Love Thursday #2...

I just loved this too much!!! See more Love Thursday photos here.

Worst mother ever...

So, here is the run down.

Jason - Upper respiratory infection and the flu
Brodie - ear infection and the flu
Chase - the flu
Austin - the flu (caught early so we got on the Tamiflu quickly)

So why am I the worst mother ever?

My kids did not receive their flu shots this year. YUP! Our family doctor had me get mine when I was like 38 weeks pregnant and happened to be in his office with Chase. Chase couldn't get one then because he had a fever. The day we were taking all the boys to get theirs was the day that I ended up in the hospital to have Evan. It just slipped through the cracks since then. BAD MOM!

So far Evan and I seem to be OK. Which is good since neither of us can take the Tamiflu if we get it. My mom is on her way down for the weekend to help out just in case I do end up sick.

I think it has been 30 seconds since I Lysoled everything...time for another round.

Bathe me in Lysol...

It is official...the flu has struck.

Jason got the confirmation from the doctor yesterday that he has THE flu. He also has an upper respiratory infection. Fun times. Brodie has been running a fever for two days, but has not shown other signs of anything major.

So for the next few days I plan on repeatedly spraying anything that sits still with Lysol, in hopes that the rest of us can be spared.

Wish me luck..

Camping...

Jason took Austin and Brodie camping for the first time this weekend. Needless to say, the boys were beyond excited.


Jason even let Austin shoot his pistol for the first time.



What did the babies and I do?

Love Thursday...

I am always looking for things around the internet to get my creative juices flowing and to get me to post on here more often. Thanks to Zoot, I was introduced to site called Shutter Sisters and their Love Thursday. Here is my cotnribution...It is an older picture, but captures the love in this house perfectly!!!

Just as I thought...

I love Target. No, really. It is impossible for me to go into a Target and come out with nothing. In fact, it is hard for me to come out having spent less than $50. It is not a good thing.

I was in Target the other day and was buying a shirt. I am still not sure if the shirt looks good on me despite several compliments. I think these people were just shocked to see me out of t-shirts and hoodies to be honest.

Anyway, off track.

As I was checking out the cashier said, "Cute shirt. I might have to go look at these when I get off."

I said, "For sure. You get the employee discount too, so even better."

"True, but it is hard to take home a paycheck when you work here."

"I can only imagine how much I would spend if I worked here and got a discount. It would be bad. I would be working just to support my Target habit."

The cashier smiled, "Why do you think I work here?"

I KNEW IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I need to work at Target.

I love them...

I love these two boys more than words can say....

BUT...if they don't stop with their smart mouths I may have to lock them in a closet.

And yes, Mom, I realize that they are just like THEIR mother. Who do I have to blame for that?

On the upswing...

So I mentioned recently that I have been feeling like I am in a spiritual slump. Nothing major, just out of sync. A lot of that can be attributed to the fact that we had not been attending church for a few months. In late summer we decided that we would stop going to our church 20 miles away and try to find a church closer to our house. What ended up happening was us becoming very lazy about it and then Evan was born...and well the excuses could go on for days.

Now, I am not the type of person that will say in order to be a good little Christian you have to go to church regularly. I am saying that I NEED to. I need that weekly (or more often) time to refocus my mind and my heart. Church is very important to me (Keri, leaving Element 26 was definitely a contributing factor to the slump).

That being said, I think we have found a new church. We have attended for the last two weeks and are very impressed so far. I think we will continue at this church unless something comes up that changes out minds. Things can only get better from here. I even got all the dust off my bible.

Let the purge begin...

New post by me up at Larger Families

Giving him material for his therapist...

Two months...

Can you believe that Evan is already 2 months old? Well, two months and two days to be exact. It amazes me! We had his 2 month check up yesterday. He is doing wonderfully and our doctor was very impressed with him. As far as I am concerned he is one of the four smartest, most wonderful children ever! OK, so maybe I am biased.

Evan weighed a whopping 13 lbs. Would you believe that at 13lbs when he is two months old he is my smallest kid? Chase was 13 lbs 11 oz, Austin was 13 lbs 14 oz and Brodie was 15 lbs. Brodie was a VERY large baby.

Calling Evan "little guy" seems even more fitting now. He did get shots yesterday and doesn't seem to be reacting very well to them. He ran fever last night and has been quite crabby. He is normally a very quiet, laid back baby. He was NOT yesterday. He cried more yesterday than if you took all the other days of his life and added them together.

Evan's Current Likes: Eating...no seriously, he loves it. He will get done nursing and get this half crooked smile on his face. It is hilarious. He also LOVES being in his sling. I need to get a picture of him in the sling. I have tried to take a picture myself, but they don't turn out. (Amanda, remind me to have you take one). He falls asleep within moments of getting in. He likes sleeping on his daddy's chest.

Current dislikes: Immunizations, tummy time (he hates being on his stomach unless it is laying on our chests, and gas.

Barren Wastelands...

7:00 am

The boys are eating their breakfast, preparing for the day ahead. Coffee in hand I feel colder than normal. We are in a barren wasteland. It seems empty. There is information I need that I can not retrieve. Answers need to be found. But how? I give up on my search for the promise land and finish my morning chores. I make lunches, sign folders, get babies bundled up for the trek to school.

7:45 am

We have dropped Austin and Brodie off at school and my spirits are still low due to my stranded condition. We arrive home and I get myself another cup of coffee. Chase is playing and Evan is napping. Why can I still not find the answers I seek? Why am I still in this place?

8:15 am

I try to busy myself with idle, meaningless activities. I toy with idea of getting makeup on and doing my hair and going out shopping. Not a good idea. I still don't know the status of so many things. Why oh why am I stuck in this wasteland.

8:20 am

I have escaped the barren wasteland in which I was stranded.

The Internet is working again!

It's not for lack of things to say...

As you can see I have yet to get back to regular posting. It isn't that I don't want to or that I don't have anything to talk about. I am having a hard time articulating lately what it is that I do want to say. I have about 10 drafts of posts waiting in queue that just aren't what I want to post. I have several friends going through life changing events right now and it has my mind racing. Unfortunately when my mind races my fingers can't always keep up.

A few people I know are going through traumatic experiences that I have gone through. It takes me back several years when I speak to them, as I can totally relate to their pain and confusion.

More than anything it makes me realize that I am in a total spiritual rut (more on that later).

Goodbye 2007...

Last year I did a 2006 wrap-up post. I am going to do the same one for this year. Away we go...

1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before?
I am ashamed to say that I can't think of anything AGAIN this year. Very bad

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't usually do traditional resolutions. Here is my No Way list from last year..I think I will do that again. I did an overall good job. The weight thing and the school thing happened, but I just had a kid...give me a break.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
ME AGAIN!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully, not this year

5. What countries did you visit?
None...I don't get out much anymore

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007
A little more peace with myself.

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
November 9th...the day our little Evan was born.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Not completely losing my mind. I have had one of those up and down years mentally. Right now, we are good. Very good in fact.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Organization...I can get organized, staying there is the issue.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Sprained my ankle while pregnant. Damn thing still gives me problems on cold days.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Jason bought me my CHI...that is the best thing since sliced bread

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Jason's...I know this might be hard for some of you to believe, but I can be hard to live with sometimes. I know...shocking.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
No one close to me thankfully.

14. Where did most of your money go?
We have four kids...enough said.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Evan's birth mostly

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
Honestly don't know.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? 
b) thinner or fatter? 
c) richer or poorer?
Happier/fatter (this shall change)/richer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Mommy time. I have gotten bad about asking for it, but Jason always attempts to remind me.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Venting.

20. How did you be spend Christmas?
With our families!

21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
I added another amazing boy to our group and of course I fall in love with Jason over and over all the time.

22. How many one-night stands?
Ummm...NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

23. What was your favorite TV program?
Side Order of Life. I loved that show. I hope they bring it back.

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Hate is a waste...same as last year.

25. What was the best book you read?
I didn't read nearly as much this year...kids and all. However, right now I am reading Eat, Pray Love and it is pretty good.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Jack's Mannequin

27. What did you want and get?
A baby.. a healthy family...a bigger house

28. What did you want and not get?
More money than I can count, but maybe next year.

29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Movies? You think I have time for movies? Um..I liked Knocked Up.

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Read about it here...the big 27

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Magic pill that allows you to eat whatever you want and not gain weight :-)

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Stay at home mom chic...again.

33. What kept you sane?
My hubby...without a doubt! Oh and caffeine...the other love of my life.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Again not a big celeb watcher...but I have a crush on Chad Michael Murray

35. What political issue stirred you the most?
The fact that if Hillary is president we are all in BIG BIG trouble..mark my words!

36. Who did you miss?
My family!

37. Who was the best new person you met?
AMANDA!!!!

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
God's silence can be a blessing...

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"Cause every time you hold me in your arms
I'm comfortable enough to feel your warmth" -- Bubbly, Colbie Caillat

The life...

That would be my dad...on the beach. My parents are down in Mexico for two weeks. And yes, I am very jealous.

Random-osity...

Totally random post...

* My mom made my sister in law and me scarves and hats for Christmas. She is so crafty and talented. Aren't we cute?

* I don't *do* New Year's Resolutions because I think they just set you up for failure. But I do have several goals that I would like to work toward this year. More on that later, but one of them is to get back to blogging on a regular basis.

* I make really horrible faces when playing video games...especially Guitar Hero. I have a picture, but I will not post.

* I have recently started watching One Tree Hill reruns. OK so I DVR it and watch it when I nurse Evan. How did I not catch on to this show when it started? It is like 90210 but so much better.

* I need new clothes in the worst way, but I refuse to buy any right now. I need to drop at least one size before I buy anything.

* Evan is already 7 weeks old...WHAT?!?!?!

* Chase is building the biggest and funniest vocabulary. Currently "cool" and "ice" are is favorite words. Oh yes and "poop...shew shew...baaaaaaaaaaaaaaad"

* Austin and Brodie are out of school until the 3rd. Usually we leave them in Lubbock over Winter Break, but this year we wanted to have them home. Today we are going to visit our old neighbors. Their youngest daughter and the boys used to play all the time and they are all excited to see each other. Should be fun.

* Having my fourth child has had one unexpected effect on me. I am turning into a total homebody. I don't know if it is cause it just takes so much effort to get everyone out or what, but I just am not out as much as normal. Hmmmmm...

Home...

We are home from our few days in Lubbock. The trip was good, but too short. Jason, Chase and Evan ended up fighting a cold the whole time.

I have lots of laundry and cleaning to do. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.

Pictures of our trip can be seen here...I wasn't quite as good about taking lots of pictures as normal due to dealing with a baby with a cold.

Back soon with a better post.

Slacker...

That's what I have been with regards to this blog...total slacker. I feel I have good excuses, but really they aren't that good. It seems every time I sit down to write something I am called away by a child. Have you ever felt busy doing a whole lot of nothing? You know, just daily life, but nothing you could really say, "Oh today I had such a productive day." Truth is I have been feeling a little overwhelmed lately. Not by the kids, just by the tasks I need to do and that I am not getting done. Oh well...there is always the new year.

We are gearing up to head to Lubbock for Christmas. I actually am letting Austin and Brodie play hooky from school for the day as well. Today is a short school day and they are going to do nothing but watch movies, so instead I am keeping them home for slave labor. OK, not really. Truth is everyone in the house, but me is trying to get sick. Brodie threw up last night and has a sore throat, Austin has a sore throat, Jason's head is stopped up, Chase is sneezey and snotty and Evan even sounds a little nasally. It would figure! I did get a surprise last night. Jason gave me part of my Christmas early. It was too big to take with us and bring back so he just let me have it. I got a new coffee machine. It is is so cool and perfect for us since we don't drink a zillion cups of coffee a day so there is not waste. LOVE IT! Jason and I enjoyed some coffee this morning!

The boys were very excited that Santa called them last night. I have to type this fast before Austin walks in (since he can read and all). I want to share with you guys the story behind our yearly Santa calls. When I was a kid every year without fail Santa called me. It was one of the highlights of my Christmas. He would call and do the "Ho Ho Ho" bit and ask what I wanted and if I was being good. It wasn't until I was probably 16 or 17 that I found out who that "Santa" was. It was my Big Daddy (grandpa for you non-southerners). He has since carried the tradition over to my kids. I actually got teared up last night when he called to talk to them. SO awesome. Jason even thinks its cool.

So, I feel like I have a million things to share, but my bags are not packing themselves.

I hope you all have a VERY Merry Christmas. I may post a few short posts from Lubbock, but don't hold your breath!

Send them my way...

During this time of year about 4 out of every 10 news stories has to do with something involving Christmas shopping it seems (I totally just pulled that out of thin air...I rock that way). I keep hearing them talk about how much money in gift cards goes unused every year. Thus, scaring people away from buying gift cards.

People...if you don't want your gift card send it to me. Seriously.

I don't understand this. I looooooooooooooove gift cards. Don't get me wrong. I love when people buy me a gift as well, especially when they have put a lot of thought into it. But, I am not the easiest person to shop for. Neither is my husband for the record. I love that gift cards allow me to put money towards something I would not normally buy myself. I just don't understand how people can "forget" to use them. IT'S FREE MONEY TO SHOP WITH PEOPLE!!!

So, if you get a gift card this season and fear that you will not use it, just send it my way...especially ones to Target (cause I love Target almost as much as I love my own kids) and any place that sells over priced kitchen gadgets.

Sonic Addiction...

You know you drop by Sonic a little too often (caffeine fix) when the carhop says, "Hey, we haven't seen you in a while."

Hmmmm....Do I tell her that it is because I have been going in the mornings instead of the afternoons now?