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Wednesday, July 20, 2011

The Terrible Trifecta

Holy Cow Crap Batman.  I have been hit with the Terrible Trifecta!!!!

Número Ono - It is just stupid hot outside.  I don't feel like subjecting myself or my children to the nasty heat out there.   I heard on the news that city officials do not want people to water their lawns.  They want us to save on water consumption.  Great!  
Photo by Jesse Bikman

Número Dos - My sinuses are not cooperating.  My head feels like it is about to explode.  Not only is snot dripping from my nose, but from all three of my kiddos noses as well.  Great!
Photo by Cjaureque


Número Tres - Aunt Flow is visiting.  In other words, I am PMSing!  Just to top this (insert sarcasm here) wonderful trifecta off.  Welcome home hunny!  Enough said about that. Great!
Photo by Mike Licht



This trifecta could stop anytime now.  I would greatly appreciate it.

Sincerely,
Me

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Sweaty Blessings with Absence

Last week was interesting to say the least. My hubby left on Saturday to go on a missions trip.  This is the first time I have had all 3 of my lovelies all by myself for more than a full day. I do not envy single parents with multiple children. I have a ton of respect for those raising their children on their own. Whether it is for life or for just a time. I was beat. When I put the kiddies to bed, I put myself to bed too. I have never hit the coffee pot more frequently.
So trying to get places on time have been so hard. My eldest just does not see the urgency. Starting with Sunday. It was my first full day of just me and the kids. And wow, I don't think I have ever been so stressed out. I didn't think that Sunday's are supposed to be stressful. Trying to get out the door with all three kids on time, to the church, in the door, drop off each kiddo to their class, and get through the door on time proved to be stressful and exhausting!  By the time I sat down I was sweating. Ew. Sweating in church. Blah. When I got home, I decided I wanted to call my hubby and tell him to get his tail back home ASAP. That's what I wanted to do. Instead what I really did was fix lunch and make everyone lay down for a long nap, including myself. I am pretty sure my kids were tired of watching me run around like a crazy lady. Because we all went to sleep pretty quick.
Monday I locked us all up inside the house and decided not to move. Plus there was a heat advisory out there that I, in no way, wanted to participate in.  But oh no...I forgot that I have to somehow get my son to his 2nd ever Tae Kwon Do class ON TIME with twin girls in tow by myself.  Hmmm...  I love Master Yoo's Tae Kwon Do School and the instructors, BUT the space is super tight and limited to those watching their children learn to punch, kick and say HI YA.

 So just imagine me trying to get my son in the door, get his shoes off, pick up his attendance card, all while arm wrestling two car seats with not-so-light-anymore girls.  Sweating...again.  And we were late to class.  sigh.
Tuesday I was a little more on-top of things.  I knew that later in the week my dad wanted my son to go spend some time with him and to attend his church's VBS program.  HALLELUJAH!!!  So I had to get my boy to another class with Master Yoo.  In the middle of my preparations for the day, I got a phone call from my pastors wifey.  She said she wanted to come and watch my kids for me.  WHAT?  Watch MY kids for ME?  She said her week was pretty busy, but she really wanted to help me out.  So we planned for Thursday morning, so that I could go grocery shopping and maybe hit up Starbucks by.my.self.  (who has RARELY heard of doing things by.my.self in the last 4 years).  After being all hopped up on excitement for my by.my.self. Thursday morning, I got everyone in our ride and over to Master Yoo's ON TIME!  whooo hooo mark one up for momma!  I still ended up sweating by the time I sat down with the girls to watch my son get another strip of tape on his little white belt. but darn it, I made it on time.  This was good sweat.  When I went to bed that night I checked my messages and found one from my cousin who lives up north of us.  She offered to watch the girls so that I could take my son to the zoo where they live!  WHAT? Really?  Yes, please!  
Wednesday was AWESOME!  We took our little road trip up north and my son and I had a blast at the zoo.  I am pretty sure the girls loved spending time with their cousins, because they got loads of attention and lovin's.  Sure my son and I were super sweaty after walking around in the hot sun all day, but it was worth it!

Thursday couldn't have been any sweeter.  My pastor's wife and their youngest daughter came and took over the house for me.  I ran out of the house with my breakfast in hand and scarfed it down on the way to Costco.  Unfortunately, I wanted to get so much done in a short amount of time that I once again found myself getting sweaty


Friday I just hung out with my girls until it was time for me to go to work.  My mother in-law graciously agreed to coming and staying with the girls after she got off of work.  


Saturday I got up early and went to work again with my mother in-law watching the girls.  The rest of the day was spent cleaning and relaxing.  
Sunday was a big day.  I had to get up to my dad's church to watch my son's VBS performance.  And I had to pack everything I would need for the girls for the entire day.  So I got up early again and got everything in the car, got myself ready, the girls ready, breakfast down the hatches, and on the road.  ON TIME!  Whew.  I thought, for an easily distracted 4 year old, my son did a great job with his songs and the motions to the VBS songs.  


Afterwards there was a carry-in lunch that was fantastic.  We rested a bit at my dad's and then went up to snap a few pictures of my grandmother's RV that she wants to sell.  Then we headed to my brother's for dinner.  While waiting to eat, we all took turns riding or driving the go-kart they have.  I think I swallowed a bug.  Before I knew it, it was way past time to get home.  I knew that I would be super busy on Monday, preparing the house for dadda's arrival.  


Monday was the day that dadda was coming home and we were all excited!  We were going to pick him up at 4 pm.  I got the message that he just landed and then shortly after that, I got a phone call that the airline had lost their whole groups luggage!  Grrrr.  You would think after paying so much stinkin' money to fly that they could at the very least not lose your luggage.  I mean, what is up with paying for your luggage, if they are just going to lose it?  So the 4 pm arrival time turned into more close to 5 pm.  But nevertheless we were still just as excited to have the absence of the head of the house once more filled.  I have never been so happy to see my hubby with the exception of on our wedding day.  I loved watching our son jump into his arms and get a huge hug and kisses.  


I could have been bitter that my hubby was leaving me and our 3 kids for a little over a week.  But I didn't have time.  What with getting sweaty taking care of three kids and being showered with blessing from friends and family.  I really think that absence makes the heart (and my headaches) grow fonder. 

Monday, July 11, 2011

Last Minute Fun

I feel like the Fourth of July snuck up on me this year.  I have been consumed with all kinds of other things in life, that we didn't really make any plans for celebrating our countries Independence Day.  The weekend before we got together with some friends and watched a parade in a neighboring town and had a cookout afterwards.  It is so fun to get together with people you truly enjoy spending time with and getting to know better and better.  So it wasn't until Saturday that my hubbs and I finally decided that we wanted to do something on the 4th.  Talk about last minute.  When we were camp directors in Alaska we didn't get to really celebrate the 4th because we had camp going on and we were running around like chickens.  Heads fully attached, just running around.  Plus we wouldn't have been able to see the fireworks anyway.  It would have been still daylight in Alaska.  And daytime fireworks are just not the same.  So for 3 years we haven't celebrated the 4th.
Being in a new town we had no idea what kind of fun there was to be had.  But they have a app for that...okay maybe not, but they have a pretty sweet website that tells you just about everything you need to know about what is going on for Carmelfest, as it is called.  So we called the parents and some family members and asked if they would like to join us at the parade on the 4th where we live.  And sure enough we had some takers.
So after church, on the 3rd, we decided to check everything out.  Wow.  What a day.  We walked from our house down the bike trail to the city center.  It was quite a walk, but we need the exercise. There was a fantastic Kid's Zone filled with rides and games for kids of all ages.  Our son got his picture taken by the local newspaper at the Paddle boat area.
 There were all the deep fried  and ice cream fair food stands and of course the booths of homemade goodies and political campaigns.  I really enjoyed a booth called Retro Café Art Gallery.  She had an assortment of necklaces and rings for sale.  I was drawn to the vintage typewriter keys and the resin necklaces with letters and little sayings.  I ended up getting a necklace that says "Keep calm and carry on".  A good reminder for me.  ;-)  

By the time we got home EVERYONE was EXHAUSTED and SWEATY! But what a great family day!

On the fourth.  We took in the parade with my dad and my hubby's parents.  I staked our claim for our parade viewing area the night before. I had noticed when I went to the grocery store, the night before the parade, that people were placing their chairs out along the parade route.  I thought holy cow!  Already!  So I followed suit and did the same.  And I am glad I did!  We had great seats and the people around us were great too!  I would say this parade was one of the best I have seen for a small town.  I couldn't help but get a little choked up when a piece of the World Trade Centers came rolling by on a decorated semi bed.  And flashbacks came to me of where I was when that horrible, life altering, tragedy occurred.  


I loved how everyone who could stand did so and applauded anytime anyone or anything passed by that had to do with our Vets or those currently serving.  

Of course the girls enjoyed themselves too! 

We then got to go home with our family and have a very nice and relaxing lunch!

How was your festive fourth?


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