Learning How To Pounce

 I caught Eden playing with Sookie out in the yard the other day.  The cat kept hiding in the grass and then pouncing out on swarms of gnats. 

 She would follow the cat wherever it went and make her little squeaks that I call her "cute noises."  She has tiny, high pitched squeals that she makes whenever she really likes something or thinks it's cute.

I love this one because I caught her imitating the cat.  She crouched down and then pounced out of the grass with her arms up like the cat did when attacking the gnat swarms!  haha!  What a funny girl!

Illini West Homecoming Parade 2012

 The kids all got out of school early at 12:20pm on Friday.  That day I walked up to get the kids from school with Cullen and Eden.  They both loved walking up to school rather than driving.  When the other boys got out though, they were all kinda bummed when there was no car to hop into but, as the walk went on they decided they liked walking home.  Liam and Cullen were very cute and walked home hand in hand.  Asher helped push the stroller for a bit as did Liam.  The times when Liam is very helpful and thoughtful of his younger siblings is really cute.  And Asher too. 

 At 2:30 the Homecoming Parade came through.  I wasn't expecting to much but, I think it was actually better than the Grapefest Feature Parade! lol!  For reals.  The football team took up three fire trucks!  And the band went on forever.  I didn't realize just how big our little school is!  One thing Carthage does right is school pride!! Everyone was out in there blue and orange.  Except for us.....we really need to get to know Carthage better and make it more our home.  Anyway, the Illini West Chargers (Carthage/LaHarpe) were set to play the West Hancock Titans (Nauvoo/Warsaw) for the big homecoming game!  Tristan was torn between teams, lol! 

  Side note:  Before the start of the parade the boys were all hyped up and wouldn't sit still.  Then they kept picking up the dry leaves and crushing them all over each other.  All this would be fine and I would let them do it, if it weren't for all the screaming and yelling that goes with it! haha!  They were seriously so loud and embarrassing at one point that I seriously considered leaving before the parade even started.  Once it got going though, they were pretty good kids.  Like I know they can be.  Jeremy even came out from his store for a bit to watch it with us!  Yay!  

 I've never seen people throw out so much candy too!  Wowzers!  Asher went to sit with one of his friends just past the mailbox in some of his pictures.  He has so many friends wherever we go.  And I like that.  One kid in the parade said: "Asher, take this!"  And he threw a huge handful of candy to Asher!  lol!  I've also heard that Asher has a little admirer at school as well! Too cute!!

Cedric's friend Ara came over and give him and Tristan each a big handful of candy!

 I loved the cheerleaders uniforms!  So cute!  The charger mascot is in there too! 

The boys really liked him...or her! lol

There were lots of floats in the parade but, I liked this one the best!  I think it was the freshman class float.  The little ones liked it a whole lot too.  They both love the movie UP.  Afterwards, we let Tristan and Cedric run around to catch the parade on the later part of the route.  They got some more candy and were pretty pleased with themselves.  haha! 

Made It Through The Night

I survived the night (barely).  I'm tired but, what's new?  I camped out on the couch.  I had all the kids downstairs throughout the night.  Many shushes and be quiets.  Tossing and turning on my couch that isn't nearly as comfortable as I remember.  Oh well.  We did it!!  I realized last night that I can't live without my husband, like ever.  Especially if I'm at home.  I may do better when I am at a hotel or something.  Next time they go camping, I'm checking into a hotel.  Then I won't feel all weird and empty inside I think.
This morning I am ordering potty training books and dvd's.  Cullen does not respond to ANYTHING!  I am seeking all avenues of help.  Potty training is my kryptonite.  My failure in parenting skills.  Don't you think that they would be thrilled to go potty on a toilet!?!?  Don't you think they would look at the whole process as "Awesome, no more crap stuck to my butt!"?  Also, don't you think I would know what I am doing by now?? No, not at all.  I really thought Cullen would just come around one day and be like you know what, I'm gonna pee in that toilet over there...after all I will be four years old in like a week.  Well, that hasn't happened. 

Boys Campout 2012 ~ Part Duex

 Jeremy: Mystery meals are a cookin'. 

I packed them foil dinners and didn't tell them what was in them, lol!

 Jeremy: Fire!

When they first got there this morning, it was still really early and really wet.  Everything was too damp to start a fire.  

 Jeremy: Me!

I told him that I wanted some pictures with him in it. 

Jeremy: Smores, yummy!

 

Jeremy: Campfire food all done.  Not to shabby.

Jeremy: Log cabin fire and smores.

Boys Campout 2012

 Jeremy has been texting me pictures from his phone while they are camping at Argyle Lake State Park!! They left bright and early this morning....it looks like they are having fun!!  I will try to put Jeremy's actual texts in bold.

Jeremy said: Ced found his lunch!  

 I told him that I forgot to pack the hotdogs...

Jeremy said: Well we will have mussels!

 Jeremy said: Skeleton of something.

 Jeremy said: Ced found an old glass canteen, lol

Jeremy said: This place is pretty.

About Last Night

Cullen made me take a picture of everything and everyone last night at supper after I took a picture of the pot pie!! It was funny because he would say "picture me, Mom!"  and then "picture Tristan, Mom!"  and so on and so forth!  LOL!  That kids is really, really sweet!  And we had a really good family dinner last night.  No fighting or screaming at the table.  Everyone enjoyed their food....well, except Cullen but, he enjoyed his applesauce, lol!  I love having the whole family around the table.  My only problem is that my chairs are really heavy.  Don't know what I can do about that though.  These are special times that won't be around forever.  I want to cherish them. 
I just figured that I am looking at the camping trip in the wrong way.  I think I might actually enjoy my time alone here.  I need to change my attitude and perspective.  Not that I didn't want them to go...I do.  I love that they are doing a boys trip.  I think this will be the first of many!  So, I just need to "woman up" (is that even a term?!?!) and do something fun myself!  Yep, now what to do..........

Cedric has his new saxophone.  I need to get a picture of him with it.  He looks so good with it.  And he loves to practice.  And surprisingly I don't mind the practicing!!  I can't wait for him to really get going and start playing music.  He wants to make some youtube videos! I love that kid. 
Tristan came home last night too.  I played Parcheesi with Tristan, Cedric, and Liam after supper.  We made smoothies too. 

I love the picture above because while I was taking pictures, everyone was eating and I looked over at Jeremy and he didn't have his plate loaded yet and he was just kinda staring around with a half smile.  I asked why he wasn't eating and he said oh, I'm just looking around.  But, he told me later that night that he was just enjoying watching his family around the table being content and happy with one another.  AWWW, he loves us all! haha!  Like we didn't already know that but, I love little moments like that.  I love that man of mine and these little people we created.  Life is grand that way!!  Happy Friday, people!!

Homemade Chicken Pot Pie

This was our supper last night.  I had been craving it all day long.  The day was rainy and gloomy and this is one of my favorite comfort foods.  I'm pretty sure given a whole day to accomplish it, I could eat the entire thing!!  Yep, it's that good.  I'm going to start posting recipes in here so I can print them all up later.  With pictures.

Chicken Pot Pie

1 rotisserie chicken (you can get them cold in the grocery store deli now!) take the skin off and get as much meat as you can off it.
1 bag frozen mixed veggies
2 small potatoes, peeled and diced
5 T. butter
1 onion diced
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 black pepper
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
32 oz. carton chicken broth
2/3 cup milk
2 ready made pie crusts (I used pillsbury in the refrigerated section)


Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

In a pot put the chicken broth, chicken, potatoes and frozen veggies.  Cover and boil for 15 minutes.  Remove from heat, drain (reserve 1 and 3/4 cup chicken broth for your filling).

Meantime, in a saucepan over medium heat, cook the onions in butter until soft and translucent.  Stir in the flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder.  Slowly stir in the chicken broth and milk.  simmer over medium heat until thick.  Remove from heat and combine with the chicken and veggie mix. Here you can add more chicken broth if you like depending on how runny or thick you want your filling to be. 

In a deep dish pie dish, put one pie crust along the bottom making sure there are no bubbles, add the pie filling.  Cover with the second pie crust, seal the edges.  Make several slits on the top to allow steam to escape. 
Bake in over for about 20-30 minutes (mine takes 20 in.) depending on your oven.  Or until the pie crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.  Cool for 10 minutes. 

And then fill your tummy to your hearts content!

Small Meltdown

I'm having small moments of pure panic today.  Jeremy and the two oldest boys are planning on heading off to a boys camp-out this weekend.  By themselves.  Can't they camp in the backyard???  No, real camping is required here.  Agh.  I don't do well without a man in the house.  Lately it seems everyone I know has their husbands gone a lot.  My friend Denae has an 11month old and about 7-8 months pregnant with another little boy.  Her husband has been deployed to Afghanistan and they are hoping he is home in time for the birth.  Agh!  There is nothing in the world that would make it okay for me to go into labor and delivery without my husband by my side.  You can't get that moment back.  It's gone forever.  She is alone in Arizona with none of her family close by.  I feel really badly for her and wish I could be there to help.....but, I'm still not her husband.  And I feel badly for him too....can you imagine missing the birth of your child!?!?!?   I would seriously make him quit, lol.  For reals though.  My SIL is in the same boat right now.  Her hubby works on the railroad.  She is due any second with their second baby.  I would literally be curled up in a ball somewhere, hyperventilating.  Kinda like I am now.  But, she seems to handle it pretty well.  I don't know how.  I think she's a much more patient person than me, lol!  Good job, Trisha!  And Denae too!! 
Jeremy and the boys are planning on being gone two nights.  I won't sleep.  I really won't.  I will check all the doors and windows 3,000 times and jump at every noise.  But, me and the other kids are gonna have some fun, I hope.  I have to run to the store this morning for groceries for their camp-out.  I am gonna try to pack them lots of goodies.  I really do want them to have fun.  Really, I do.  Everything will be fine here.  At least I'm not having a baby.  What is there to worry about!?1?  Nothing. Yep, nothing.  I will keep telling myself that all day. 
Once Jeremy had to go to Chicago for an overnight.....by himself.  We both stayed up and tossed and turned all night long.  Him in Chicago.  Me in Nauvoo.  It's just how we work.  Neither one of us like it.  But.....CAMPING IS FUN!! (right?)  I will be fine as long as I keep busy. 

Thursdays Are For Suckers

I'm getting stuck in a rut.  This always happens when school is in session.  I can't do anything and I feel like a fish in a cage?  Bird in a cage?  Horse?  I don't know what the saying is but, whatever it is, that is what I feel like.  And now here I am sitting here worrying about the crazy people trying to abduct children from schools!  Seriously, we have had three phone calls now from the schools warning of the guy in Keokuk and Hamilton in the green minivan and now there is man in a brown car taking pictures of school kids in Ft. Madison!!  WTF!?!?!?  And I got absolutely NO sleep last night.  In between Jeremy snoring and my sweating my brains out, I couldn't take it!  So, I went downstairs to the couch and what do you know my lovely children are up at three in the morning every day.  Only usually I am not on the couch.  Liam was all dressed, shoes, back pack, ate, teeth brush, hair styled, everything.  Good grief!  Then to top it all off, I already am stressed for numerous reasons and I feel like I can't be good enough or do enough for people.  AGH!  And now the rain.  And gloom.  And cold.  Yuck.  So, I will make a homemade chicken pot pie!  Oh, it's gonna be good.  I can't wait.  Tomorrow I am starting a hospital diet for patients that need surgery and have to lose weight before hand....so it is supposed to make you lose 10 pounds in three days.  We'll see about that.  Have a great gloomy day, people!!

UGH

I would rather be stuck in the pits of despair than potty train boys.  I really would.  It is the worst experience ever.  Five boys.  Not one good potty training experience.  Ever.  EVER. 

Tuesday

It is official.  I am running with Tammy in the mornings again starting on Monday.  At 5:30am.  Gotta get back into the swing of things again.  It will be good for me.  I am turning into a depressed slugfest over here.  Today sucked pretty bad.  I  realized after lunch that I had my stinking pants on backwards.  Who does that?  Me.  I did get on Ebay and ship some packages.  And won some auctions! woot!  I love bidding on things on Ebay.  It is such a thrill for me (I'm easily amused).  I thawed out some frozen zuppa tuscana soup I had made last week.  That is another good freezer meal.  Zuppa Tuscana is my favorite soup from Olive Garden.  Mmmmmm, good.  Tonight Cedric and I played Parcheesi and he won!!  Oh yeah, and we watched Tangle three times too.  Yep. 

Sand Sculpture

I made this last night in my sleep.  Yeah, I am awesome.

True Blood Babies

Go ahead, call me insane.  I know.  But, Sookie (Anna Paquin) and Bill (Stephen Moyer) have had their twins!!  I don't know yet if they are boys or girls or one of each or what the names are.  I know I am slightly obsessed.  Stay Calm and Watch True Blood.


The press release from People.com
The True Blood twins have arrived.
“We can confirm that Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer recently welcomed their twins into the world,” reps for the actors tell PEOPLE exclusively.
“The babies were born a few weeks early, but are in good health and both Mom and Dad are overjoyed.”
These are the first children together for Paquin, 30, and Moyer, 42, who were married in August 2010.
Moyer has two children — daughter Lilac, 10, and son Billy, 12 — from previous relationships.
The costars just wrapped their fifth season, with the finale of the hit HBO show airing Aug. 26.

Remebering 9/11

I remember every minute of that day and what I was doing and where I was at.  I was at our first house in Carthage about a month or so after we had moved back from Salt Lake.  Tristan was just barely a month old and I had just made breakfast for him and was putting him in his high chair when my sister Susan called me from her salon and told me to turn on the news.  Scary, scary stuff!  I immediately said some prayers and wished I could talk to Jeremy. We didn't have cell phones at the time and he was at school at Western Illinois University in Macomb.  He heard about it there on campus.  I remember the gas stations being packed and the price of gas skyrocketing.  It was an awful day but united the country in a way I had never seen. 

Vaccines

 My brother, Mike, posted these today via facebook.  As you may know, if you read my blog frequently, is that I am totally against vaccines.  Most of my older children have been vaccinated because when I was a new mom the doctors and hospitals shoved it down your throat and made you feel like a terrible parent if you questioned them and their reasoning.  Tristan is the only one who has ever had the chicken pox shot(varicella) and the dang health department gave it to him without my consent and THREE FRICKING TIMES~!!!  I should have sued the crap right out of them! UGh!  Anyway, when Tristan was first born the chicken pox vaccine had just been introduced and I thought to myself, a vaccine for chicken pox?  Everyone gets the chicken pox and then you are immune to it...why the vaccine?  There were very few cases of people dying from chicken pox.  Still it is shoved down our throats to vaccinate over something that our body can naturally defend against anyway.  That is the way our bodies build immunities. I let the rest of the kids be exposed to the virus and get immunized the natural way.  They all had the pox and got it over with.  The only one that hasn't had it now is Eden and I am trying to figure out how to expose her, lol!  Anyway I wish more people actually did their own research and not just what their doctor tells them.  After all the doctor is making money off of promoting pharmaceutical products.  I feel badly for the kids that are dealing with autism through no fault of their own.

And here (click the word here) is a link to an article (one of  many, many) that is warning us of the dangers.  Most of the articles you find that are pro-vaccination are either government or pharmacy related.  Strange, huh?  They don't want their income to go away, lol!  

Is It Christmas Yet?

I cannot wait to go Christmas shopping!  The Kelley girl shopping trip is one of the things I look forward to every year.  It's something we have done every year since Jeremy and I moved back from Salt Lake City.  It has evolved over the years to different cities and different days but the outcome is always the same.  Some good girl time, good shopping, and EATING!!  lol! 

Teenager On The Loose!

 On Friday Tristin Newpher had a birthday party at his house.  He is turning 13 years old! Crazy!!  We all went over there for supper and dessert.  Tristan couldn't come because he had a Boy Scout camp-out and Cedric couldn't come because he had a party with a friend at school that he had been invited to previously.  But, we showed up with 4 in tow anyway.  We had spaghetti, garlic bread, and salad.  And some trifle for dessert.  At some point in the festivities I heard four distinct thumps and then crying, I knew immediately that Eden had fallen down the basement steps!!! AGH!! Scared the crap right out of me.  It was dark down there too and I couldn't find the lights so I just went down in dark.  I totally expected to find her a broken and bloody mess.  But, to everyone's amazement she was a little bruised on her knee but, nothing else.  We checked her from head to toe and watched her eyes and head closely.  That girl of ours is just a little daredevil and too curious for her own good.  Stinker.  

 Trisha and Josh did money balloons for his present.  Here it is popping and if you click on the pic you can see money and balloon parts flying through the air.  All the kids have really enjoyed the money balloon gift! 
 

 I kept trying to get a picture of him blowing his candles out but he kept coughing into his shirt....literally every time, lol!

 And again.....

And again.....LMAO!!  No worries, we know who it is!  He got to go to a St. Louis cardinals game and glow bowling with his friends too!  Sweet birthday.  Happy Birthday, Tristin!

Eden's Turn!

 When Eden woke up the day that Cullen played with the milk jug she went right out on the deck and started playing.  She had her purse in one hand and the remote to the train in the other!  Then she found the milk jug that Cullen had been playing with and took it directly to her new playhouse and put it on the table! lol! At the same time she answered her pretend phone and shut the door to her house!  Oh, she is so fun to watch play.
In the picture above she is trying to get Sookie to come out from under the deck.  She was crouched down and making her squeak noise that she makes when she thinks something cute.  
 

Later she pushed her baby out in its stroller and played house and stalked Sookie some more. 

Recycled Milk Jug Turned Playtime Miracle

 While Eden was napping sometime last week, I hopped on Pinterest to check my "Fun Stuff For Kids" board for something easy and fun for Cullen to do.  Look at this miracle of wonder!!  Hand crafted by me!!  It a milk jug with holes in the lid!  Yeah, we are that cool! 

 Cullen had so much fun with this!  He played out there for a good hour and half or so.  He knows not to come in the house while he is dripping wet and he waited patiently at the door for a towel too.  It was a really good afternoon because I was able to make some more freezer crock pot meals while he was on the deck.  I love that my kitchen window looks right out there so I can see and hear him. 

On pinterest it said to heat up a needle with a lighter and then poke holes in the lid.  I did not have a needle handy and it seemed a bit ridiculous so I just cut 5 or 6 triangle shaped holes in the lid with a sharp knife.  Easy. 

Patience

I loved this little story because as we all know, I do lack most any patience. A sweet lesson on patience.

A NYC Taxi driver wrote:

I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I honked again. Since this was going to be my last ride of my shift I thought about just driving away, but inst

ead I put the car in park and walked up to the door and knocked.. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.

There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard
box filled with photos and glassware.

'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.

She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her.. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.'

'Oh, you're such a good boy, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, 'Could you drive
through downtown?'

'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly..

'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice.

I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued in a soft voice..'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired.Let's go now'.
We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move.
They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

'How much do I owe you?' She asked, reaching into her purse.

'Nothing,' I said

'You have to make a living,' she answered.

'There are other passengers,' I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug.She held onto me tightly.

'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said. 'Thank you.'

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light.. Behind me, a door shut.It was the sound of the closing of a life..

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day,I could hardly talk.What if that woman had gotten an angry driver,or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.

We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.

But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.