using my phone for more than calling

big d got me a new phone for my birthday. one of the things i like about it is that it has a camera. i am not a photographer, i am not even close. but i still need to take pictures, and i forget the camera a lot. i usually don't forget my phone. so it's cool that it has a camera. i got these a couple of days ago.

jimmy and fussy with their girl cousin. can you see them dragging her? you can't see their faces, mostly just imagine her going along with it, until she realizes that she has no choice. my boys are like that. it's all fun and games until you find a frog (or snake) in your pocket, right?

this is where we were headed. to see the sheep. it really looks colder than it was. it was a beautiful spring day. if you look close you can see a baby sheep. who knew sheep were born black? probably sheep did. but i did not. i got other pictures of the sheep, but it is all their back ends. which, while funny, isn't nice. i couldn't help it though, the sun was shining, and i couldn't really see what i was taking a picture of, with the glare on my screen.

harry showing off his mad skilz, like walking and complaining at the same time

fussy being un fussy. look at those mountains behind him. nice huh? and really, it looks cold because my kids don't know how to dress for mild weather. it's been a really long winter.

and this is how boys get stinky. actually they roll in pee. at least that is what my parents said. but i didn't get pictures of that. and i know that boys are always stinky. i've become used to the smell. they smell sorta like these barn animals.

jimmy loves kids. he loves smaller kids. i think he secretly wants to beat them up. but he still enjoys being the "parent" to any smaller child. she looks like she is enjoying him being right there too, huh?

enjoying being outside, leading the younger kids into the road. where are the parents of these kids? yeah, that is right, i'm taking pictures.

fussy and i stopped at the pond on our run the other day

yeah, it was windy, but the ducks were out, and who can resist feeding them stale gummy bears and throwing rocks at them? not this fussy.

i think he had some sunshine in his eyes. to which he was screaming because it has been a long time since we had seen sunshine. "what is that glowing orb in the sky" he would say? actually, he did tell us the other day not to eat the sun. good advice kid, good advice.

so that is what i had sitting on my phone. besides pictures of diapers. which i don't think you care about. that sounds gross until you realize i'm selling my stash of cloth diapers for extra cash i can use for video games. we have a problem around this house. it's called boys. and they eat a lot of food, break most of the furniture, and want to play lots of video games.

and yes, i realize this has to be the most random post ever.

what off track looks like...sorta

my kids can pull some really doofy faces. the end.

how to tie dye a shirt

or diapers. or socks. or the title could be, "how to keep your kids entertained on a rainy day"

notice the recent medicine counter on my kitchen sink and the shameless display of an over-medicated child. that's jimmy.

yeah, it was more fun than it looks. way more. unbelievable amounts of joy were recorded doing hippy art. but that is totally how we roll...

501

501 posts to my little ol' bloggy here. well, this post is 501.

i haven't updated because, well, because sometimes blogging is too much work. and i don't think anybody reads this anyway. but i will update what is happening in our lives. well, i'll sorta update, because it would be too boring, even for me.

we survived off track time. 4 weeks is a long time to be off track. 4 weeks in february is longer. 4 weeks on not really being able to go outside causes a lot of contention in the house, especially when you have 3 boys who are all different. harry wanted to read, chilli wanted to play for and be wild. and fussy didn't want his brothers to mess up his perfect life of being spoiled and momma's boy.

but we survived. we did have some sickness toward the end. a nice bout of stomach bug and sore throats. we did get through it.

we went to the history of ancient life, we went to the build a bear knockoff ( it was a promise from fussy's birthday) and we had a day of painting and building various crafts. we also made it to "the lightening thief". the boys put up with my running schedule, and i endured their sleeping schedule, which was usually in a tent in the basement. they pretended they were camping each night. and they read to each other until they would fall asleep. which resulted in harry reading the entire percy jackson series, and then re reading the first 3 books back to jimmy. who is chili, he just wanted me to change his name on my blog.

pictures and more to come later.

this made my day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjNKyoRudOQ&feature=player_embedded

off track--week 2, day...6?

there was much reading today. and much early rising. fussy decided to get up early to greet the day, and insisted on a cereal bar.

chili made treasure maps

harry read

fussy wanted to watch movies

they really were good though. fussy decided to crash way before bedtime, so i am anticipating another early morning...

off track day 5= 1 week of track. 3 more weeks to go.

3 more weeks. we can do this. it would be awesome if spring popped in right about now. it would be awesome if we had a little less "personality" to deal with. and by personality, i mean grumpiness. we gotta whole lotta grumpiness happening around here.

yesterday we went to deb's house and had an art day. it was awesome. the boys created and played. we went to the park and they played. it was good. getting to talk to my friends is good for me, just like it is good for them.

my new 3 year old

fussy had a great birthday this year. he had 2 birthday parties with lots of blue frosting.




we had a little get together with our family. they spoiled him rotten. he also had more cake. he was in heaven.

off track--day 4

"mom, where's my brother's? i need to be a brother."

we did not make pet rocks. chili threw a couple of fits, and fussy chased his brother around. there was a moment of bliss when they were all outside playing in the sun. they didn't have jackets on, nor shoes. they were outside enjoying the day. it was momentous.

they then came in and tracked mud all over the house.


for that half hour of peace, it was worth it.

off track- day 3

"i really want to watch the 4th harry potter movie, because that would help me be better at winning the harry potter game. right mom?"

the kids woke up, and were out of bed, before the normal time that i have to plead with them to get out of bed on school days. i had one kid begging to play video games. and one kid begging to make breakfast. so i rolled over and let them do what they wanted.

seriously though, it's before 7.30 and they are up and going. on a school day, i am begging and threatening them to get out of bed. why is that? they are going to bed later, yet they seem to get up much earlier.

and harry made breakfast this morning. he made eggs all by himself. i mean, i did get up, and i did make sure he didn't die from using the stove. but still, he did it all by himself. and then he made pancakes. he set out a plate for everyone. it was odd, but nice too.

we actually got out of the house too. after watching a harry potter movie, and playing a couple of video games, they were actually willing to make a trip to the craft store and the dollar store. i hope we got enough stuff to keep them busy for the rest of off track time. tomorrow, i think we will make pet rocks...

off track- day 2

"i really like these chicken nuggets, mom. they are so moist. maybe because they are shaped like fish?"

we don't have cable. we have regular digital t.v. whatever that means. anyway, on our box, that we hooked up to our t.v., a little message comes on if it has been on for more than 4 hours, without a channel change. the little message came on today. it's been a day with a lot of pbs kids.

oh, and it's also been a big day for circus animal cookies. for some reason my oldest really loves those. and the youngest really likes feeding them to the dog.

i'm thinking a field trip for tomorrow would be a good idea. maybe to the dollar store? maybe to the craft store. we need something more productive than watching arthur all day.

off track- day 1

"brother, hurry quick! you gotta get out of there before the mop of doom gets you!"

this morning, as i was waking up, getting ready for the day, the three boys were exercising. they had market off spaces in the kitchen as certain stations. with masking tape, they had them labeled. the sit up station, the running track (around the kitchen island) and the rest station with blankets and yoga mat. they continued "working out" for about an hour or so. they then brought the scale down and weighed themselves. they congratulated each other on losing weight.

does this say something about big d and me? does this say something funny about my kids?

whew!

january is over
now
onto february,
which leads to march,
that ends in april,
which starts may,
and that means summer is just around the corner...

3 years ago

some little known facts about fussy...

came on his due date. even though i was walking around the walmart at 10 am that day, cursing under my breath, and happily telling everyone that it was my due date. he still decided to show up

was born on my mom's birthday

loves pickles

has a fear of spiders. or bugs. he screams like a girl when he sees one.

has an opinion on everything, from what pajamas he wants to wear, down to what juice is the best.

hates the bathtub with a passion

can sing the tune to "indiana jones"

really into airplanes

loves dollars
enjoys getting out of the house and going to stores, until we get there and then begs to go home

rode over 300 miles in the jogger last year

favorite thing to say "i'm sick, i need a vitamin..."

favorite meal is buh-buh-bar (aka granola bar)

acts shy around everyone, until he warms up. he can talk your ear off

loves staying up late

loves sleeping in late

doesn't love his own bed

hates the dog

happy birthday my big 3 year old

health care

i've been thinking about health care. big d and i are again doing some healthy challenges this year. and again, we are trying to eat much healthier, no sugar etc. fussy went to the dr. 2 days last month for fear of a broken arm. the boys seem to be doing better and not getting as sick...yet. so heath and health care is on my mind.

since i don't know anything, i really don't think i'm qualified to stick up my own option. i mean, i know everyone has their opinion about what they think will work. and a lot of those opinions don't include a government run program. or at least, the opinion that i hear most is very upset at the idea of "socialized" medicine.

i'm not a socialist. i'm not a republican. i don't know what i am. i do know that i get upset when people start complaining that they are going to do anything for anyone else. i find myself wondering where our responsibility lies when we complain about anything that helps out other people.

anyway, i found this chart, and i thought it was very enlightening.



the problem as i see it, too many people don't want to change. they see the way we've done it for years, and don't want to worry about how to make it different. we are comfortable with the way it works, even if that means our neighbors can't pay out of pocket for insurance, and thus suffer/die/go bankrupt.

we need to step out of our comfort zone, and look at the big problem. no, maybe what is being proposed isn't the best answer, but it sure beats what we have now. we need to stop listening to political rhetoric and propaganda, and start learning the facts. what needs to change, and what will change, and what we want to change don't always line up. wouldn't it be awesome if it did?

and that is all i'm going to say about that.

my thoughts on friends

i've been praying for a really long time for friends. good friends. like the kind of friends you have in high school. or the kind of friends i had in high school. the kind that call you up and you can talk to for hours. you can get together whenever, and still act silly. i miss having those friends. i have missed it for a long time.

then, one day, i stopped myself and looked around me. i do have those friends. i've just been so involved with my own life for so long. i've spent 11 years trying to get pregnant, having a new baby, or involved in sleep deprivation, that i haven't been able to see my hand in front of my face. sometimes, all you need is a wake up call.

i recently reconnected with one of my best friends from high school. i had lost her for 12 years, she was one of those people that really had an impact on me. she changed my life for the better, because of her example. she was real and wonderful. and i really missed her. thanks to facebook, she is back in my life. it feels good.

another best friend called me up, out of the blue. it was refreshing to remember growing up, having fun, being silly, and all that came with that. it was nice to know that she understands now what i've been going through. it was even more nice to hear her laugh and feel that kind of warmth.

i also have my sister. even though we don't always get along the best, i love hanging out with her. she is fun and she supports me in everything. she loves my kids. she understands a lot.

i can't forget my mom. she always knows when i need a phone call, or a hug. she can be at my house at the drop of a hat when i have an emergency, and she talks me down when i get upset. she offers advice based on love. sometimes i don't want to hear it, but it's always there for me

my sister in law is there for me in a different way. when i don't understand family things, she is right there with me. i don't know if she knows what it has meant to me to have someone that is understanding as she is. someone who is as forgiving as she is. she also reminds me of how i want to be, and how i want my future to be.

besides me family and "irl" friends, i have a multitude of angels who listen, offer advice, make me laugh, and keep me going throughout the day. i would be lost with them, and what they add to my life. our combined life experiences are invaluable.

for years, i've been looking for my friends, when really, they've always been there. i am so blessed to be able to have so many women who care about me. i am so thankful. i'm literally surrounded by friends, and it makes me happy.

thank you

christmas isn't fun without awesome food, lots of games and hanging out with family. it's not good without treats, lots of soda, ham, turkey, and chocolate, and mountains of home made goodies. with a special helping of playing with cousins and making fun of each other, all in good spirits. we had a good one this year.

my favorite aunty, my parents, my sister...you guys are the best. thank you for taking care of us and our kids, and making us all smile. thanks for the laughs, the hugs, the gifts, and the loads of love. we really are blessed to have you! you spoil us in every way possible.

there are days

yesterday was one of those days. i tweaked my back at church, overheard a new rumor about me, sat by myself, dealt with grumpy kids. i burned my favorite treat. i felt invisible, envious, childish, and sad.

days like that are the ones that make you want crawl into a hole, or start drinking.

today is a different day. even though my back is still bugging me, and my eyelids are droopy, and the sun is still not out, at least it's january. and the longest month of the year. we only have something like 12 more weeks of gross winter left. only 12. it could be worse, it could still be december.

i need some sunshine.

103 blog posts for 2009
1915 miles logged for 2009
3 children still living
10 dead fish
1 trip out of state
4th grade
1st grade
2 lost teeth
12 years married


goals for this year:
run more, run better, run faster
never ever ever get sick
eat healthy food always, cut out all refined sugars, dairy, and processed foods
be kind to everyone
do not covet
never yell at the kids
stop swearing
lose 50 pounds

there's always next year! because honestly, right now, i'm sicker than i've been in a while. big d is out right now running with my new garmin that i haven't even used yet. so i'm jealous. so i am swearing. and yelling at the kids. and eating junk food. happy 2010.