parents house over New Year's and my mom bought the girls these travel highchairs.

It's crazy how much "stuff" we have to bring to travel, even for the weekend, with the twins. Crazy.

After we got home we got the girls some new bath chairs. Until now, we have been giving them a bath in the sink still, but Ella has been getting a little crazy in the sink and splashing everywhere. The kitchen, Joseph and I were getting soaked, so we decided to move this party to the bathtub. Here are some cute pictures of our little mermaids.

I have some exciting news to announce...

...and I am going to say it very quietly in case some little ears hear me and regress to make me out to be a liar. And, no, it is not that I am pregnant! It's better than that!

Someone in this house is HALFWAY trained!!!! (Who would have ever guessed that I would be excited about Luke being halfway potty trained...but I am!) We have successfully stayed dry for a while now and Luke will go out of his way to let us know if he has to go potty when we are out and about! Whooo-hooo! And it's about time! But wait, I say halfway for a reason. We have been super successful with #1, but #2 is another story. He will sit on the potty forever and say it's broken and he can't go and then go into his room for nap time and uh... yeah, apparently it works just fine in his room when he has a pull-up on. But, I'm not going to ruin this moment with that minor problem. It doesn't really bother me because it's in his pull-up and I figure he won't want to go in his pull-up for the rest of his life right?...

To say that I am excited about this is the understatement of the year. This is huge! This whole potty training thing has been so hard with this child (not to mention taken almost a year). Way harder than it was with Caleb. Luke will not be manipulated, bribed, or pushed into anything. That will be a wonderful attribute when he is a teenager, but not so great for an almost 3 1/2 year old who isn't potty trained! So yeah, I am thrilled!

I must give all the credit for this incredible feat to Mr. Lovey Mad! He now has trained 1 and a half children all by himself. That man is everything I'm not - calm, cool, collected and patient! I should rent him out as a Personal (potty) trainer. You should see the dollar signs in my eyes!!

Joe Cool and his mostly successful trainees

An interview with Caleb

What is your favorite day of the week?
School days

What is your favorite thing about Luke?
That he's little and cute

What do you want to be when you grow up?
A hunter, army man and scientist. Actually air force man

How big is God?
I would say, bigger than this house

What is your favorite toy?
Transformers

Do you have a girl friend?
(a head shake with a smile)

What's her name?
(with a smiley, snicker) I don't know

What's your favorite thing about church?
I get to sit with the parents and then go to Sunday school

If you could eat anything in the whole, wide world everyday, what would it be?
Apples & bananas

What do you love most about Daddy Bear?
That, um, that, uh, he built an ambulance and firetruck out of Lego's for me

What is your favorite thing about mama?
Oooohhh...that's a good one! That she sometimes shows me grace and mercy

If you could go anywhere, where would it be?
Oooohhhh...that's a good one. At the park, hiking. And I will kill, no I mean, hunt deer.

What is your favorite thing about living in this house?
That's a good one. Playing with Bubba's, Eric, Matthew and Steven. Not Adelaide...because she is too crazy.

When you go to heaven, who do you want to meet?
That's an excellent one. How about God and Jesus.

And last, but not least, who do you love the most?
DADDY!

Happy New Year

Okay, here is the not so skinny on my current situation: I've gained 7 pounds in the past 3 weeks. Yep, and here are the people I blame (in no particular order):

1. My kids - when someone is crying, chocolate drowns out their noise.
2. My MOPS group - decided that we should have a cookie exchange. What is that really about? I made 6 dozen cookies (which had to be sampled for quality control) and then took them to a party where I traded them for 6 different dozen cookies that all needed to be tasted for quality control.
3. My mom - if we are together, the first thing that we discuss is what we are going to eat. We have been together lots over the holidays.
4. My friends - need to tell me the truth a little more often.
5. And Joseph...because its easy to blame him for everything.
6. Okay, FINE, I guess I blame myself a little. Just a little. It's way more fun to blame everyone else!

So, I made a New Year's goal. Not resolution, but goal. I don't usually make resolutions, because I fear failure, but this year I'm going to set some serious goals. Goals towards things that I want to accomplish in life. So are you ready for this years goals? Here goes...guess what it is...?

To see how much I can gain in a year! Kidding.

By the end of the year, I want to be working out (minimally) 5 days a week. That is my little-at-the-very-least-I-can-do/I-will-follow-through-with-something goal. My super big, giant, can-I-really-do-it goal, is (drum roll) to run a half marathon in November. Very lofty. Possibly too lofty. But I really want to do it! So I'm gonna try. Thanks for loving me regardless! And as with everything, I will keep you posted on my...efforts.