Thankful Thursday

Well I got to wake up to see my husband on webcam this morning and also to hear his voice on the phone. Its been so long. Hes been deployed since Sept and I am so blessed that we have the technology to do that. So today here are the things I feel I am Thankful for.

• I am so very thankful for computers and phones. Not only do they keep us in contact with the ones we love, but I feel blessed to be a military spouse that can see and hear my husband when he is miles away fighting for all of us. I miss him so much, and can't imagine what it was like for all those military families before me that had to wait for only letters from their loved ones. We are so BLESSED these days!
• I am thankful the food we have. So many people out there are with out food or any kind of nutrition. Some can't afford food. Be happy you can eat every day.
• I am thankful for laughter. I love to laugh and I just love the sound of my girls laughing and giggling.
  
• I am thankful for pictures. Because they remind us of those special moments in our lives and we can always go back to remember those times.
  

For more Thankful Thursdays go here.

Wordless Wednesday

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Ok I have to brag

Here is our new Kitchen table, that I put together BY MYSELF!! I just love it. And actually at first I thought "How in the hell am I gonna put this together myself, but when I got started, I was like "Heey, this isn't so bad." LOL But I do have little ones, so I am keeping towels on the chair they sit in, cause I want the material to stay nice, Also I just got a table cover for it tonight. So I am gonna take care of this one. The last one was so old and it wobbled. My oldest says tonight after doing her homework. "Mom its so nice to do homework on a table that doesn't wobble." lol That table was in bad shape, but it was my parents and they gave it to us. So Anyhow I am very pleased with our new table and wanted to share. =)

Gosh I am so thankful for so many things, but here are just a few.

• I am thankful everyday for having a wonderful husband that supports us and is a good father to our children.
  
• I am thankful for my kids. They make my life full of love and excitement and I learn from them everyday. But I enjoy teaching them too.
  
• I am thankful for my parents. They have helped me and my family in so many ways and have taught me so much.
  
• I am thankful for GREAT friends. Boy if I didn't have some of them, I don't know where I would be today. They are just the best!
• I am thankful for God. Hes been there for me in so many ways. I am glad that we found a wonderful church to go attend. Me and the girls are learning so much. And the love in our house keeps growing.
  

Check out more thankful Thursdays at Grace Alone

Wordless Wednesday

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I got my Wii Fit !!!

Just a quick talk about my new Wii Fit. So far I have only did a few things on it and man, I must really be getting out of shape, cause I could feel the burn...lol I love it tho. Its fun and everyone should want to get fit by doing something they enjoy. So yeah its only been one day, but I plan on doing it everyday. I want to burn fat and tone up my body. I am just amazed with what the Wii can do. I am so glad Nintendo came out with it. Christa and I play against each other in games all the time. She hasn't played the Wii fit yet, but I bet she will tomorrow. HAHA I didn't even open the box to the Wii Fit until they were in bed. So anyhow if anyone knows of any wii fit games, let me know. Just letting everyone know I love my Wii fit and probably will love it even more every day I play it. I am starting another blog to show my progress..its
http://jensfunfitness.blogspot.com/

I got some good deals from Old Navy

Well I just wanted to share some of the shirts I got Maddi from Old Navy. One says "Daddy's Little skipper" and the other one says "Mommy's Lucky Charm". And alot of the stuff I got my girls were on clearance or sale. But I thought the sailor shirts would be so neat from my girls to have since they are daughters of a Sailor. But I got Maddi theses 3 shirts and 2 pair of flip flops, cause she'll be able to wear them this year and Alexa can wear them next year. Gotta love hand-me-downs. Also I got Alexa 2 shirts and one pair of flip flops. Then I got Christa, 2 shirts for school and 2 pairs of flip flops. All the flip flops were $2.50-5. So I thought that wasn't bad, plus they can wear them to the beach. I ordered them online, cause when I get a chance to go to Old Navy I normally can't find good deals like these, or I am busy with the girls and don't have the time to actually look. So I was pleased with what I got. So the girls should be pretty prepared for Spring and summer.

Quick update on Christa

Well I sent her to school yesterday morning. She wasn't feeling perfect, but didn't have a fever either. I think she was just getting use to being out of school because she was sick all week. So in my head, I just knew the school would be calling me. So about 10 they called and said she had a headache and a temp of 101!! I was like really? This morning she had nothing. So I go pick her up and call the doc on base and I couldn't believe it. So I couldn't get her a doc appt last week, but now they were telling me they had nothing in pediatrics or family care for today or tomorrow. I was so pissed off, by then, I just hung up with phone. I couldn't believe after taking her to the doc that they didn't put her on some kind fo meds, because I was giving her over the counter meds and told them they didn't seem to be helping. So I called Solantic (This time I called the one on beaches tho) and I made a appt for her. We got in at 1pm, they did a flu test on her, but it came back negative, but the doc said since its been almost a week, she could have had it and the doc said she looked and seems to have the flu. So she gave her flu med and a antibiotic. I left it up to her, if she wanted to go to school today. Cause when I gave her the meds last night she was feeling great. All except sinuses. So she went to school. I think she wanted to go because today was her Valentine's Day party. I made cup cakes and she decorated them this morning. She did a GREAT JOB! So I just hope now that she got meds, that she will be better and I pray that nobody else gets what shes had.

2 of my daughters learning toys

This is my girls listening and singing with their alphabet DJ's. It sings and shows letters and numbers while the girls repeat. They love dancing around to the music, and singing their ABC's and 123's.




















This is Alexa with her new Crayola Ta doodle. It sings and states the color names and also when you put a different color in the middle yellow cup it changes by colors, but it will tell them to draw dots, zig zags, lines, waves, and squiggles. Plus sings songs before telling them what to do. So my girls dance until it tells them what to draw. Very cute for 18mths + and up.











Alexa listening and concentrating on her drawing. All my girls love to draw, so my older daughters enjoy doing this with Alexa too...lol

Calling All Stay Home Moms....I need your help

Well ok so this has been on my mind for some time now. But I need a routine that will weigh out taking time to teach my little ones at home ( I have a 2 1/2 & 3 1/2 yr old) and cleaning my house. I have finally stuck to my cleaning routine and would sit and read or do little learning games with my girls, but never had a routine where I could do both in a day and do it all week long. So I would love some ideas. I was reading Coffee with the Mrs blog about Tot School and boy would I love to be able to do all those things and get some more leaning supplies for them. But for now ladies, tell me how you do it. How do you set a routine of teaching and cleaning at home? Tell me how you do it, or any sugguestions are welcome. I would very much appreciate it. Thanks and I look forward to reading your comments.

Quick update

Well got up yesterday morning and called the doc on base for Christa, only to find out they had no appts in pediatrics or family care. So a friend mentioned Solantic, so thats where we went. When we walked in they gave me paper work and told me it was a 30 min wait. So I filled out paper work, and we sat there for almost 1 hr and finally got in, she checked Chirsta all over, asked her questions, and said that her throat looked fine, So she did a urine test on her to rule out any UTI's and it came back normal, but then she asked if she had been eatting much. And I told her the night before I made stuff for her, but she didn't eat much because she wasn't feeling good. And they said by her urine you could tell she needed more liquids and to eat something. It was like they were telling me that I don't feed my child! I told them, that normally shes a good eatter, but just when she doesn't feel good, its hard for me to get her to eat much. So then they went on to give her a Popsicle and told me things I should give her, maybe they were just being civil or routine with telling parents that, but this woman looked at me really weird, so that just gave me that impression. So they told me to keep her on motrin every 6 hrs and then when I went out to pay our co pay, they gave me a doctors note for her to be out until Thursday. So from there we went to Walmart, cause we finally got our taxes and I needed to do some shopping for things around the house and get some sinus medicine for the little ones. and more motrin for Christa. So me and the girls ate at McDonalds since we spent most of the day in the doc office and they were hungry. Then I finished my shopping FINALLY! Then we came home and the little ones were napping and Christa and I played the Wii and I made dinner and relaxed, it was a long exhausting day. Today Christa has no fever, but such a bad attitude again and I am really trying to tolerate it, but she keeps aggravating her sisters....grr. Maddi and Alexa have head colds, so they aren't feelings that great either, so its gonna be a long week. Well I'll write more later, gotta get motivated to clean and I'm behind on my weekly cleaning.

Christa is sick =(

Well since Friday Christa hasn't been feeling good. She started to complain about her head hurting and felt warm on the head. So when I took her temp, I was shocked to see 100.8 already! So I gave her some Tylenol and some juice to drink and told her to lay down. She stayed home from school that day. So the rest of the day she was up playing and doing ok, until that evening, I noticed her eye looking really glossy and she was just laying around again. So I gave her Motrin this time and she went right to sleep and slept through the night, this morning Christa's asks me if we are gonna go to chruch and I tell her that is depends on how she feels and if she has fever. So I took her temp and it was 101.8!! So I am sitting here all mad, thinking they need to keep the clinics on base open on weekends too. I don't know of any covenant care near the base. So I gave her tylenol and it was the same thing again, she was up playing with her sisters for a couple hours and then she complained about a headache again and laid down. Well all the girls are sleeping right now. I finally got a shower in today, but I wish I knew of a doc I could take her too today and also would take tricare?!?! I really hate taking my kids to the hospital unless its a emergency, because it takes forever just to be seen. So I gave her the last of the tylenol that I had and she went to sleep. I will be calling in morning to get in ASAP. I am so afraid they are gonna tell me its strep and tonsillitis again. Cause she had these same symptoms when they told me she had that. So I guess we'll see tho.

Well still no taxes, I got the email from H & R block that it was sent to my bank, but that it could take 1-5 business days for them to deposit it. So I called the bank and of course I have to wait until Mon cause they don't deposit on weekends. I give up, I am not expecting it anymore. I will just call once a day and when its actually in there, I probably will have to call several times, just to believe its actually in there..LOL It pisses me off that we pay them to get it sooner and then now we could have saved some by doing the 2-3 week wait.. Grr. Well I will update about Christa tomorrow. Me and the little ones are doing ok and hopefully we stay healthy..

I had to share this. Too funny =P

THE NEXT SURVIVOR SERIES

Six married men

will be dropped on an island with one car and
3 kids each for six weeks.

Each kid will play
two sports
and either take music
or dance classes.

There is NO fast food !
Each man must take c are of his 3 kids;
keep his assigned house clean,
correct all homework,
complete science projects, cook, do laundry,
and pay a list of 'pretend' bills
with not enough money !

In addition, each man
will have to budget
for groceries each week.

Each man
must remember birthdays
of all their friends and relatives,
and send cards out on time-- no emailing .

Each man must also
take each child to a doctor's appointment,
a dentist appointment
and a haircut appointment.

He must make
one unscheduled and inconvenient
visit per child to Urgent Care.

He must also
make cookies or cupcakes
for a social function.

Each man will be responsible for
decorating his assigned house,
planting flowers outside
and keeping it presentable
at all times.

The men will only have access to television
when the kids are asleep
and all chores are done.

The men must
shave their legs,
wear makeup daily,
adorn himself with jewelry,
wear uncomfortable yet stylish shoes,
keep fingernails polished
and eyebrows groom ed.

During one of the six weeks,
the men will have to endure severe abdominal cramps, back aches,
have extreme, unexplained mood swings but never once complain or
slow down from other duties.

They must attend
weekly school meetings, church, and find time at least once to spend the afternoon
at the park or a similar setting.

They will need to read a book to the kids each night. In the morning,
feed them, dress them,
brush their teeth and
comb their hair by 7:00 am< /B>.

A test will be given

at the end of the six weeks,

and each father will be required to know

ALL of the following information:
each child's birthday,
height, weight,
shoe size, clothes size
and doctor's name.
Also the child's weight at birth,
length, time of birth,
and length of labor,
each child's favorite color,
middle name,
favorite snack,
favorite song,
favorite drink,
favorite toy,
biggest fear and
what they want to be when they grow up !

The kids will vote them off the isle and
based on performance !

The last man wins only if...
he still has enough energy
to be intimate with his spouse
at a moment's notice.

If the last man does win,
he can play the game over

and over
and over again

for the next 18-25 years,
eventually earning the right
To be called Mother !

After you get done laughing,
send this to all the females you
think will get a kick out of it and
as many men as you think can
handle it

If you did not laugh at this something is wrong. LOL

Computer Cool School By: Fisher Price

I got the Fisher Price Computer Cool School for my girls for Christmas. This is what the key board looks like. As you can see it has the letters like a normal keyboard and also easy access to writing, math, drawing, music and science. It even has a board where they can practice writing their letters.
















After signing in under child's name, this is the next screen. You can buy cartoon programs to help with your child's learning. They got Dora & Diego and Spongbob. The first one with the cat comes on it when you download the software onto your computer. We have yet to get Clifford, sesame street, and scooby do.












Then it goes to the class room and asks your child what he/she wants to do today. I love that the main activities on the keyboard are big enough and also have pics on the buttons, to let your child know which subject they want. Then all they do it press one and it takes you to your activities. They have several learning games for each subject.











This is my daughter Madisyn. She will be starting Pre-K this fall and I am hoping this will help her with most of the things they may learn in her class. I do have to sit down with her and help her with the writing part, but other then that, alot of the games she can play on her own. But its a good thing for mom/dad to get involved with your kids learning process.

Well thanks for letting me share this. Check it out. My girls love playing with it!!

Wordless Wenesday

This is a " Mom, enough with the pictures look." haha I had to share. I am addicted to my camera and my kids know it. This just shows...lol For more Wordless Wednesdays go here

Well I started another blog & a update on my routine

If any of you wanna follow me, I started another blog tonight. Its called "Thoughts and feelings of a Mother and Wife" This is where I will be writing all my personal things and some things about my life too. But this blog here will be more about my family and what we do.

Also this new routine has been working out for me. I finished all the bedrooms Monday and did a load of laundry. The only thing I did not do was dust, but I will get to that sometime this week. On Tuesday I scrubbed and cleaned my kitchen and bathrooms. My little ones even helped me clean. They came and asked me if they could help and they did a good job. I was proud of my babies. So I am slackin on some laundry, but I am hoping since all I have to do tomorrow is clean the living room and sun room, I will get caught up on it. Well I need to get back to bed. This took longer then I thought it would and I only got up to put Maddi back to sleep, check my pork in the slow cooker and email my hubby back. So later guys!

New Routine for me and I think it will work

So I was cleaning today and decided that I am gonna split this house work into 3 days of work. Here is goes:

Monday
Cleaning bedrooms nothing else, but maybe a load of laundry...this means sweeping, dusting and straightening everything

Tuesdays my bathrooms and kitchen...maybe laundry....this means, scrubbing everything including the tubs and floors and organizing stuff and also cleaning out and starting the dishwasher and washing some dishes by hand too.

Wednesday- Cleaning sunroom and and living room and outside if need be. Also that includes the van, if it needs cleaned out.

So Thursday and Fridays and I can spend more time being with the girls, probably still doing some laundry and alittle cleaning here and there, but still feel like I have a clean house.

Now I have slacked off from a routine before, so I am gonna write everything really big on a piece of paper and putting it up on my computer desk, so I can see it every morning, so I stay motivated. I will still probably take some time out on Mon-Wed to play and teach the girls some, but those are my goals to be done at the end of each day. Wish me luck and maybe with that I will lose weight too. I hope so. lol =)