Can you Guess?

WHAT you might ask could possibly make my kids all sit and stare at the same thing at the same time?

Well, it is like an annoying neighbor kid (or relative haha) that normally you wouldn't let your kids play with. But. .sometimes you give in and then when they start repeating things they heard or worse, taking on the behaviors, you put a stop to it real quick.

There's nothing like your own kid being obnoxious.

And when they are you feel a little embarrassed and want to make it clear that you did not teach them that.

Even though I find it humorous it can be a little too much for my kids little ears and eyes sometimes.

It

Is. . . .

SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS.

Soldiers

Kaden, who is 6, has been asking a lot of questions about war lately. He says he wants to be a soldier. He wants to know a soldier, he has never seen one, what are they like.

I tried to explain to him about war, the danger, the sacrifice, the honor of protecting our country. And how he can't because he can never leave me. And you think they aren't really listening.

Yesterday the kids were playing outside while I was cutting the tree down(that is another story). Four planes flew over our house and Kade started screaming and jumping up and down, he thought it was the coolest thing.(No, I have no idea what kind they were) Grandpa was telling him how those were the kind of planes that dropped bombs in the war.

Kade didn't say anything, but then today in the car(he always brings this up in the car)he asked what we would do if war came to our house and they dropped bombs on us.

So we talked about the soldiers all over the world who have to leave their families to try and keep us safe. "But they could die" he said.

He was quiet for a minute and then said "I want to be a soldier because they are going to go to heaven because they are doing all of that for someone else". And then he just stared out the window for awhile. He was so concerned.

Then I was concerned because it is such a huge responsibility to make sure that I teach them all that they need to know and understand.

I got a little teary to tell the truth. I love to see how kids think things through. And it is humbling when you can see that something has not only touched their mind, but their heart also.

So often it is just a casual conversation here or there that gets them thinking.

With Kade he is usually just saying funny things that make me laugh.

For example

He asked Ric why he had to work on President's day. Ric said "because I am not the president" So Kade says "Dad, the president never works".

I guess there is a new subject to work on.

Great News...For Us

(i don't think he wants any more kids, what do you think?)

Well, something great has happened!! Well, we think it is great, but only time will tell.

Ric finally got a new job doing something he will enjoy.

It is a lot less money which isn't so great.

But it is guaranteed 40 hrs. a week and he will not be working all hours of the night and day. And he will have weekends OFF!!!

Too good to be true? We will see. It is worth a try.

Maybe he can have a life again or maybe my kids can have a father.

I could possibly plan something and not have my plans foiled.

Maybe I can go to the grocery store alone.

Maybe he will get to swim in the pool this summer.

The possibilities are endless!

How much do you want to bet that when he shows up here during day light hours the kids will ask him what he is doing here. That is assuming he chooses to spend his time here of course.

I think this is the best thing for him and hopefully for our family too. One more week of never knowing where he is or if he is going to show up to see the kids this week.

Can you tell I am relieved, excited and curious what life will be like. I will let you know.

My house

My house reflects just how I feel inside.
The walls are bare and empty.
I never opened the box of pictures that hung on my walls.
I never finished unpacking, I got what I had to have from the boxes and left them in the garage.
There is so much more, but nowhere to put it.
Nothing has a permanent resting place.
I put something where I want it and then it disappears.(like the fingernail clippers)
I clean something and turn around and its messy again.
I can see in my mind what I want it to be, but then I open my eyes and I laugh because that's not where the kitchen goes.

I have been here for a year and a half. So sad, I know.
But one thing at a time and slowly it will start feeling like home. Right?

It's all just how I feel. And I have been here for quite a while now.

I am not ready to put the family picture in just yet, but tomorrow I am going to hang a frame on the wall and see how it feels.

Today

Today was one of those days.
Again.
My body was is pain and driving me crazy. And my heart is broken, which is so much worse than everything else.
By 3:30 I got into my jammies and slippers. Gave the kids a handful of snacks so they could drop crumbs everywhere and went and layed on my bed and decided I was giving up for the day.
It took about 4 minutes for Hazel to realize that her slave was missing. And about 5 minutes before Kade was in the bath(he lives for a good bath). I stayed there for as long as I could wishing I had backup for times like these. But there is no backup and that just made me even more sad. I could either sit there and cry and scare all of my kids or get up and move on. This is what I found.

Two little pieces of sunshine.
They gave me hugs and smiles and little giggles.


I made them homemade pizza and let them have rootbeer.


And I watched these two little squirrels run around the backyard playing together. They warmed my sad little heart.

Cornbread

I know this is not the best picture and someday I will have a real camera, but until then this is what you get. It was either this or a picture of us scarfing it down. Believe me watching Kade eat is not a pretty site.

I LOVE this cornbread! It has just the right amount of sweet to it. A little honey butter melted into it and call it dinner. My kids did! 3 out of 4 didn't eat their chili beans only the bread.

CORNBREAD

1/2 c. cornmeal
1 1/2 c. flour
2/3 c. sugar
1 tbls baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 c. oil
3 tbls butter, melted
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/4 c. milk

Mix ingredients, pour into 8' pan bake at 350 for 35 minutes.

HONEY BUTTER

2 sticks butter, softened
1/2 c. honey
1/2 c. marshmallow fluff

Whip together. (This was better after it sat in the fridge for a couple of days)

Enjoy Yumminess!!!

No wonder I'm tired.

Today I felt so tired. I felt like I didn't get anything done. I didn't actually want to do anything, just the minimum of taking care of the kids. But by the end of the day I realized. . I did some stuff.

I did laundry all day

Catered to Hazelnut who has double ear infections, not an easy task.

Iced Avary's head 3 times today. And Hazel's eye once.

Saved Hazel from being stuck in the tree.

Got after the kids for bothering the neighbors over the fence.

Took the kids to school and picked them up. Listened to whining all the way home.

Got Hailey to do her homework with a little whining on her part and some fake tears, but avoided the dying cow sounds. Always a plus.

Cleared and wiped the table 4 times.

Vacuumed.

Swept twice.

Took the garbage out, twice.

Changed the kids bedding.

Went and prayed about Ric taking a new job, twice. Came out to goldfish on the floor. Why does that sound familiar?

Found the remote, proof that Ric was here because it was lost.

Made homemade spaghetti sauce. And the rest of the dinner with it.

Made oatmeal, chocolate chip, coconut cookies. Tried a new recipe, yum.

Cleaned up my mess in the kitchen three times. But I didn't do the dishes.

Got everything ready for Kade's field trip to the zoo tomorrow.

Convinced my sister to go with me to the zoo tomorrow on her birthday.

Made the kids lunches for tomorrow.

Bathed all four kids and showered myself.

Painted my nails.

Watched 20 minutes of TV. Something I never do.

Wrote this blog to make myself feel better. And it worked.

Took nyquil because I feel crappy.

Told Hailey to put her book away, turn her light out and go to sleep again!

Now I am going to read my scriptures and then read my book until midnight and then hope that I sleep well until Hazel, Avary and Kade come and get in my bed. And I will be too tired to put them back where they belong. And I will have to get up really early and start a new day. Lets not think about that.


Made homemade cherry pie. For Ric's b-day, it was the first chance we have had and he was still late. The kids have been waiting to give him their cards. And his watch didn't fit right, oh well. WOW 32! We didn't even let him shower first. He had to hold his candle because the pie kept on melting it and it would fall over. Hailey said we needed two candles because he was Too Old. Ha!

When she blessed the food she thanked Him that I only got burned twice and that they would heal fast.