Guess who isn't in NJ?

I feel like a complete idiot!
I cleaned my whole house...made a few meals and put them in the freezer for my hubby and kids...wrote cute little post it notes and placed them all over the house...packed my bag...put it in the car...loaded my kids into the car...printed our my itinerary...got in the car...drove off to the airport...checked my RETURN flight to let Tom know when to pick me up on Monday...

Then it happened!

I had the wrong time written down for my flight. I was suppose to leave at 3:45pm NOT 9:20! The emotions that overcame me were intense! What do I do? Who do I call? Travelocity, Continental? Tom quickly turned the car around...I called Travelocity...but they couldn't help...well they did give me the number to Continental. So, I called them...and was told that everything was booked. The agent told me to go to the airport and see if I could fly stand by. So Tom drove me to the airport. And the agent there told me that everything was oversold. AND since I didn't call to tell them I wasn't making the flight (give me a break...how can I call them and tell them I am going to miss my flight? I didn't know I was going to miss it.)they went ahead and canceled my return flight. She told me she could get me on the 7:30am flight tomorrow...but it would cost me $1041! Yeah, like anyone can drop that kind of money with no notice (those of you that can...good for you) So, since I couldn't go stand by (because they overbooked the 9:20 flight by 2 people) I had to take a credit voucher for my flight. I began to cry infront of the lady and called my husband to come pick me up!

Then I called my sister! She was as devastated as I was...we couldn't even speak past all the tears. Why did I not double check my ticket? I am the most organized person I know! Such a bummer...I have such a headache. I don't want to even think about my sister's poor kids. They are going to wake up tomorrow excited to see me...only I won't be there...my sister has to tell them I missed my flight. I can't imagine how my sister is feeling...her house was all ready for me to arrive...the kids were all tucked away in their beds...and then I call and tell her what happened! Such an idiot!

Well, I did find another ticket. I had to pay another $175. I am flying on the 21st...three weeks from today. The only positive thing I can think of right now, is how wonderful my hubby is. He never yelled at me, never acted upset...he just felt sorry for me and my sister. He didn't even flinch at shelling our another $175 for my trip. He is amazing. I am the luckiest girl in the world to be married to such a wonderful man. He is such a blessing to me. I am going to go hug him...I haven't thanked him yet!

Mixed Feelings

I have such mixed feelings today! I am getting ready to go to NJ to see my sister's new baby. I can't wait to meet her! I can't wait to see my sister again...it has been a whole year! Of course, I also can't wait to see my other niece, Abby and my nephew, Luke. We are going to have such a great time together.

So why the mixed feelings? I do not want to leave my hubby and kids. I find it terribly hard to be away from them. They bring me so much joy and happiness. My life is so entangled in their lives. I know they will be fine without me...and I will be fine without them...and it is only 4 sleeps...but it is still so hard. I have written them sweet notes...and will hide them all around the house for them to find. I will call them a few times a day...and the distance between all of us will only make us love and appreciate each other more!

I am reminded today of God's unselfishness to send His son to die for us. I cannot imagine giving up one of my children...even if it meant saving thousands. God's love for us is so strong and amazing...I am so glad to be one of his children!

While mom is cleaning...the boys will find something to do!

What's For Dinner?

Today is Monday...my cleaning day. The only day all week that I can get all the bathrooms clean, mop all floors, dust and do laundry! I should be doing that right now...but instead I am trying to figure out what to make for dinner tonight.

Does anyone else have this problem? I like to cook...but once in a while I get in a rut. I start to feel like we eat the same thing all the time. My kids hate that! I did make a new chicken dinner last night...very good. Thanks Carrie for the recipe.

I checked my usual sites this a.m, cookinglight.com, myreciepe.com...and nothing is screaming YUMMY! So, I have no clue What's For Dinner! Somebody give me a new recipe!

19 Hours ALONE w/ Hubby, Cost = $51.50

Last night my great friend Jennifer offered to take our three children OVERNIGHT for hubby and I. We had taken her three kids a few weeks ago for a couple of nights...and as a thank you, she and her hubby decided to take our kids and give us a very nice gift certificate to Opah. A restaurant we like to go to!

I dropped the kids off at 4p.m and met Hubby at the car wash! We sat and chatted while the cars were being washed.

Cost of car wash = $30.00

Then we went to a movie...Step Brothers. Very, very funny movie...but also very vulgar!

Cost of movie with popcorn and water = $21.50 (we had a one free movie pass)

Then we went to Opah and split an appetizer and dinner.

Cost of dinner = Free (gift card from Schmidts...and we have more for another night!)

We sat and talked at dinner and closed the place down! We had such a nice time talking...with no interruptions from the kids. AND we didn't have to hurry, since we weren't paying a sitter.

The cost of this date night normally would have been $196.50. (Assuming that we had our normal sitter at $10 an hour) Thank you Kent and Jen for allowing us to have an affordable night out!We had such a fabulous time. It is always so nice to reconnect with one another after a long week.

Cost of the Schmidt's friendship = PRICELESS

A Special Morning

I woke up this am...and as usual headed to the gym. I returned home to find Tiger awake! I was a little surprised...it was only 6:15. His eyes were still half shut...maybe I slammed the door when I came home?

I finally convinced him to go back to my bed and try and sleep a little more. He was willing to do this for me, probably because it was my bed he was stumbling back into. I whipped up my protein shake and had a thought. So I grabbed the "motherhood journal" I wrote in when he was still in my womb. I had plans to take him out to Starbucks and read it to him there...for our date night last week...but hubby ended up working late...and date night never happened.

I cuddled up next to him and began to read all my thoughts to him. It was so special...just the two of us...stealing a few quiet minutes together. Tiger is a people pleaser...he want to make sure everyone is happy...even if it means sacrificing his own happiness. (I wish all my kids had that personality...but then what would be special about Tiger?)

Anyway, I almost cried reading my thoughts to him. There is so much I had forgotten...the first time hubby felt Tiger kick...how Cutie would rub my belly at night and sing to Tiger...how I couldn't eat or smell eggs...all the names we were thinking of (and we chose none of those)...how my dad cried watching Tiger's birth (my dad doesn't cry)...how much Tiger cried until the nurse handed him to me...how I thought he had a pack with his dad from day one (you see Hubby went to change his poopy diaper the first night home from the hospital...and it took three diapers to change him because he kept pooping) Hubby didn't change a diaper for a long time after that. Tiger wouldn't nap in the crib until I put the shirt I was wearing in his crib...he needed to smell me all the time...I had forgotten so much...and was/am so glad that I wrote it all down.

It was a really special time for Tiger and I. Little Guy came in towards the end...and was a little bummed there weren't any pictures of him (we had moved onto the baby book)...and of course Little Guy is always saying cute things.

Little Guy: Oh look! Tiger is wearing my pjs in this picture...oh, and in this picture he is wearing my shirt!

Little Guy was so proud...Tiger and I just smiled at one another...we didn't have the heart to remind him they were Tiger's jammies before they became Little Guy's jammies!

Reflecting back on my special morning with Tiger...I am reminded how I need to continue journaling about my feelings of being a mother...I think my children will love to read it when they are grown and have children of their own...but probably not as much as I will!

Kids say the cutest things

The other night we tucked in the kids and sat down to watch a little tv. All of the sudden we hear Little Guy crying.
Tom: Little Guy why are you crying?
Little Guy: because I want to watch tv with you and mommy. I don't want to go to sleep.
Tom: Oh Little Guy, you need your rest so you can grow up to be big and strong. When you are small you need more rest than an adult.
Little Guy: Me want to be little forever daddy. I don't want to grow big...so can I get up and watch tv?
I don't know how Tom didn't scoop him up and bring him into the living room with us. I would have melted at that line. However, my husband knows when he is being manipulated!

How old do you have to be...

to be able to do this???

And in all honesty...I am not doing it that great. Cutie asked me if I knew how to do the bridge? Of course, I said YES! Then Tom grabbed the camera and got this shot. Do you have any idea how hard this was for me? I like to think I am in pretty good shape...but this was no easy task. It didn't help any that Tom wanted to time how long I could hold it! FORGET IT! My head actually hurt! BUT, my kids think I can do anything...I couldn't let them down! Ha! Stop reading this and get on the floor and try to do one! Let me know how it goes!

Tuesday Night at the Beach

I love what good friends they are to one another.

Skipping Rocks is so much fun.

Little Guy had so much fun hitting the baseball

Nothing liking stopping for a little silliness

Another beautiful sunset

I look forward to Tuesday night every week. I love that Tom comes home early from work and we spend the evening at the beach...as a family. Tonight Tiger and his friends played football with Tom. Cutie entertained the little girls...since none of her friends were able to make it tonight. She loved being the oldest girl! And Little Guy played a lot of baseball with Tom. I enjoyed watching and hanging with the other moms! I can't wait until next Tuesday night

Call the Orthodontist!

I have decided that Little Guy is never going to stop sucking that thumb! When do you make your little one stop sucking his thumb? Maybe the question should be, How? I have tried, without a ton of effort I suppose! We tried the, "You can get a new toy" route...that didn't work...then we tried the "Let me see that thumb so I can paint this nasty stuff all over it" route. I think that worked for few weeks. Then Little Guy would just suck off the nastiness so he could have his thumb back. Now, I think we are going to just let him do it...and pay to have his mouth fixed! Is that horrible? Should I be a tougher parent? Any advice?

Our Kid's Day

We are so blessed to have three beautiful children. Today we spent the day celebrating them. They have been so looking forward to today.

Originally our plan was to make chocolate chip pancakes with whip cream and jelly beans. But, we went to Costco yesterday and tried their sample of Cinnamon Toast. The kids took one bite and started asking us to buy it for Kid's Day. How could I say no? It is so much easier to toast up some thick bread and slap butter on it before church than bring on out the griddle and make pancakes! We did still serve jelly beans!

After church, Sweetie and I took a little cat nap. The rest of the family went to the park and rode bikes. After our nap, Sweetie rode his bike in the neighborhood. Then we played a little Wii...Tiger's gift was the Indian Jones game. Tiger asked us last week if they would be getting gifts like we do on Mother's day and Father's Day. We hadn't thought of that...but why not?!Tiger got the Wii game, Cutie got some more music downloaded on her Ipod, and Sweetie wanted an Elmo toy!
We headed to the kids favorite restaurant for dinner and then went to the movies. Oh, and don't forget the ice cream! We had planned on getting ice cream before dinner...but the kids decided they wanted to eat first! Go figure!

Now we are getting ready to get into the hot tub...Sweetie's back is better! Sweetie asked Cutie if he could sleep in her room tonight! So, she told both her brothers they could have a slumber party in her room! I don't know if they will get any sleep, but they are having fun!

We are so thankful the Lord blessed us with our children. I hope they will always know how much we love them, but how much more their Heavenly Father loves them!
Enjoy the slide show below!

Kids Day - July 20,2008

Sunburn Relief...

is at a slow start. Sweetie is still pretty red. We put aloe vera on a lot today. I actually found this spray that works really well. He didn't like us to rub anything on his back. Has anyone ever put plain yogurt on a sunburn? My neighbor suggested it and then to have him soak in a bath of salt water. I haven't googled it yet...thought I would ask all of my blog friends! What do you do for a sunburn?

Kids Day is tomorrow! (June 30 post)My kids are so excited! I will be sure to take lots of pictures!

My dear friend Julie started a blog. Please click on her name on the right and welcome her to the blog world!

The Beach AND Sunburns

The kids and I met some friends at the beach today. We had a such a wonderful time that no one wanted to leave...so we spent the whole day there! We saw dolphins and sand crabs...dug holes and went boogie boarding. It would have been a perfect day, except I didn't sunscreen the kids enough! We go to the beach 2-3 times a week...and I drive my kids crazy with all the lotion...but today I don't know what I was thinking (the sun was behind the clouds more than usual?)...my youngest got it the worst! Poor little guy. We poured on the aloe vera...and he finally is asleep!

Check out Cutie's blog...she had a huge achievement today! We are all so proud of her!

How do you know it has been a good day?

When your kitchen looks like this!

(The garbage is on the counter to keep the dogs out of it)

And the kids rooms are all a mess!

We had ten kids over to play today! What a great time with friends. They played the Wii, swam and made cookies! I am so proud of my kids and their friends....they actually picked up their rooms without me asking...maybe that was because they were trying to get me to say yes to a sleep over! Well it so worked! Tiger is at a friends tonight, Cutie and I are off to book club, and Sweetie is hanging with his daddy! Today was a great day! Hope yours was too!