This post is way, way, WAYYYY overdue.  What can I say?  Just like every other mom of a bunch of little rascals, there's lots to blog about, just not enough time to do it.  Besides, I can't say that I actually have very many organized thoughts worth sharing lately.

So what's up with us???

~We are moving in 2 months!  ( more on that later--I have LOTS of mixed feelings )
~These kids are growing like weeds; I cannot seem to stop them.
~The weather is beautiful.  I want to be outside every minute.

~My baby is 10 months old.  He likes to walk around the house pushing things.  He also likes to eat everything except for food.
~Alex is 3 and it shows every minute of the day.  I love to listen to him talk.  He has lots of new ideas!
~Nora is beautiful and full of happiness all the time.  She spends most of her day drawing pictures.  She has just started to learn how to read and she loves to practice writing the words she learns and tries to draw illustrations to match.  Love it.
~Grant is so fun.  He loves to invent machines out of anything he can find in the house, or anything that can be held together with glue, tape, staples, and yarn.  I often find toys and paper tied up to pieces of furniture :)  He is really excited about reading.  He read the first book in this series by himself this week and was so excited about it.  (I found the entire set used and ordered them tonight.  Can't wait to get reading them!)  At least I don't have to push and prod him about reading (too bad chores aren't as exciting).
~We get house-hunting leave next month and I am as nervous as I am excited.  More on the hunt later.  Stay tuned!!

Welcome Home!

Yesterday was a BIG day!  We were so excited to pick up our daddy.  The ship arrived at a decent hour of the morning, and we were smart enough to wait just long enough to leave the house so we wouldn't have to sit around on the pier for a couple of hours.  In fact, we got out of the car just as the tugboats were pulling the ship around (top left) 

I just love to see them all dressed in white-they all looked terrific!

These kids were so patient just waiting for the big moment.  (Actually, Alex was doing his best to pester Grant because there was nothing else to do).

Daddy brought roses for everyone.  It was so great to finally see him!  What a perfect day!

You can read a little about the ship's return here and here (you can see my kids in the corner of the video about a minute and a half into it).

192

192 days have passed since I dropped Shawn off at the pier and we said our goodbyes.  This is a very familiar scene for a lot of women that I know, and it wasn't the first time for me, but frequency of goodbyes doesn't really make enduring them easier.  I'm just glad this adventure is almost over.  I like the reunion part.  Nothing in the world quite compares to the exhilarating feeling of seeing your loved one after a long period of time.  I imagine our reunions with our loved ones in Heaven will be filled with the same delight.....only better. 

With just a couple of weeks left, I have been reflecting on the last 192 days of my life.  Truthfully, there are lots of things I just can't remember, but here are a few of the highlights:

Nora turned 4 years old.
I turned 26.
I took all 4 kids on a 7 hour trip to visit my in-laws.
My brother left on a mission to Houston TX.
I watched my little baby struggle and struggle to eat enough, and gave up trying to be his sole source of nourishment.  That was tough.  I think he finally weighs 15 lbs!
I've enjoyed watching my kids grow closer and older.  I'd still have them all close together if I had to do it again. 
I left all 4 of my kids with a wonderful friend and went to Youth Conference so my sweet YW wouldn't have to go without a leader.  I found a renewed sense of purpose while I was with these girls and I hope the last few months I get to spend with them will be good for all of us.
It was really hard to leave my kids behind, but they survived-and so did I.
I have mastered the art of shopping with total chaos.  Unfortunately, this does not include couponing at the same time :(
I have been blessed time and time again by loving friends and neighbors.  I'll never pay it back, but maybe I'll have the chance to pay it forward.
I've learned that even though I love a little quiet time, I still don't love to be alone.
I have learned that you can still be the legs your spouse stands on, even if you aren't on the same side of the world.
I've learned that it's ok if everything isn't perfect all the time.  It's even ok if everything is a disaster all the time.  Everything is really ok.
I appreciate my parents more.
I appreciate my in-laws more too.
I probably have the best kids ever born ;)

Come back soon.  I just might have some great homecoming pictures :)

Lots going on

What a quick year it has been for our family.  Sam is already 6 months old and this deployment is at least 2/3rds of the way through (though I technically don't know the date of return, so we may have more to go than I think).  Truth be told, I'm not really sure what I have been doing the last few months.  Perhaps it is to be expected.  I have a lot of great days, great weeks, I just can't seem to remember them.

Anyway, here's what is keeping me busy:

Grant....Nora.....Alex.....Sam......Sam.....Sam. 

And that about covers it.  I wouldn't have it any other way (oh wait, I wouldn't necessarily mind having my favorite extra set of hands around to help play with the kids, otherwise everything is practically perfect).  My church assignment is good.  It really makes me appreciate what I had when I was a youth.  Teenagers are tough, and terrific.  Recently I took on a new project of my own, and I have been collecting gently used things for a woman who had quadruplets!  Her story broke my heart and before I knew it, a project was underway and I couldn't stop.  It must be so fun for my family to live with my chaotic mental state all the time :)

ONE last thing I haven't mentioned is that we are moving in about 6 months.  I can't believe we've been here for 3 1/2 years already.  I'm not completely ready for the change yet, so I probably won't mention this again until after we get settled in.  Our new destination: Colorado Springs.

Has it really been 4 months?

This poor blog has taken a back seat ever since January (perhaps even before).  My days whiz by and tend to feel all the same.  I have a fairly legitimate excuse.  One which I like to think of as 'life experience through unwanted separation'.  No complaints-no excuses today.  It is time for an update. 

Sam is 5.5 months old.  He weighs under 14 lbs, and is 2 little feet tall.  He is everyone's favorite, but especially Alex.  They are best friends!  He likes to roll, smile, eat, sleep and he's trying to crawl but can't quite get all the necessary muscles working together at the same time.  He'd probably make a fine swimmer if I stuck him in a pool. 

Alex is smack in the middle of age 2 and it shows!  One minute he is angelic and sweet and cooperative, the next minute he is gone.  He likes to pretend everything is a sword, or a gun, or a stick.  B-O-Y!  His favorite thing to do is watch SuperWhy on PBS Kids.  He loves the alphabet!

Nora turned 4 in February and is such a big girl.  Everything is pink, princess, and girly girly girly!  My favorite thing is when she stops doing any particular activity and runs into the kitchen to draw a picture.  She will draw for hours and I'm thrilled that someone in this household can easily entertain themselves.  What a doll.

Grant is terrific.  I can't believe he will be 6 in just a few months.  He loves to read anything he can get his hands on, and writes great stories to give me.  When he isn't helping someone get into trouble, or sending them to do one of his curious tricks, he is helping clean up around the house (including changing diapers-scary), drawing pictures of castles and robots, and wrestling with Alex.  His latest favorite activity is feeding Sam his bottles (I like that activity too!)  Homeschooling him in 'kindergarten' has been much easier and much more fun than I anticipated, and he doesn't seem to be doing too bad ;)  I can't wait for next year.

I'm doing great.  Our latest family news is that we are moving sometime before the end of the year (but who knows--it could be the last day of the year).  It will be a big change in scenery for us!  I'm not quite ready to leave, so I won't mention it again until it happens.

I'll be back soon....

I am embarrassed to admit it, but for some reason, my brain is stuck somewhere in the month of February.  I have great pictures, silly stories, and other such nonsense that you may/may not find remotely interesting.  I'll get around to sharing soon.  Come back soon and just maybe there will be something to read ;)

No, it isn't my anniversary.....

I just thought I'd share a little something that makes my heart glad.  This was a long time ago (considering I've only been around for 26 years).

Farewell and good luck!

This is my little brother, Matthew.  We're exactly 6 years and 364 days apart.  He is one of my heroes.  He's beaten some pretty steep odds against him.  He rocks on the piano.  He's not a bad singer (ahem...he has perfect pitch.)  There have been many, MANY times in my childhood that I was blessed to serve him, and was then served by him.  Now he's all grown up and going on a mission, tomorrow.  The good people of Texas will be taught the gospel of Jesus Christ by him.  Good luck little brother.  I'll be missing you.  I love you.

Growing up??

This post is a little long.  I'm in a thoughtful-ish mood.  Feel free to ignore my ramblings....

If you know me, (or my daughter), you know I am a little obsessed with growing up.  I guess I thought something magical would happen and I would suddenly feel like a grown up and the world would be a wonerful place.  And then it happened.  I grew up.  Not in the 'I am legal now and can do basically whatever I want' sense, but rather in the 'I am and adult now and I have work to do and responsibilities now' sense.  My growing up experience has been far different than I could have imagined, and different than a lot of my peers.  I don't remember what I always wanted as a kid, but I am sure this wasn't it.  Don't get me wrong.  I'm happy, and I'd make most of my same choices over again.  On to the point of this post.  I have been thinking about the things I have 'given up' during the process of my growing.  (read: parenting)

I don't practice the piano.  Ever.  I used to play for HOURS everyday.  Now there is no time to play.
I don't sing much anymore unless there is a little person singing along with me.
Don't dance much either.  Unless you count playing on the wii fit.  I don't count that.
I like to read--but have a hard time squeezing that in.
Used to crochet, now I occasionally knit a dish cloth.
I don't really sew.  Well, I never really did that before.  At least, I was never really good at it.
I used to love watching movies.  I still enjoy watching movies, I just don't do it.

Ok, that sounded a little sorry.  I enjoy life.  I think I have had a major shift in perspective and responsibility as well which has required the giving up of some things.  Now I find there are new things I want/have to focus on.  Such as:

Fitness, health, nutrition.  I even have an awesome friend (married to a service member) that I plan to run a 5k with in the Spring.
Education.  At least for my kids.  This definitely consumes a lot of my time in planning, preparing, cutting, pasting, coloring, laminating.....probably unneccesary, but at least a little fun.
Food.  I really like when Shawn is home.  He enjoys cooking.  I don't so much, but I like to bake and am willing to cook.  I'm currently the staff cook at my house.  Unfortunately, my kids aren't too interested in fish.  Or beans. 
Laundry.  I like clean clothes.  I just don't like putting them away.  For some reason, I worry a lot about this topic, so I guess it can be classified as a current interest.

What have you 'given up'?  Have you found a way to bring your hobbies into your family life?  Do share :)  

Update-Short on words

Its  been a busy month. 

Nora turned 4.

I turned 26.

We've been sick, we've been healthy.

My 'pirate hunter' has been gone a month-only 5 to go.

Sam started to coo and gurgle.

(She fell asleep like this)

(He isn't asleep)

Last Chance...

In case you haven't left your email, this is it. I am going private on Friday, Feb 19th.

Let it snow!

*Still going private in case you haven't left your email address yet*

Going....going....

Private. Yup. If you know me, my fam, or at least what my hubby does, you know how important it is for me to keep my family safe. If you are a regular reader of my senseless writings, leave me your email address.

If I didn't already know....

SAM

ALEX

SAM

ALEX

NORA

GRANT

NORA

GRANT

I might not be able to figure it out...

Can you?

Grant likes to........

Build things, tie things, climb things

Nora likes to...... A LOT!!!

Sam likes to.....

BUT then Alex comes along and he likes to....

(help?)

Which sometimes makes Sam.....

I think they'll get along great!

Being Prepared

In light of the recent crisis in Haiti, I have found myself wondering if I am prepared to survive a disaster. The answer is no. I wish it were yes. A few years back I served in our ward Relief Society as emergency preparedness specialist and was smart enough to save some great documents. I thought I'd share one for anyone who has a hard time (like me) getting 72 hour kits together. You can read it here. If you are totally on the ball and are ready for anything, I wouldn't mind hearing your secrets.

BTW: Pictures of the little ones coming soon...