daisy girl

She looks like a drowned rat!

Lovin' his dog!

More puppy love!

Chatterbox took this in her mirror! I LOVE it!!!

This is another funny one! You only see one eye on BS & Daisy! All of these pictures are courtesy of Chatterbox!

So sweet! I just love this dress on Sweet Pea!

She hasn't quite grasped the fine art of keeping your skirt down!

(If the bottom of this picture is weird I'm not sure why. It's just in this post that it turns out like that).

behind in sharing photos

I was trying to capture Sweet Pea in this cute outfit from my mom.

One night this is what I found...Daisy all curled up next to the baby! Too precious!

The lighting behind us was horrible so I had to do this to it. I was trying on clothes that were too small that she never got to wear. This hat came with a sweater from my cousin. The hat was small but looked cute!

I'm not sure if she was having fun or getting mad at this point! LOL

lack of posts

I can't believe I didn't blog on Sunday or Monday! I don't even remember what I did on Sunday but I know I didn't do much! I didn't even get around to doing school lessons for the week! I think I just lazed around! Good thing I did because I have a busy week in store!

Yesterday Sweet Pea had her 6 month Dr. appointment. I was a bit nervous about what the doctor would say regarding immunizations but she asked at the very end if I was still waiting on that and was totally cool with it. Praise God! I was really praying about that! I also had a chiropractor appointment yesterday. I haven't gone to one in like 10 years and I was a bit nervous about it. You forget how loud those cracks near your ears can be! I felt 'weird' afterwards and then got sore a bit. i was supposed to go to a homeschool meeting last night but after I came home from the chiropractor I brought the baby-sitter home and went grocery shopping. By that time it was after 5 and I just didn't have time to throw dinner together and get out the door. Plus i had a headache, the baby needed to be fed and bathed. I am glad I stayed home though as I got to finish the laundry and relax.

We've been reading about George Washington and the colonial times in History. I found this good book from the library that we enjoy reading. It is Magic Tree House Research Guide- American Revolution. We've talked about The Stamp Act a few times so today I had the kids make 'stamps'. Maybe I'll do something with tea next time since we've talked a bit about the Boston Tea party also. It's more fun to throw in activities and I think it helps the kids to remember what we talk about.

I am going to try to upload some pictures on the computer so I can share some with you. I know its been awhile. Hopefully I'll have time to write on here again soon but times are busy (mostly of my own accord). It's nice to finally have something to do though!

differences

It's kinda funny the differences between living in Mississippi and Iowa. I mean in regards to myself and my 'habits'. I guess part of it could be that I have another baby and that

***interruption, as I'm trying to type this I'm feeding sweet pea baby food and making lunch. booty shaker is running around with my breast pump saying 'bang, bang'***

makes me busier than I was before. But it is weird nonetheless. Here are some of the changes...

1. I hardly ever make my bed anymore. I'm lucky if it gets made once a week! In MS it was rare if my bed was unmade. I don't know if its the busy-ness of homeschooling, the addition of a baby, laziness or all of the above but it is once change.

2. In MS I would make sure the kids and I were ready for the day before we began school. We normally wouldn't begin until about 10 am. Here in Iowa we seem to start earlier and start while in our PJs. Today I didn't get in the shower until after 11, when most of our schoolwork was done! Most of the kids weren't dressed by then either! And I realized that it is OK to do that! But why the change? I don't know!

3. Then there's the whole thing about going out. Where I come from (the U.P. of Michigan) people will go out in their big ol' snowboots with sweatpants or pajamas with their hair in disarray. Where we lived in MS you didn't see people of this nature unless it was their nature, if that makes sense. In the 4 years we'd been there I don't think I ever ran out in PJ pants or sweats or anything like that. I always tried to look 'presentable'. Well, here in IA things are different for me. I don't know if its the cold that I just don't care how I look when I run somewhere. Most of the time I DO dress decently but there were a few times when I needed to run to the grocery store quick so I'd just leave on my 'comfy' pants that I normally don't wear out. I'd keep on my junky t-shirt and just didn't care how messy my ponytail was. Why such a difference???

These are just some things I've been contemplating lately. I know my life has changed with adding another child to the picture but I also know that's not completely to 'blame' for these changes. And I am sure there are other changes as well, these are just some of the more noticeable ones. Have you experienced this with your moving around at all?

disaster

I am so annoyed, about in tears, just wanting to crawl into bed and not get out. You have no idea how much money was WASTED on this night.

-Over $20 a piece per plate of food (2 plates)
-Over $50 dress
-Probably about $25 in accessories
-$20 babysitter
-$3 for drinks
-$ for gas to drive both vehicles 30 minutes away

I'm sure I'm leaving something out.

So, I drop the munchkins at the babysitters. I managed to pump those 4 ounces this morning. Before we left I fed Sweet Pea her cereal and nursed her. I prayed on the drive up. I thought maybe I could last 2 hours, at least until we ate. I thought dinner was at 6. I dropped the kids off at 5.

The Dining Out was so dumb...sorry for those of you who like those things. Talk about having a fake smile plastered on my face. I enjoyed talking to my friend Jenn, that's about it. I think its totally gay that you pay an arm and leg for their food and they charge you for drinks! Anyway, then they had the National Anthem, Invocation and some other remarks. Then they talked about the grog bowl, where they mix all kinds of nasty stuff together. They took forever in calling this or that cadet up to drink from it. I thought it was so stupid and immature...of course they are college kids!

By this point it was after 6 and we were finally told we could eat the salad. No telling how long that and the dessert were sitting out on those tables! Then I asked Zach if he'd felt my phone vibrate at all. Turns out 5 minutes before that the babysitter tried to call. So I snuck out and called her back. I could hear SP crying in the background. So I left. My $20 dinner uneaten. Zach was wanting to leave too but he couldn't, although he did sneak out early.

I am so angry. Not at any particular person or anything, just the whole situation. I hate leaving my babies behind, especially when they're pretty much exclusively nursed. I didn't feel right about leaving her. I should just not have gone. Imagine all the money we could have saved. But I didn't want Zach to be dateless!

Oh, so he asked for a doggy bag or whatever. THEY WOULDN'T GIVE HIM ONE!!!! Something about a liability (it was held in some building on the ISU campus). So, he wrapped up my food in napkins and hid it in his uniform!!! He didn't want our money wasted either! I don't know that I want to eat food that's been wrapped in linen napkins that was in my husband's pockets, but that's not the point! The point is that we payed so much for that junk and they wouldn't allow him to take it home to me! I am soooooo irritated. I made Zach take me home a KitKat...I NEED some chocolate!!!

Off to try to enjoy some sort of food and something of this night...hope your night was better than mine!

***PS TIME with my BABY....PRICELESS
AND
there was one small piece of chicken (I think in some sort of raspberry sauce), some potatoes & carrots/beans mixture on the plate. That LITTLE bit for over $20!!!! INSANE!!!! I could have bought myself a few books with that. Or some summer clothes. Or a pair of shoes.

chub a lub lub

Every morning when I wake up the first thing I do is change Sweet Pea's diaper. And every morning it seems that her thighs have grown fatter than the morning before! I love fat baby chubs! This little peanut's gotta stop being so lazy and start exercising;) Or maybe stop eating! Last night at dinnertime she ate her Rice Cereal AND bananas! I was so happy! She just wanted to keep on eating. Lately in the middle of the night she doesn't nurse as much as she used to. If she does its more for comfort than to eat, more to suck than to get milk. So this morning when I awoke I felt pretty full and thought I'd take advantage of that and pump. That way she has milk for tonight. The other morning when I pumped I don't think I even got 2 ounces! Today I got 4 ounces! I know it was totally God!!! Thanks Sadie & Jenn for your prayers;) I think I will be able to enjoy myself a little more tonight knowing that she has regular breastmilk. Now if only she'll drink it from a bottle and be comforted by her baby-sitter, Shekinah!

friday's here!!!

• After school & lunch we ran out. Some books I had on hold at the library were in. I am so excited since I just finished the other one last night. I had lost my card awhile ago and FINALLY remembered to take in $1 to get a new one. I've been scamming off the kids!
• We ran to the mall. I have been dying for more Bath & Body Works hand soap and finally I got some. I printed a coupon from online so I got quite a deal (free aromatherapy), and the soaps were on sale for $3!!!
• I got my eyebrows waxed. I almost forgot that was on my list of things to do.
• It was about dinnertime so rather than running to Walmart for groceries (I didn't have a list anyway) I came home and cooked.
• Junior Squirrel has this stuffed frog named Grover. I was playing with it with Sweet Pea & she was just cracking up! It was so cute!!!
• I cannot wait until tomorrow is OVER. I am so stressed over leaving Sweet Pea for the dining out. If I weren't so worried about Zach getting in trouble I'd just take her. Apparently last year there were babies there, yet we were told its not appropriate to take her. It's not like I'd let her be loud (remember I said she's my quietest baby) or cry! Just very frustrating. So, I'll get dressed up and we'll take separate cars so I can leave when I want. There's an award ceremony that Zach has to stay for. Like I care about that! I will need to get home to my baby!
• Off to watch the movie The Secret Life of Bees. I LOVE the Redbox!!!

whew

I am EXHAUSTED. It has been a long trying day over here! I don't know what the deal was! I know we really had school work to crack down on as the past two days we didn't do a whole lot. I am so glad we took those days 'off' when the weather was nice because today wasn't nice. We had thunderstorms! We even had a bit of hail! Now this I expect in Mississippi at this time of year once in awhile but not in Iowa! I love that there is no snow. I just wish the temps would've stayed warm. It looks like there's a chance of snow the next couple of days though (at least the last time I looked). I hope its not too cold for the Dining Out Saturday night!

I love the new laptop. It's given me no problems at all. I can type and type away and I have no boxes popping up! Amazing! Lovely!

I swear my little Sweet Pea says her first word. Granted its when she's crying, but she says so clearly, "Mama". She said it yesterday when I was at the baby-sitters house. She was doing it a bit ago when she was fussing and as soon as Zach gave her to me she was fine! And hear I was thinking she didn't 'talk' much but she's been doing baby babble more and more lately. I LOVE it! I LOVE that she says my name! She's been a bit fussy today. Probably a growth spurt as I don't see any teeth yet, but she sure does chew on everything.

I am missing AI again tonight because Zach got a movie from Redbox for the kids. Oh well, I really don't mind since I didn't see last nights anyway. I suppose there's somewhere online where I can catch what I missed. I really would like to finish my current book so I can watch the movie (The Secret Life of Bees). If I'm not mistaken its free on Starz. Just something I picked from the library while waiting for other ones I have on hold.

can i hope...

That our new laptop will work properly? I guess I can. We went to Best Buy and got an HP. It is very similar to the Dell Studio 15 we had. I wanted to stick with the basic specs of that computer and was able to find this one. I'm trying to 'clean' it up. Get rid of things we don't need, install things we use, etc. We were gone for forever though and I totally missed American Idol. I am SO bummed. I'll have to try to get online tomorrow to see what I missed. So much for voting for somebody tonight though! I'm just thankful I should have a working computer at my fingertips!

real quick

Yesterday we didn't do school. I went up to Ames, met Zach for lunch and then met my friend Janis & her brood of young'uns at BK so our kiddos could play. Then I went to the consignment store up there and found a few things, picked up my old items and dropped off a bin. It was nice to take a break from school. Well, I say we didn't do school but boy as I was getting ready there were my children working independently on school! They kept wanting me to check their work but I refused- I wanted a break! The weather was decent yesterday and its even nicer today!

I thought American Idol would be on last night but was mistaken so I was able to call Dell. I was probably on the phone for less than 15 minutes! Today UPS is supposed to pick up the laptop. I am so relieved. Now, to look for another like it (only not a Dell). I am hoping they didn't try to come by when I was out.

I had a dentist appointment this morning. I was really worried because I hadn't been to the dentist since like last March. I was certain I'd had a cavity but all was good! Yeah! Then I had to run to Wal-mart to get a few items. I walked away with way more than I intended. Got Sweet Pea some baby food. She didn't think too much of bananas! At least not yet! My baby is 6 MONTHS OLD TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How is that possible???????? Time FLIES my friends! It is so fun to see her grow but at the same time I hate that she's getting so big so fast. I want her to stay small forever!!!

never again

It will be a long while before I decide to purchase another Dell. This morning I sat on the pone for an hour and a half being transferred back and forth between technical support and customer service. All for nothing because I got nowhere. I was going to exchange this laptop for one just like it but I don't want another Dell at all. Not to mention that you can't understand the people half the time because they're from some other country! So now I need to sit on the phone again and figure out how to get my money refunded and how to return this. We'll be finding a new brand.

seriously

As I was preparing school lessons for the week I noticed that we're really cruising along. Last year I was so sick with morning sickness that we fell 'behind'. The year before I was dealing with losing Malachi so we fell 'behind' again. So, when I was printing off a Chapter 11 English test for Chatterbox I realized there are only 16 chapters! A chapter usually takes us two weeks. It seems weird that we're just cruising right along. It also feels good. Once it warms up here I look forward to going outdoors more and hitting the park. None of us will want to be bound to schoolwork! So, better to do what we can now!

I haven't been online much due to this annoying laptop. I think I'll return it. Maybe ask them to send another or else get a totally different brand. We'll see. I also began another book, though not in the Twilight series, but I have it on reserve at the library. I also managed to clean the house this weekend. It always feels good to have a sparkling clean house, though it sure doesn't last long!

This is a busy week. Got vet tomorrow, another appointment Tuesday, dentist Wednesday, Dining Out Saturday. Plus I'd like to try to get in to a chiropractor. Good thing the temps should be decent. Oh, and us heathens, we skipped church today. I really haven't been sleeping well lately and with my back/butt/leg/headache issue... It was nice to stay home but I hate missing church!

one unhappy customer

This is the third attempt at this post. The past two times my computer highlights my words on its own and deletes it. I am FED UP. I spent at least an hour on the phone yesterday with Dell and 3 1/2 hours on the phone with them today. My problem continues. I am so tired of it. I left a message telling them to send a tech out here to look at it or to send my money back and I'll send this piece of crap back. I'll get a HP. I'm not dealing with this no more. I had to restore the computer yesterday and today I had to reinstall every single program! So that's what I spent my Saturday doing. My house remains a dusty mess. My children go unplayed with. I was a stinky pig until a bit ago. At least now I know how to restore a computer. I'm going to take the important things off of our old laptop and restore it. Maybe it'll work a bit better. I'm ending now before I lose it all again...

r.i.p.

It's a sad night around the M household. Zach went down the basement and discovered our hamster, Jingle Bell, is dead. Chatterbox is shedding tears. I am a bit sad myself, for some reason. Which is weird, I was TICKED when I discovered Zach & the kids bought that thing while I was at a Ladie's Night Out. Ohhh, poor Booty Shaker is in denial. He just said, "She's not dead." I am grateful we have the puppy so they won't be so saddened over the loss. I am also relieved that I will no longer have hamster shavings being dragged all over the house! But the kids really liked that little critter. I hope the poor thing didn't freeze to death in the basement, though I don't see how considering its been colder down there than it is lately and it was fine. Guess we'll never know... RIP Jingle.

friday's here

Yeah! It's the weekend! We finished school before 10:30 today! I could not believe it! Of course I hadn't really been online or hadn't showered by then but it sure was nice to be done with school. I spent lunchtime online with Dell. This laptop has some issues. I thought maybe they were resolved but even as I type this a sidebar opens with my history or favorites. It is rather annoying. I had to do a complete system restore on this brand new thing! I must tell you for the money we paid for this I am not that thrilled that it keeps happening. At least three times now that stupid sidebar has opened by itself. And I thought I'd just lost this post that I was typing! Unbelievable! Annoying!

I took the kids to the library this afternoon. I was hoping book 2 of the Twilight series were available but it wasn't. Oh well. I have it on hold. Hopefully it won't take too long for me to get it. Then the crazed woman that I am took all 4 kiddos with me shopping for a dress for next weekend's Dining Out. I tried on about 4 or 5 at Kohl's. The kids all voted for one while I liked the other, but there wasn't much difference between the two. I decided to get the one they liked. Zach's taking them to see "Mall Cop" tonight so I'm going to take the baby and go and get everything else I'll need (pantyhose, black bra, maybe some jewelry, shoes). Hopefully I don't take too long to find something I like. I did look at Kohl's a bit but its rather pricey! My dress was on sale and wasn't too $. I can't wait to show you a picture!

Ok better run now. That's my Friday update! Have a great weekend!

guest blogger

I like horses, dogs and American Girl stuff. I have a pet dog named Daisy. I like her because I like her soft fur, she looks like a teddy bear and she's so cute. I have a baby sister. I like to make her laugh. I will enjoy playing with her when she grows up. I like helping out with her with Mom. Mom likes my American Girl books because they have peeks into the past, like history. They're good books. My favorite book is Felicity, an American Girl. It's about a girl named Felicity and there's a horse named Penny. It's owner is mean and bad and she rides it in the dark, its a secret. I have an American Girl and Coconut dog. My favorite school is handwriting. It's fun. I like to eat junk food and sugar.
~Chatterbox

i heart milk

I am stealing Mama's computer to write a bit to you. I am the baby of the family. I like milk. Mommy has been trying to feed me this other weird stuff and shoving it in my mouth. I don't like it. It is not milk. I spit it out, but I pretend to eat a bit of it because then mommy gives me a big smile. I just want mommy's milk.

There this big white thing that sometimes comes toward my face. I smile at it, thinking it wants to play. Then it goes up my nose holes and sometimes it hurts! I cry! But last night I thought that white thing was so funny I was really smiling and laughing at it. I think they all call it a booger cleaner. Whatever a booger is? I only know mama, dada and milk. And my sisters and brother.

Sometimes I'm put in a bunch of water and scrubbed. I sometimes like it but sometimes I don't. I am really scrunched in it now, but when I first came out of my mommy's belly it was too big for me and mommy had to hold me to make sure I didn't fall in! A couple of times mommy sat it up in the big tub, I think they call it, but it didn't work so well. I don't want to sit up by myself. I like to be lazy and just let my mommy do all the work for me! After all, I am the baby! But I know my mommy likes it. She always smiles at me and kisses me.

Well, I am very sleepy now. After that stuff being shoved in my face and the water I was put in I just want to sleep. I am too afraid that big white thing will try to get me again so I will just sleep on my mommy. I hope to tell you again about me sometime. Remember, I am baby, I think mommy calls me Sweet Pea. I like when she calls me beautiful.

hump day

What a day it's been! Where to begin? I was up bright and early thanks to a barking puppy. Nothing annoys me more than her waking me up too early! Zach had let her out when he got up so there was no reason she had to be doing that! Stinkin' pup is worse than a kid! lol

Our new laptop arrived bright and early. Here I was, reading about the American Revolution with the kiddos, all cuddled on the couch still in our PJs. It was 8:30 and the Fed Ex guy stopped by to bring my new toy! So, there went history for the day! We were all pretty excited to check it out! It is way better than the other ancient relic.

I was finally able to pull myself away from my toy and get in a shower and actually do some school. We got quite a bit of school done. I also managed to vacuum and put the playpen in our room in place of the cradle. I admit Sweet Pea used the cradle all of one night;) BUT I'm hoping to see how she does in the playpen and hoping to use it. We'll see...

She ate cereal better tonight, only a bit, but its a start. I mix it with water. Being that she's so little yet I don't want to mix it with juice and I don't have breastmilk stored to mix it with. So when big sister ate it yesterday it was only the rice cereal with water! Ew! As I was readying her for her bath her biggest brother had her cracking up! Was that ever cute!

Did you watch American Idol last night? Boy, that Danny stole my heart! He did great! I tried to vote for him for 1 1/2 hours but the lines were so busy! Tonight they're showing Iowa basketball and not having Idol on until 10!!! How DARE they??? I already know the results though because my aunt was watching it and I asked her to tell me (thanks, Cindy). Those were my top 3 choices so I'm glad they continue!

We have that Dining Out next weekend. At first Zach thought we'd just take the baby but we're not able to. It wouldn't be bad if it were in the same town, but its up in Ames, a half an hour away! I hate the thought of leaving my baby that far, especially since she's pretty much exclusively nursing! Which is one reason I started her on the cereal when I did. Anyway, we have to pay an arm and a leg, plus some for the meal. I have nothing to wear, though a friend here did offer me a dress so I'll see if it fits and if its fitting for the occasion (what exactly IS fitting???).

I had a blast teaching the kiddos Health today. Chatterbox began her Health unit, in correlation with science, and I have the boys following along for part of it. We talked about posture and demonstrated good posture. They enjoyed it. I made it fun, or attempted to! CB is almost done reading 'The Wind in the Willows'. What an enjoyable book! I never did read that one as a child. I also enjoy reading 'The Boxcar Children' to Junior Squirrel.

In March Zach has an NCO Conference in Dallas and wants the kiddos and I to go. At first I was excited because I'd get to meet Tanya (she is a 'friend' I met through the Above Rubies egroup...we've emailed, talked on the phone, sent Christmas cards, etc for at least 5 years) but turns out her family will be out of town. What a bummer!!! SO, I hope I will find somebody to visit with while Zach whiles away his time learning such meaningful information (sarcasm). I wish we could stay the weekend. They only give him one travel day and its like 10-11 hour drive! The travel days are Monday and Friday. We have to travel those days (I'm assuming) in order for the military to cover the expense. We also get to stay at a real nice Marriott hotel while there, all on the government's dime so I can't complain too much! I just don't want to be holed away in a hotel room in a huge city for 3 days!

I was having quite some issues with this computer at first. I wasn't sure if it was Vista or Internet Explorer 7 or what, but I changed a few things and so far so good. Hope I got all of that taken care of! Otherwise I like it!

I'll be having some guests on my blog in the coming days so stay tuned. Oh, and I can't believe how often I'm blogging again! Woohoo!!!! There was more I was going to say but I think I've bored you with all my random thoughts enough...

first food

Tonight my Sweet Pea tried Rice cereal for the first time. She wasn't sure what to think of it and didn't eat much.

So, big sister took over and tried it. It didn't go to waste, she liked it and ate the rest!

Yesterday SP fell asleep on the floor and looked so peaceful I had to share.