Car Seat Shopping!

Remember the "good old days" when our parents used to throw us in the back seat (or **gasp** the front seat) and take off for wherever they were going without a care in the world?? Well, now that is not the case! You must agonize over your carseat purchase and feel guilty if you buy less than the Mac Daddy of Carseats. So, as Haley had outgrown her baby seat

it was time to go shopping!

Well, obviously she has grown since that picture was taken :)
In case you don't believe me, here is proof:


then (above)


now!!

See? Now do you believe me? So, we had to start the search for the new seat! One that would make her happy (yeah right) but more importantly, safe! You see, even when Lindsay and Jared were babies there were only a few to choose from (or so it seemed) and no one had pink ones and such, so you just picked one that met the safety requirements. Now there is a brand (Britax) that costs $300!! Yeah, they are cool, but do you know that babies can be really gross? They get this thing called "Rotavirus" (which is dr. for "diarrhea and puking for 5-7 days straight") and other nasty things that involve bodily functions. So, if there were ever to be a time when the carseat was "uncleanable" I didn't want to be stuck with it since I paid $300 for it! (Not that we have that kind of money to spend on something anyways-but I was tempted for just a minute **blushing**) So, after agonizing (and driving everyone I talk to nuts I'm sure) I decided to get one at Big Lots that was sooo cool! Had all this fancy stuff on it and looked so comfy! Then I found out it did not rate well on safety tests!? What the heck? (If not for safety what for??) So, back to the store it goes. So, here is the one that we ended up with-cute and "they" say it's safe-whoever they are.

Jared and Linds

We went on a really neat fieldtrip this week to the Pickle factory! The person in the picture is called a "Picklesmith" he is the head honcho at the pickling factory and was wonderful at explaining to the kids what they do. He inspired us and next year (spring) we are going to try to grow some pickling cucumbers and play around with the process! How cool is that? :)


At American Heritage Girls this week Lindsay got to be part of the colorguard! She got to carry the American Flag and put it in it's stand. This was her first time as you have to be in full uniform to get to do this. She looked so cute! I was proud of her!


For Halloween the kids dressed up as a cowboy and a 50's girl. They were very good about not asking for expensive costumes. And it was their first time trick-or-treating. The most fun though was that we went to some friends' house and there were lots of kids and lots of good grown-up company! We had fun-and I'm usually a "Halloween scrooge".


We also got to go on a field trip to see a "tall ship" (that's what they called it) named "USS Elissa". This was a cargo ship from long ago that has been completely redone. It was a neat field trip and the kids really enjoyed it. Here is Jared steering the ship. What fun they had with that!


And here is Linds steering on her turn. See, who says we stay home and the kids get no social interaction or variety?? We have lots of fun!!! (We've prob'ly been on 7 or 8 field trips this year!)

What is a...

I would like to know what a STAY AT HOME MOM is and when do I get to be one?? I thought I was, but no, not so much. I'm never at home! And sometimes home is where I'd like to be!

Being Haley!

Ever since she's had any choice of where to be Haley has loved playing around the dishwasher...yesterday I turned my back for just a second-and this is what she did! She is standing on the door to the dishwasher playing with a spatula!!


I don't know if Haley loves necklaces or if Lindsay loves to put them on her, but she doesn't seem to mind. (We do take them off before she lays down ;) )


Awwwww, baby going night night-yeah right!


Here she is standing up on her own! This isn't necessarily a new thing, just thought it was a cute picture!

I will do a blog of Jared and Lindsay pics next-when I get a chance!!!

I pray...

I find myself constantly wishing days away and I feel really sad about it when I catch myself. I am always counting the hours until bedtime (or even rest time). But by doing this I am wasting the "stuff that life is made of" and missing out on the blessing of time with my children. I chose to be a SAHM (stay-at-home-mom) and I want to be here and can't imagine being anywhere else-would miss my kids terribly and wonder all day what they are doing and if they are hurt (physically or emotionally) but that's not to say that it's not hard work-and so draining. Everyone tells you you should take time for yourself, but where do you get it? I have found some time lately to run-which is nice to get out by myself.

I pray that God will help me to remember the days when I longed for toys strewn about my house-because there were almost 4 1/2 years when I wanted that more than life itself-literally. I also pray that He will help me to remember what a privelege it is to get the chance to raise 3 children for Him-after all they are not MINE. He has entrusted them to me! I pray that I will not do anything that will scar them for life (or at least nothing that's worthy of being on Oprah in 20 years-or worse, Jerry Springer!) I pray that they will have happy memories mostly-and have amnesia over the tough times-and that I will have that same amnesia! I pray that they all call me because they want to when they are grown and have lives and families of their own. But most of all I pray that they will be happy, well adjusted people one day who love God first and their family second. This is what I want for my children-not to flounder about for years like most of us do trying to find the right way. I want them to know that loving God and serving Him is about a relationship, not a list of rules that they must follow to a "T" or be doomed.

Sorry for the heavy post...I know that usually I try to keep it silly or lighthearted, but this is a big deal to me. My biggest fear in life is to fail as a mother. No other failure affects other lives the way failing as a mother does. I have 3 little people that depend on me to be what they need. Can I???

Pictures coming soon!! I have some, I'm just too lazy (or maybe it's too late ;) ) to get them onto the computer tonight!

A rare picture of Jared...it's just so hard to get him to sit still!!!


Haley learned something from Jared...she's hiding in a little cabinet in our kitchen-but peeking out to make sure I don't get too far away.


Here's Linds valiantly protecting her team's goal at a soccer game on 10/11/07. She did really well in this game. In fact she scored the only goal for her team that night! And she did actually block a goal or two! :)


Haley is saying..."hmmm, which way should I turn now?" (sitting in Jared's hummer)


And here are all 3 of them going for a ride...well, they would've if the battery was charged! All said though, sitting strapped into the hummer kept Haley happy for a good 20-30 minutes! I don't know why, but I won't question it. :)

Well, that's all for now. Hopefully after this week I'll have a picture of Jared as soccer star. His game was cancelled today, so no pics of that. We're doing okay. This week was very busy and we got very little school work done, but we're where we need to be still. Not behind.
I am so happy that my husband (wonderful man ;) ) found someone to take the stove we had in the backyard (since April). I would like to plant something there besides an appliance! (I am not a redneck! Really!) And we only have one lawn mower too--another happy moment for me. I'm easy to please. I'm not sure how happy that guy's wife is now! But that's okay-he can deal with her.
Now, if only tonight Haley (and both kids) will sleep. I'll be one happy mama! :P

Overwhelmed and Underinspired

Sorry it has been so long since I've posted here. Life has overwhelmed me to the point where I am underinspired. (Not sure if that's a word, but oh well). Ever since soccer and school started I feel like I don't have a minute to breathe-and if I steal the moment to breathe, then the whole house of cards starts falling. :(

Our schedule is something like this:

6:45 am-mommy gets up to exercise-hopefully alone
6:55 am (right when I push play on my exercise tape) Haley begins to wail.
6:56 am-mommy begins to panic thinking "I will be fat for the rest of my life."
7:00 am-plop Haley in her high chair in the living room where she can cry to her hearts content while I exercise anyway.
7:35 am-done exercising, try to hold Haley who has been mad this entire time
8:00 am-begin trying to wake Jared and Lindsay (if Jared is not already awake making very loud noises to try to entertain said squalling baby)
8:30 am-still trying to wake Lindsay...threatening her to never stay up late again
8:35 am-mommy gets in shower and hurriedly tries to get semi-clean
8:39-1 1/2 legs shaved, hair mostly clean...mommy gets out of shower to see why Haley is screaming again and Jared and Lindsay are fighting over who will entertain screaming baby...**eyes roll**
8:40-mommy gets dressed with Haley hanging on my ankles. (try putting pants on like that) and wads hair into a big clip with Haley hanging on same ankles...makeup? never mind
8:50-carry Haley (on my hip-her happy place) into kitchen to make a one-handed breakfast for Jared and Lindsay (who are usually dressed and ready for the day by this point)...when Jared realizes it's cereal AGAIN. He wishes for something else...too bad
9:00 am(hopefully)-starting school. cue screaming baby again...trying to teach Jared and Lindsay how to do things I barely remember while shouting over baby.
12:28pm (sparing you all the details of our school life-you should be thankful for small favors)-Harold calls and asks How it's going...puhlease...let me tell you buster
12:35-Harold is now sorry he ever called, let alone asked how things were going. He now knows how things are going (and yet he will ask again tomorrow...is this brain damage?)
12:37-fixing lunch for children with baby on my hip and still trying to talk to Harold while explaining to Jared and Lindsay why they are having sandwiches again for lunch. I really don't know why, other than when I try new things they don't like them!
12:55-Harold says he must go, he's back at work...oh, okay...
1:30-I have put baby in bed after feeding her and changing her and hugging her and she is now screaming herself to sleep (I don't think Dr. Ferber had children of his own) and I am about to cry...but instead I will eat a lean cuisine-that is comfort food, right? NOT What I really want is COOKIES! (said like Cookie Monster)
1:45-I want to play a game with the kids or read to them...but I am worn out. So, we all go to our respective rooms (except Lindsay who is booted out of hers and must stay in the living room due to sleeping Haley)
1:50-mommy yells at Jared because he has now gone to the bathroom 3 times since we went to our rooms.
1:55-mommy quietly yells at Jared to close his door if he is going to play with that noisy toy...
2:00-mommy puts her book down and dozes for a little bit before Haley-girl wakes up
3:00ish-everyone gets up/comes out and then we start getting ready for soccer practice. Unless it is Tuesday, then we get a break! Woohoo!!
5:30/6:30 (depending on day)-soccer practice is over and it's time to come home and do supper, bath and bed...fun fun fun
7:30-Jared is out of the shower and needs underwear (clean ones) Before this is over he will have said the word "underwear" 23 times and I will threaten him that if he says it again I will make sure he never has clean underwear again...
9:00-kids are supposed to be in bed except Haley who has decided she is now ready to play nicely and happily in the living room floor...mommy gives up
9:30-try to find a place for Lindsay to have peace while Haley learns (loudly) to put herself to sleep since she beats mommy up while rocking.
10:00-Aaaah, Haley is asleep! Lindsay can go to her bed...Jared is asleep!!!

12:30-Haley is awake. Neeeeeeeeeds milkies...**eyes rolling** will starve to death without it **ha ha** Fine...have milkies...
2:45-Haley is awake..neeeeeeeds milkies! will starve to death w/o it. Nope! I win this one
4:30-Haley is awake...this time I give her milkies hoping to buy myself the workout time in the real morning (the sane person's morning time)
6:30-didn't work. but luckily Harold brings her to bed where I can nurse her before I get up and put her to bed and start back at the beginning.

Sorry that was so long...but that's how my days are-L-O-N-G! But, the years are short. I am sooo blessed. I just have a hard time seeing that from the trenches of mommy-dom. My children are wonderful (really they are) and I couldn't imagine life without them. What did I used to do with my days and evenings anyways? I know at night I slept... I want to enjoy these years however I don't know that I will remember them. I think it will be like when you've been drugged. I think one day I will wake up and they will be grown and I will think "Where am I?" I'm afraid I will wish I'd played more and nagged less...I need the serenity prayer, but can't seem to remember it...So, I pray "Please God..." and that's all that will come to me. I'm glad He already knows.

Next time (soon hopefully) there will be less complaining on my part and some pictures that you can actually enjoy. I prob'ly shouldn't click "publish"-should just delete this sad story...but aren't blogs supposed to be real?