Happy Birthday Eli

Eli's birthday was yesterday but we sang to him and had cake on Saturday. It wasn't anything big. He opened his gifts which he loved and had a pinata when one of Derek's friend Mike brought over his boy Reese. Eli is so good at sharing when it comes to candy or any new toy. Mima gave him walkie talkies, grandpa and mima gave him mega blocks racetrack and clothes. Grandma Carlene gave him stickers, books, a poster, and some money. We gave him a book and the lucky duck game which hasn't gone over very well. Vanessa likes to sit in the middle of it and steal all the ducks.

Today Eli and Xavier were using the walkie talkies. Eli is still working on pushing the button when he talks. I took a turn talking with Xavier. I asked him what color things were that he could see in the other room. Then I asked him how many fingers he had. I heard him start counting 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 then static as he passed the walkie talkie to the other had. After 5 more seconds he responded 10. It was so funny to listen to. We are trying to ween the kids off candy and to eat healthier. It's hard during the holidays. I hope that as I try to do better it will be easier for them. The earlier they start the better.

Ear Tubes

After numerous and never healing ear infections Vanessa got tubes. Our day started at 2am when Vanessa woke up for milk. Since she wasn't supposed to have anything after midnight I thought I could just rock her back to sleep. Not until 4 did she go back to sleep. That's when Xavier yelled for me to get him a drink. I finally fell back asleep at 4:30 so when the alarm went off at 5:45 Derek had to wake me up twice. I got up and ready and carried Vanessa out of bed and to the freezing car and drove to the hospital. I was told to be there by 6:30. She was examined and changed into hospital pajamas and both big toes had cords hanging from them. Then we had a wonderful I mean horrible wait until 8:00 before she went back. It was awful to have them carry her away. I remembered exactly how it felt two years ago when they did Eli's tubes. She did wonderful and was happy to see me. She was only out of my arms for maybe 20 minutes. All the nurses commented on her beautiful curls. She will feel and hear better. I am really blessed that I do not have children with any serious health issues. It would be so hard to leave them in a hospital or have them in pain. Derek went into work late so he could stay with Xavier and Eli and get Alexandra off to school. I was so tired. I am so grateful that I don't have to get up early and shower every morning before 7. It is always so cold. I am so blessed to be able to be home raising my kids.

Most, if not all of Derek's friends wives and girlfriends all work. Being a stay at home mom isn't to be considered. But many of them have their kids in daycare for 10 hours a day. So pick up your kid, dinner, bath time, and put them to bed. It would be strange. And insanely expensive for us with 3 kids not yet in school. I wouldn't want to rely on family help. I love that I can pull in some money now. It took a while but Derek knows that raising kids and being home all day is challenging and stressful and many times overwhelming. It is nice to have his support. I do understand that some situations require moms to work. Derek and I figure if I had a job outside the home where I actually brought home extra money we would just have more stuff. Maybe upgrade the cars but mostly just stuff. So I will trade all my stuff to raise my own kids. I am truly blessed.

I got a Job!!!

I have been planning on starting a daycare when we move into our new house. I have taken all the required classes and bought all the supplies but cannot get certified until we have a home inspection. I cannot get one of those until I have a home. However, a few friends were looking for full time sitters with or without a license. So yeah, they are bringing their kids here. Right now I just have 2 to watch Ava and Chloe, both three. Which is fine with me. It has really opened my eyes to what a horrible mother I have been. Before they came over I could barely muster enough energy to get through most days. I hardly did anything with my own kids. It was just easier to say no when they would ask for me to do things with them than try to do something and get totally frustrated. Now with other kids here I feel like I have to be doing something. We go on walks, fly kites, make cookies, color, read books, and just run around outside. Before my kids would go outside alone, which is okay, but I feel I could have been doing more. I always felt like I had something else I needed to do first. Other things were more pressing. But now i feel like during the day I just need to be a good mom to my kids and that is actually enough. Who cares about all the other stuff. The other part is I cannot yell or get mad at other children so why do I get mad at my own children for the same mistakes. I have the most awesome children in the world and I have the ability and opportunity to be the best mother. It is strange and I am so grateful that I realized that I can be a better mother while they are still young and won't remember much from this age. So babysitting has been a real blessing. My kids like having other kids to play with and I enjoy my own kids so much more.

National Guard Christmas.

Derek had drill this weekend in Ephrata where they had a Christmas party planned for the families of the members of his unit. It was unbelievably nice. They had games set up for the kids. Fishing for presents, beanbag throw into a box snowman, and a cake walk. As well as raffles. Eli threw the bean bags in and when he received his prize, a stuffed penguin, he threw that into the holes. He didn't know he was supposed to keep it. He loved the toy too, calling it Cody Maverick from Surf's up. Alexandra won a cake in the cake walk and our family won a raffle for a Walmart gift card. After the kids all won piles of prizes; stuffed animals, puzzles, nerf guns & shape sorters, we ate lunch and Santa came. The kids took turns sitting on his lap and receiving a gift. All of my kids got something that was on their Christmas list. I thought Derek had something to do with it but he didn't and it was just luck of the draw. The gifts were labeled by gender and age. Alexandra got a pink track suit and a book, Xavier received a metal basketball hoop that hangs over the door, Eli a musical book and $25 gift card, and Vanessa got a cabbage patch snowman baby. I was floored by the great gifts. I think that I loved spending the day together as a family having a good time the best.

Snow Days

It has been rediculously cold so I guess it might as well snow. We woke up to a beautiful blanket of snow covering ther ground. I think I could actually like it if we weren't building our house right now. My dad thinks snow is a bad four letter word and prefers not t hear the word spoken. Alexandra has to go to school in it and they are not allowed to pick it up off the playground. Xavier was out the door by 7:30 throwing snowballs at the window. He wanted me to go out and make him a snow man. We tried but it is too cold for me. We only had a few days before it rained and all the snow was gone. so now we look forward to the next snow fall.

The Goofy Goober

I only title it that because Xavier loves Spongebob. Derek still calls him Baber Bave. Lately I have been saying E-Xavier because I combine Eli at the beginning. I cannot get names right. He tells me that E-Xavier is not his name. Derek took he and Eli to the skate park the other day even though it was like 28 degrees outside. Xavier loved it. He sat on his skateboard and went down the half pipe a couple of times. he is trying to ride on one foot on the concrete and has been trying to do tricks on his board at home on the carpet. It is cool to see him build confidence. We got a couple large boxes and Xavier has spent the last 2 days building a fort. First he drew a steering wheel on it and it was a car. Now he has cut holes all over it and he likes to get in and close it and it is a fort. I swear boxes are such great toys. They require imagination and provide hours of fun. Plus they are almost always free.

Eli and the cats

From the day we got our cats Eli has been very attached to them. He carries them around, picks them up from their naps, pulls their tails and throws them holding just one paw. He traps them under baskets, boxes and in the closet. He pulls their fur and drops them into water in the bath. But when it comes to bedtime they always curl up next to him. Every night they get onto his bed and literally sleep on top of him. The other night he was sleeping under a warm blanket and Shadow was grooming Eli's sweaty forehead.

Eli still likes to hold my hair when I hold him or rock him at night. He hasn't been feeling well and has woken me up a few times to ask me for a handful of hair. He just holds it or brushes it over his face and then falls back asleep. The other kids have blankets. He never got attached to his the same. I guess his security is found in my hair. As sweet as it sounds it can be quite uncomfortable sometimes. i cannot believe that he will be three next month. He seems so much older most of the time.

Days Gone By

Time is flying and yet I don't feel as though I have gotten anything accomplished. My kids are all bathed, fed and healthy except for the occasional sniffle. So I guess we are doing OK. It got cold, very cold where it doesn't get over 40 in the day so we have been stuck indoors. We try go go out but never last long. I took the kids down to watch Grampa Glade and Marty pour cement at the house. I do believe that my dad can work harder in one day than I have worked everyday in my whole life added together times 2. We are lucky to have him building our house. It will be built well and at a better price than imaginable.

The boys keep busy making forts and fighting a lot. Alexandra is busy at school. Vanessa is the biggest trouble maker I have dealt with. She climbs on the table, pushes everyone out of her way, empties drawers and cupboards, dumps cat litter, fights for toys, and can now open doors. So the kids used to be able to build and play without her by going in the room and shutting the door. now they have to lock it. But she is hilarious. Derek was wrestling with Eli on the bed so she climbed up and laid right nest to them. Every time Eli laughed or let out a squeal she would laugh too even though she wasn't actually part of the playing going on. I was thinking at what point does the cute little "momma" she say turn into the horrible "mom" my kids say. when she says mom it is so sweet. when everyone else says it I just think, what do you want. That sounds so terrible when I write it but there are days I think the word mom should be limited to 50 uses/day.

Another Typical Day

Unfortunately the events you are about to read are typical. We start our morning way too early. 6:15. Since I stayed up and watched CSI last night that only gave me 7 hours of interrupted by children sleep. Derek went to work. Alexandra got off to school OK. Eli hit Vanessa in the head with a foam padded bat. I attempted to clean the house doing 7 full loads of laundry so everything will be clean when we come back from camping this weekend. Vanessa opens the kitchen drawers and tries to climb them like stairs. She gets into everything. Pulls out the chairs to climb and stand on the kitchen table. I have pictures to add later. She climbs in the bathroom and proceeds to brush her teeth with whatever toothbrush is available. I have replaced every ones toothbrush at least twice in the past couple weeks because after using them she carries them around and loses them or puts them outside.

Eli has been wanting to dress himself lately. I think it is great. One less thing for me. Today's ensemble was Winter boots, Surfboard swim shorts, and a backwards Halloween shirt. After putting his shirt on backwards he looked down and said "Hey, there's no picture." Since I had no plans of leaving the house I didn't really care We did end up going to Kimbers to pick up Winslow to come and play. Vanessa fell there and hit her head hard on the corner of the door frame.

At home I was just completely exhausted trying to stay awake. Vanessa took an early nap. Yeah. I used that time to do dishes and be lazy. The boys rode bikes and even though it is only in the low forty's filled up water balloons.

The cat just bit my retractable mouse cord in half. That's what I get for typing on the floor.

We went to gramma's. Vanessa emptied one of her cupboards of cake mixes and canned food. Xavier and Eli jumped on the trampoline. Eli ahas traded his winter boots for cowboy boots. I get my hip length jacket out of the closet for the first time this season and it was a bit more snug around the hips. Lovely, like I need the constant reminders I need to lose weight. My van was full of storage unit stuff so we went to the storage unit to unload. My key broke in 1 of the 2 locks. I was glad I had already locked one. Decided to hit Walmart on the way home to get supplies for the weekend out of town. We all looked like scrubs. It was awful and I am so glad I did not run into anyone. Barely got home to greet Alexandra as she got off the bus at the wrong stop b/c the bus driver forgot to stop at her stop.

Back at home made dinner, more water balloons, Vanessa filling every ones cups on the table with Cheetos. Eli driving me nuts. He doesn't want to take a bath until I tell Xavier to go first. When it is finally his turn he throws a fit as to what order his clothes have to be removed. Fit over, no bath, put to bed. Alexandra and Xavier start fighting and get sent to rooms. Kicking walls and crying. Now of coarse it is almost bedtime so they are hungry again and begin playing great. I swear they get along well and play so loud when I just want some peace. I love that they are playing and getting along but why do they get louder. I think I am just done for the day. Thank you 8:00. Bed time. My time. I am ready to crash but want to wait up for Derek who is getting his tattoo finished. I will never bore you again with this but I wanted to put in a day in the life.

Fall

Down went the temperature. Down comes the leaves. I love trees. Especially ones that shade the yard but the amount of leaves is ridiculous. The kids thought it was fun to put more leaves on the trampoline and jump around. They had a pretty good time sliding all over the place.

Vanessa is no longer the baby. Except when she sleeps. She is a toddler and running with the older kids. I was telling the kids to look at an image on the computer and she came right over pushing her way over them to see what it was all about. She keeps up with them so well. We have a little Spongebob couch that she has claimed as hers. If Eli or Xavier or even Derek sit on it she comes over and pushes them off. Literally using all her strength to push. But what a doll she is. I am really blessed to have the children I have. I love them so much. Even though they can fight and argue and drive me crazy I couldn't ask for better kids.

Halloween

Eli is Mr. Bones, Alexandra Army Girl, Vanessa witch (wouldn't keep hat on) Xavier Motorcross Driver(didn't like helmet.)

As with many holidays I was ready to cancel Halloween. Trying to get everyone in warm clothing then putting costumes over them. Eli and Xavier both wore two pairs of pajamas under their costumes. Alexandra couldn't find any pants that didn't bother or make her itchy. Vanessa kept pulling on her dress trying to get it off. But we did it, we got ready and went. We went to Uncle Marty's first then Aunt Shamra's. Eli was dumbfounded after receiving his first piece of candy. That was it. All the hype about trick or treating and all he had was one peice of candy. I had to explain we had to go to lots of houses in order to get lots of candy. At 5:30 we went to trunk-or-treat at he church for fast candy and hot dogs. That ended by 6:00 and the kids were ready for more. After calling around Derek decided to meet up with Roy and his kids. We went with them last year. It was freezing but the kids didn't mind. Eli and I straggled behind so I tried to catch up by crossing someone's yard instead of going down the driveway, sidewalk and back up the other driveway. The neighbors door was 20 feet away straight line instead of 100 going around. Bad idea. The lady came out and yelled at me. I was so emberrassed. Of coarse I knew what sidewalks were for but she felt the need to remind me. It took me a little while to get over that. Anyway, the kids got loads of candy. Happy Halloween

Drill Weekend

Derek had drill this weekend. It is so much nicer having him go to Ephrata instead of Yakima. He doesn't have to leave so early, drive so far, and can come home for the night. This week they went driving out at the sand dunes. It was cool because I took the kids out and we watched them drive their course. Eli loved to watch the "big green trucks." Eli and Xavier really wanted to ride in them. I was a little wary when Derek said he wanted to join the National Guard with the war going on and all. I would hate if he had to leave. It has turned out ok. One weekend a month does come up pretty fast and he was gone for three weeks this summer but he really enjoys it and feels that he is learning new things. I think soldiers are awesome. I am just a little selfish about sharing him and our time together. His unit is not set to deploy for atleast a year. Hopefully, much later if at all. I must go now it is crazy early and I need more sleep. God Bless America!

Carving Pumpkins

Xavier asked to buy pumpkins everytime we left the house. Finally we did. Then he asked everyday for atleast a week if we could carve them. When buying he insisted that no ones be larger than his. I found the white one to be perfect for Vanessa because she is so light. Friday Derek helped carving and cleaning out the pumpkins. It actually took hardly any time at all. There are no pictures of Alexandra here because she chose to go to Corinna's and watch The Haunting Hour instead. It was fun to carve them and the kids loved the way they turned out. Now if I could just remember to get some candles.

We went up to the cabin this weekend just for the sake of getting out of town. The weather turned out great and we were able to be outdoors while there.
Derek took his gun as well as the one he got me for Christmas a few years back. It was pretty cool. I had never shot anything but a pellet gun. The kids loved it too. Xavier hit the can causing it to explode. That was pretty awesome considering he couldn't really aim and had to have help holding the gun.

Two of Dereks friends came with us. One with his wife and two kids. It was nice for our kids to have other kids to play with. They seem to fight less. We got there Friday night around 9 and had a campfire letting the kids stay up until after midnight. That left everyone tired the next day. But we still got out and took a walk, shot the guns and had another fire for most of the day. Derek and Alexandra spent some time trying to master Guitar Hero on Andy's XBOX. Overall it was a great weekend and we hope to go again soon.

My wonderful beautiful family

Everyone is doing good. Alexandra missed 2 days of school with a belly ache that went away shortly after school started. She has beed getting better at reading. She is currently reading Junie B. The toothless wonder. Xavier is good. He is so sweet. He tells me I am beautiful and that he loves me. He has been enjoying having Winslow over to play. They have a good time playing outside, even in the rain like today. Where to begin with Eli. He has always had such a large vocabulary. Yesterday he wore a jacket because it was "Chilly." Today when done eating he tells me. I am "finished now." Not done but finished. Sometimes I forget that he is only 2. he can speak and explain everything. All since he was around17 months old. the downfall is he picks up on bad words too. We are working on that. Vanessa is such a doll. We went to the clinic. Atleast 10 other kids took turns playing with her but didn't interract with each other. Last night Derek held her and brushed through her hair with Alexandras brush. He did it only for a minute and when he stopped she started in with her Uuh. Uuh. She wanted him to keep going . It was so cute. Derek is busy with work and coaching kids football with some of his buddies. It seems he is gone a lot. I have been filling my few moments of quiet with reading the Twilight series. Thank you Candace for getting me hooked on those. Back to them now

The House

We should be in by Christmas. So I keep telling myself and the hundred other people who ask when it will be done. I was just there today deciding what kind of lighting goes into each room. UUUHH I don't know was my answer. My dad asks me what I want and then helps me change my mind until I say what he already planned. For example, what color of roof? Black. Are you sure? Ok dark gray. Really? Light gray. Good because that is what I have. Next topic. Do you want outdoor lightfixtures in the soffets or coming out of wall? Out of the wall I say. If you do that then you will have more bugs flying around. Soffits then. Great he replies. Now I try to say you know best. I am picking out cabinets next. I think. I am so excited ready to move. We have been in limbo since we moved to ML. It will be nice to feel settled where we can have people over. And the kids can have more space to run and play. I will have projects to do. I am excited for yard work. Yeah!!!

Myspace and blogging

I would grant derek the title of King of MySpace. He is on it all the time. And for what? to view comments from people he just talked to on the phone. I started a myspace account but had zero friends to contact. OK so I felt like a loser because Derek has a ton of friends so I cancelled my account. I saw it as a way to chat back and forth. Something I don't do. Blogging on the other hand is about writing for myself and my kids to print out later. However, today I viewed Ashley Boise blog which let me to Alisha Marlatt and onto Haven Villireal and Nena Earl. AAAGH. I am doing what derek does on my space. So I quit. I am sticking to my own and anyone who contacts me. I will not surf through bloggerville. It takes too much time. Right now Eli just barfed and Vanessa is begging me to pick her up. I love that though I do not have many friends the ones I have are close and the best.

Vanessa is One

Vanessa had her first birthday this week. The actual day was Wednesday but we had a little party for her Saturday. I am not sure why but I feel that birthdays should be celebrated on the actual day. I am not one for having a party the weekend before or after. Kimber and kids, Rolan and kids, my mom and dad, Shamra, and Derek and our kids all met for lunch at my moms. We had a 4 ft sub sandwich and delicious cake my mom made. Vanessa got a cupcake that she made a mess with. I am not sure houw much she even tasted most was squishing through her fingers and on the table and floor. But it was fun. She got some of the cutest and softest clothes as well as some toys. We got her a little ride on car. Eli took over and believes it is always his turn to ride it. Vanessa can hold her own though and doesn't easily get bullied around. She will put up a fight for a toy she wants. At her doctors appointment she weighed 22 lbs. She also had an ear infection. That explains why she doesn't sleep. Hopefully it will clear up quickly. She is so good and loveable. I love to watch her. Her dancing has advanced from just waving arms to bobbing head and bending knees or stomping in place. I need to upload some pictures to my blog. gotta go

circus

• Saturday we went to the Ringling Bros. circus. It was such a disappointment. The kids liked it though. When I think of the circus I think of lions, tigers, jugglers, and acrobats. The show lasted over 2 hours but I left thinking I hadn't yet seen anything. When we arrived their were protestors outside with signs claiming cruelty to animals. Maybe being a circus performer isn't all that exciting anymore and no one aspires to grow up in the circus. Or no one is running away from home with the circus being the only job available. Whatever reason I was dissappointed. Not to mention the $10.00 you have to fork over for a small bag of cotton candy.

Just another day.

Alexandra is really enjoying second grade with Ms. Walker. Her favorite part of school is going on the one bar. In my day called the twirly bar. Xavier is doing better and likes to show everyone his bling bling teeth. He and Eli play blocks and cars pretty well together. Eli loves to chase hold and squeeze our two cats Larry and Shadow. But they put up with him. Vanessa is absolutely adorable and goofy. Her walking is pretty close to running now. I love her blonde curly hair. I love my kids. They are all so wonderful. Especially now while they are sleeping. Derek has been sick with the flu for the last 3 days. I was sick last week so I know how he feels. However, I didn't get to spend my first day in bed and the others lying on the couch. He did get up and go to work for half days so that is more than I. I was able to stay home. I appreciate him so much for that. Well gotta go.

All New to me

I haven't been able to keep up on scrapbooking while living in a small space with 4 kids always trying to help. This is why I am attempting to blog. I am not sure how this works. It seems weird no knowing your audience. I am mostly doing this as a record for my kids. It will be my way of writing their journal. So I will write as if they are my audience and anyone else can read.



Today was quite eventful so I am just going to start with today and not worry about anything before. Xavier went to the dentist today. What an experience. He was very nervous. I thought I knew what was going to happen. Alexandra has had conscious sedation. This was different. They put him out completely then did all his dental work. 7 crowns. He went out mad and confused and woke up mad and more confused. But the work could not have gotten done without it. The rest of the day he was miserable. But it is over and done. We shall have to have better brushing and flossing habits so Eli and Vanessa will not have to go through this. However, it was not entirely our fault, our mouths are full of bacteria. Xavier just has some more prone to decay.