3 Kids + 1 crowded van + 3 DVD players (HALLELUJAH!) + several boxes of granola bars and fruit snacks + 1 mommy (Daddy will fly up later due to work) = 1 wonderful trip to Wisconsin (I hope!!!!)
During this Christmas season I pray that we will all remember Jesus not only as the lowly baby in the manger, but also as our risen, glorified Savior. May God richly bless your family this Christmas season and throughout the coming year!
Love and blessings,
Laura
P.S. I'll be back on the blog by mid-January.
Showing posts with label vacation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vacation. Show all posts
Friday, December 19, 2008
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Vacation Pics - Finally! (part 1)
Finally - here are some pics from our trip to Canada! Sorry it took so long!
We had a wonderful vacation, despite the weather being cold (low to mid 60's!) and rainy almost the entire week! Obviously, I snapped a bazillion pics on the one sunny, warm day we had.
Despite the rain, it was so much fun simply to be together. We played a lot of games like Mexican Train Dominoes and Rook. In Rook, I usually end up playing on a team with my nephew, who has a habit of taking the bid with absolutely nothing in his hand. Somehow, he always wins!
It is amazing how well Hubby's family gets along, even in close quarters. They always treat one another with so much respect. I enjoy being a part of them!
We took many cold rides on the fishing boat. Pete and Drama Queen had a ball, but Screech got so tired due to her erratic and poor sleeping during the trip. During one meltdown I said, "Aw, honey, what's the matter?" Screech bawled, "I need new batteries!!!"
She had her precious moments as well. It was overcast most of the time, but one day as we were returning to the dock some streams of sunlight burst through a break in the clouds. Screech exclaimed, "Look, Mommy! A window!"
Screech and Pete absolutely loved being with their extended family. Princess and Drama Queen are only 2 years apart and get along beautifully. Pete loved wrestling with and being tickled by Uncle D.
More pics to come soon! I look forward to sharing about how I drove all the way from Georgia to Milwaukee (and back!) with the three kids by myself!
They. Were. Angels. (Really!)
We had a wonderful vacation, despite the weather being cold (low to mid 60's!) and rainy almost the entire week! Obviously, I snapped a bazillion pics on the one sunny, warm day we had.
Despite the rain, it was so much fun simply to be together. We played a lot of games like Mexican Train Dominoes and Rook. In Rook, I usually end up playing on a team with my nephew, who has a habit of taking the bid with absolutely nothing in his hand. Somehow, he always wins!
It is amazing how well Hubby's family gets along, even in close quarters. They always treat one another with so much respect. I enjoy being a part of them!
We took many cold rides on the fishing boat. Pete and Drama Queen had a ball, but Screech got so tired due to her erratic and poor sleeping during the trip. During one meltdown I said, "Aw, honey, what's the matter?" Screech bawled, "I need new batteries!!!"
She had her precious moments as well. It was overcast most of the time, but one day as we were returning to the dock some streams of sunlight burst through a break in the clouds. Screech exclaimed, "Look, Mommy! A window!"
Screech and Pete absolutely loved being with their extended family. Princess and Drama Queen are only 2 years apart and get along beautifully. Pete loved wrestling with and being tickled by Uncle D.
More pics to come soon! I look forward to sharing about how I drove all the way from Georgia to Milwaukee (and back!) with the three kids by myself!
They. Were. Angels. (Really!)
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Mess of the Day # 21 and #22 : Art Supplies
I am so sorry that I haven't posted since I got back from my vacation. I have been having some health issues that started while I was on vacation, and it has been incredibly hard for me to get caught up on everything. (To give you an inkling of how it's been going, I still have not completely unpacked and cleaned out the van and we've been home since July 15!) I'd rather not go into detail on what's been going on with me, but I promise, it's nothing serious! The issues are not resolved 100%, but I'm feeling MUCH better. Actually, the side effects of some medications I was on were worse than anything, and thankfully I'm done with all of those!
I will post about my vacation - which was WONDERFUL, BTW! - another time, because I haven't felt like uploading all the pictures, etc. (I have so many that I need to find a website where I can share entire photo albums.) In the meantime, I want to share some sweet and funny things that the kids have done and said recently.
At one point, while I was on several medications and felt SO bad because I had been unable to sleep for several nights in a row, I got really depressed. (This was also partly due to a side effect of one of the medications.) Everything was getting to me: I was laying around all day and watching the house get trashed while I did nothing about it; the laundry was piling higher and higher; I didn't feel like playing with the kids; and everything was falling further and further behind. I was also bummed because I had huge plans to complete several projects around the house after we got back and before we started school, and of course they haven't been touched. I felt like I had been robbed of my summer. I told myself that I was a horrible mother because my kids were stuck at home all day with a slug of a mom who laid in bed 24/7. I commented to Drama Queen, "Honey, I'm so sorry that I haven't felt like playing. I wish I could do something special with you, but I just don't feel like it. I will as soon as I'm feeling better." She replied, "Oh, Mommy, we're already doing something special. We're together everyday!"
I bawled my eyes out. What a blessing she is!
Pete has been so helpful. When I was feeling my worst, I tried not to rely too much on Drama Queen. It would be so easy to do that because she is so responsible, but I have to remind myself that she got that way partly because she has been given so much responsibility. So, I try hard to give Pete the same opportunities. He felt like such a big shot the day I let him fix lunch all by himself! He has also been great about entertaining Screech.
Screech was actually pretty good on my worst days. It was simply a matter of slogging through until lunchtime, after which I could put her to bed and enjoy a 2-3 hour respite. (God has showered me with blessings in this regard; all of my kids have been excellent sleepers and nappers!) She did manage to get into a few things, though. There was more to get into because Drama Queen and Pete weren't putting things away (and I wasn't up to making sure that they did). Here is her latest handiwork:
I would like to personally thank the people who invented Magic Erasers, as well as the people who invented washable paint, crayons and markers! I don't even allow non-washable art supplies in the house anymore. I have a few Sharpies and permanent markers, but they are well hidden. Even Hubby, Drama Queen and Pete don't know where they are!
I'm going to try to get back into the blogging groove this week. Talk to you again soon!
I will post about my vacation - which was WONDERFUL, BTW! - another time, because I haven't felt like uploading all the pictures, etc. (I have so many that I need to find a website where I can share entire photo albums.) In the meantime, I want to share some sweet and funny things that the kids have done and said recently.
At one point, while I was on several medications and felt SO bad because I had been unable to sleep for several nights in a row, I got really depressed. (This was also partly due to a side effect of one of the medications.) Everything was getting to me: I was laying around all day and watching the house get trashed while I did nothing about it; the laundry was piling higher and higher; I didn't feel like playing with the kids; and everything was falling further and further behind. I was also bummed because I had huge plans to complete several projects around the house after we got back and before we started school, and of course they haven't been touched. I felt like I had been robbed of my summer. I told myself that I was a horrible mother because my kids were stuck at home all day with a slug of a mom who laid in bed 24/7. I commented to Drama Queen, "Honey, I'm so sorry that I haven't felt like playing. I wish I could do something special with you, but I just don't feel like it. I will as soon as I'm feeling better." She replied, "Oh, Mommy, we're already doing something special. We're together everyday!"
I bawled my eyes out. What a blessing she is!
Pete has been so helpful. When I was feeling my worst, I tried not to rely too much on Drama Queen. It would be so easy to do that because she is so responsible, but I have to remind myself that she got that way partly because she has been given so much responsibility. So, I try hard to give Pete the same opportunities. He felt like such a big shot the day I let him fix lunch all by himself! He has also been great about entertaining Screech.
Screech was actually pretty good on my worst days. It was simply a matter of slogging through until lunchtime, after which I could put her to bed and enjoy a 2-3 hour respite. (God has showered me with blessings in this regard; all of my kids have been excellent sleepers and nappers!) She did manage to get into a few things, though. There was more to get into because Drama Queen and Pete weren't putting things away (and I wasn't up to making sure that they did). Here is her latest handiwork:
I would like to personally thank the people who invented Magic Erasers, as well as the people who invented washable paint, crayons and markers! I don't even allow non-washable art supplies in the house anymore. I have a few Sharpies and permanent markers, but they are well hidden. Even Hubby, Drama Queen and Pete don't know where they are!
I'm going to try to get back into the blogging groove this week. Talk to you again soon!
Monday, June 30, 2008
Wish You Were Here!
Well, we've made it to our first stop, my younger brother's house in KY. Having a great time!
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Here's Why You Haven't Heard from Me Much Lately:
Whew! I am worn out! I am taking a break from packing in order to print some maps and directions, but I decided that my brain needed a break as well! (: Drama Queen had her birthday party today, which was loosely based on a luau theme. She and her 15 buddies had a ball. (Yes, I know that's a lot, but it's so hard to choose who not to come when she has so many friends.) There were many more that were not able to come. Here are a few highlights:
Playing "Fish, Fish, Shark" (Duck, Duck Goose):
Playing a fun relay game:
For Lunch - Octopus Dogs:
(I know they look gross all tangled up together, but they looked cute on the plates!)
Okay, this REALLY looks gross. It was supposed to look like an aquarium. I think it better resembles a lake that has been used as an illegal dump for radioactive waste. The Finding Nemo fruit snacks swelled up and looked a little grotesque. Oh well. The kids liked it!
We had so many girls that we had to put them in two separate rooms:
Okay, I know Disney princesses don't technically go with a luau theme, but here's how you take advantage of a bargain (7 bucks!):
Finally, those who know me in real life will get a kick out of this mistake the bakery made on Drama Queen's cookie cake (I didn't bother to look at it when I picked it up):
Well, tomorrow we're off on a whirlwind trip! We are so excited. We have rented cabins in Canada with Hubby's family and we're going to spend a week together fishing, swimming, and just hanging out. The kids and I are taking the scenic route so we can visit family along the way, then Hubby will fly up and meet us.
Y'all, I have worked SO hard packing for this trip. You have no idea. I used to be terribly disorganized and almost always ended up pulling an all-nighter any time we went somewhere. This time HAD to be different, due to the sheer amount of stuff we need. You'd be so proud of me. I had the kids' clothes packed a week ago! I have been organizing, doing some serious laundry, making lists, and setting things aside to pack. (All the while planning the luau party to boot.) I was feeling pretty smug and proud of myself, until something came along and did THIS to me:
I had no idea that a little old wasp sting could cause so much pain! I've been stung before, but it was always a non-issue. I never had a reaction like this before. My arm has felt like it was in a vise due to muscle cramping, and the pain has kept me up for two nights straight. (Think of the feeling you get when you get a tetanus shot, then multiply it by a factor of, say, 1000.) I had to go to the doctor to get an antibiotic for infection. It has made it hard to lift or even move my arm, so it has been so hard to finish packing. The trip to the doctor and naps to make up for the loss of sleep haven't done much to help me accomplish anything, either.
So, here I am again, staying up late to get ready for a trip. At least it's not my fault this time!
I will probably not be back on the blog for nearly 3 weeks. I look forward to posting pics of our trip and telling you all about it when I get back!
Playing "Fish, Fish, Shark" (Duck, Duck Goose):
Playing a fun relay game:
For Lunch - Octopus Dogs:
(I know they look gross all tangled up together, but they looked cute on the plates!)
Okay, this REALLY looks gross. It was supposed to look like an aquarium. I think it better resembles a lake that has been used as an illegal dump for radioactive waste. The Finding Nemo fruit snacks swelled up and looked a little grotesque. Oh well. The kids liked it!
We had so many girls that we had to put them in two separate rooms:
Okay, I know Disney princesses don't technically go with a luau theme, but here's how you take advantage of a bargain (7 bucks!):
Finally, those who know me in real life will get a kick out of this mistake the bakery made on Drama Queen's cookie cake (I didn't bother to look at it when I picked it up):
Well, tomorrow we're off on a whirlwind trip! We are so excited. We have rented cabins in Canada with Hubby's family and we're going to spend a week together fishing, swimming, and just hanging out. The kids and I are taking the scenic route so we can visit family along the way, then Hubby will fly up and meet us.
Y'all, I have worked SO hard packing for this trip. You have no idea. I used to be terribly disorganized and almost always ended up pulling an all-nighter any time we went somewhere. This time HAD to be different, due to the sheer amount of stuff we need. You'd be so proud of me. I had the kids' clothes packed a week ago! I have been organizing, doing some serious laundry, making lists, and setting things aside to pack. (All the while planning the luau party to boot.) I was feeling pretty smug and proud of myself, until something came along and did THIS to me:
I had no idea that a little old wasp sting could cause so much pain! I've been stung before, but it was always a non-issue. I never had a reaction like this before. My arm has felt like it was in a vise due to muscle cramping, and the pain has kept me up for two nights straight. (Think of the feeling you get when you get a tetanus shot, then multiply it by a factor of, say, 1000.) I had to go to the doctor to get an antibiotic for infection. It has made it hard to lift or even move my arm, so it has been so hard to finish packing. The trip to the doctor and naps to make up for the loss of sleep haven't done much to help me accomplish anything, either.So, here I am again, staying up late to get ready for a trip. At least it's not my fault this time!
I will probably not be back on the blog for nearly 3 weeks. I look forward to posting pics of our trip and telling you all about it when I get back!
Monday, March 24, 2008
Easter Fun
Screech's Easter egg coloring method:
1) Dip.
2) Lick.
3) Repeat as many times as possible until
Mommy takes it away.
4) Scream. Loudly.
2) Lick.
3) Repeat as many times as possible until
Mommy takes it away.
4) Scream. Loudly.
Our Easter was spent in Pigeon Forge this year. We went mainly for a Bible Conference but managed to do a lot of fun touristy things as well. Everyone had so much fun!
Drama Queen laughing at The Comedy Barn. She got to go on stage!
Pete enjoyed squirting Drama Queen (and many unsuspecting spectators)! Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Christmas Firsts
Here are a few pics from our Christmas trip to Arizona:
Fun on the plane (gotta love Dollar Tree!)The noses blinked and were a big hit!
SUGAR!!!!!! WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!(Hey, at least it kept her happy!)
Screech finally put on her antlers and nose.(That's candy stick residue all over my top!)
This was her first time flying. She did great! Almost no tears!
(Last time I flew, I was pregnant with her. I was 36 weeks along and everyone was really nervous! I had to get permission from my doctor to fly.)
This was her first time flying. She did great! Almost no tears!
(Last time I flew, I was pregnant with her. I was 36 weeks along and everyone was really nervous! I had to get permission from my doctor to fly.)
This pic was taken in my "in-loves" (in-laws') neighborhood.Screech laughed and called these "silly trees"!
American Girl fever has struck our household.Here is a very happy Drama Queen with Molly.
Persnickety Pete went to his first football game with Uncle Dennis.The Arizona Cardinals played the Atlanta Falcons, and Arizona won.
Pete had a blast!
Our family put on a Christmas Eve concert at my in-loves' church. My kids are pictured here with cousin Princess. The little ones (minus Screech, who sat with me and was chain-fed cookies and granola bars) sang "Away in a Manger" together. It was a big deal for Pete to sing; in the past he refused to participate. Drama Queen sang a very sweet solo. My favorite part was when she played a violin duet with her daddy.
After the Christmas Eve service, we gorged on Aunt Denise's cookies, a yearly tradition. I believe there were 23 different kinds of cookies and candy! I made the Fairy Food (AKA sponge candy, angel food, sea foam, honeycomb, or hot air candy). It is HARD to make, but I love the challenge! Hubby and his family are crazy about the stuff.
Screech finally conked out after all that eating!
On the trip back, Screech fell asleep minutes before takeoff. She slept quite awhile and was content in Daddy's arms for the entire flight. No tears!
We had a wonderful time. I especially enjoyed playing Rook with the family. My in-loves are precious! We all get along so great. It's amazing, even when we're all cooped up in a tiny house, no one seems to get on anyone else's nerves. They are a wonderful, godly family and I have learned so much from them.
Overall, our trip went really smoothly. Getting through the airport on the way back, though, was tough. I didn't realize it until I went through security but I had lost my driver's license. This of course meant that I was a terrorist. (Even the pic on my VISA check card wouldn't count.) I got the whole enchilada - I was patted down, they went through my purse with a fine-tooth comb, and they strip-searched me and sent me through the x-ray machine. (Okay, I'm kidding on that last one. But it felt like it.) I felt REALLY stupid because we bought some extra snacks for the plane which included some Capri-Sun pouches, which of course had to be thrown away. Then when I got to the gate and the guy got ready to scan my ticket, he said that I had to go through the whole security bit again because they had failed to punch my ticket. (I was ready to punch more than a ticket by this point.) Thankfully, someone in security remembered me so I didn't have to go through it all over again. (Hey, aren't you the idiot terrorist lady who tried to bring a bunch of explosives disguised as drinks on the plane?)
I'm sorry, but I've got to vent about the Atlanta airport. After we landed, we were in a hurry to get to baggage claim because it was so far from the gates that we had to take a subway. We knew that by the time we got there our stuff would already be on the carousel and we were worried about things getting stolen. We don't know the layout of the airport very well, so we followed the signs to baggage claim. A few of the signs were COMPLETELY in Spanish with NO English anywhere to be seen. If it weren't for the little picture of the suitcase, we wouldn't have known where to go. I. WAS. LIVID. If I had landed in Mexico or Spain I would have expected this, but THIS IS AMERICA! I know that many people and businesses have chosen to cater to Spanish-speaking people by putting Spanish translations underneath the English in signs, but making signs completely in Spanish in an English-speaking country is RIDICULOUS!
Okay. My little tantrum is over now. I feel much better, thank you.
Screech finally conked out after all that eating!
On the trip back, Screech fell asleep minutes before takeoff. She slept quite awhile and was content in Daddy's arms for the entire flight. No tears!We had a wonderful time. I especially enjoyed playing Rook with the family. My in-loves are precious! We all get along so great. It's amazing, even when we're all cooped up in a tiny house, no one seems to get on anyone else's nerves. They are a wonderful, godly family and I have learned so much from them.
Overall, our trip went really smoothly. Getting through the airport on the way back, though, was tough. I didn't realize it until I went through security but I had lost my driver's license. This of course meant that I was a terrorist. (Even the pic on my VISA check card wouldn't count.) I got the whole enchilada - I was patted down, they went through my purse with a fine-tooth comb, and they strip-searched me and sent me through the x-ray machine. (Okay, I'm kidding on that last one. But it felt like it.) I felt REALLY stupid because we bought some extra snacks for the plane which included some Capri-Sun pouches, which of course had to be thrown away. Then when I got to the gate and the guy got ready to scan my ticket, he said that I had to go through the whole security bit again because they had failed to punch my ticket. (I was ready to punch more than a ticket by this point.) Thankfully, someone in security remembered me so I didn't have to go through it all over again. (Hey, aren't you the idiot terrorist lady who tried to bring a bunch of explosives disguised as drinks on the plane?)
I'm sorry, but I've got to vent about the Atlanta airport. After we landed, we were in a hurry to get to baggage claim because it was so far from the gates that we had to take a subway. We knew that by the time we got there our stuff would already be on the carousel and we were worried about things getting stolen. We don't know the layout of the airport very well, so we followed the signs to baggage claim. A few of the signs were COMPLETELY in Spanish with NO English anywhere to be seen. If it weren't for the little picture of the suitcase, we wouldn't have known where to go. I. WAS. LIVID. If I had landed in Mexico or Spain I would have expected this, but THIS IS AMERICA! I know that many people and businesses have chosen to cater to Spanish-speaking people by putting Spanish translations underneath the English in signs, but making signs completely in Spanish in an English-speaking country is RIDICULOUS!
Okay. My little tantrum is over now. I feel much better, thank you.
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