Our new addition

                                                   

 We have a new little girl at our house -

     Amelia Pearl

                                

6 weeks ago my Aunt called,

She had taken in a mama and 5 babies

The boys and I went out to the farm

a couple times a week to see them

The more we were out there,

The more they pulled on my heart

I asked my Aunt if we could have the only girl

and surprise the boys

I brought her home yesterday

The boys were totally shocked

and Amelia is one spoiled kitty

Where has the week gone?

The kids have been in school a FULL week already

What happened to all the free time I thought I was going to have?

We have been BUSY!

The day before school started, I decided

we should celebrate

I took the boys to Chick fil a

 And to Elly's for ice cream

$9.00 for ice cream (OUCH)

Thankfully we don't celebrate very often

 

Speaking of celebrations

Monsanto celebrated their 50th Anniversary last weekend

and we were there to help

We spent 4 LONG hours there

The kids had a blast

They jumped in enormous bounce houses

Ate way more sugar than should have been allowed

Had lunch with my cousin and her boyfriend

Had multiple massages

and

Rode the train

Thank you Monsanto!

We have also been busy with Cub Scouts

I am SUPER proud of these boys!

They are so handsome in their uniforms

They earned several patches and belt loops Monday night

Way to go boys!

School just started last week and the calendar is already

 looking like someone put graffiti all over it

 

It was only Wednesday

I was having a bad week

My boys would be starting school on Thursday

4th and 1st grade

Where has the time gone

and how dare they grow up

I have been swamped with work,
and have very little time to get unfinished projects done

My birthday is this week
I don't want to be another year older
The hubby will be gone again, it's the life of a soldier

I decided that I would treat myself to a b-day gift

CHOPPING OFF MY HAIR

but now I'm having second thoughts

I cut all 3 of the guys hair, at least once a month

but I become guilty about spending the $ to have mine done

I'm worried about all of the medical bills hanging over my head

I'm worried about the future

I know God has a plan, I'm just not seeing it

To relieve some stress, I got on my favorite site

You guessed it, PINTEREST

and found this -

It was what I needed for the moment

It was just a bummer of a week
Hopefully next week is better

Feeling guilty

We are loving these cooler temps

and have been enjoying every second of them

I was feeling a bit guilty about our summer break -

We haven't been on a vacation

We haven't had a lot of playdates

We haven't been on many long bike rides

The list could go on and on........

So, the last 2 weeks, I have tried to make it up to the boys

• We have been to the aqatic center 3 days in a row

• We had a sleepover
• We took very long bike rides
• I scheduled a September vacation
• We have had more ice cream than a lactose intolerant child should have
• We have played baseball, and more baseball and MORE BASEBALL

Hopefully the boys have enjoyed their summer

Most Mom's were ready to send their kids back last month

I'm not ready

I miss them when they are gone but they need to learn

and at our house, routine is HUGE

Tonight is back to school night
and
Tomorrow is the start of another great school year

First sleepover

The boys had their first sleep over Sunday night

It wasn't planned

Which is totally not like me

and I was NOT prepared

(I don't think the boys even noticed)

Here is what I have learned from this-

Always have frozen pizzas in the deep freeze

Always have microwave popcorn in the pantry

Always keep cinnamon or money bread on hand

We did without all of those things

and I think they enjoyed themselves

Let me tell you
This boy is an absolute SWEET HEART
He's polite and well mannered
He has been dealt a difficult childhood
but he's not going to let it get in the way
Sometimes I think I can see the sadness
in his dark eyes, but then he smiles
He's AMAZING!
I like him just as much as my boys do, if not more

We played  ball for 2 hours

Took him home with us

Had KFC for supper

Lit sparklers

Played hangman

Had snacks

Watched iCarly

and finally crashed at 11:30PM

 The boys  were in heaven

I asked the boys what they enjoyed most-

Spencer - Staying up late

Parker - Sleeping

 

Thanks guys for a fun evening

My My Look how they have grown....

I just can't get over how cute they are

and how fast they are growing
They are almost 5 weeks old

                                                

They LOVE playing

They are starting to eat a little food

but aren't sure what to do about their messy faces

There are 4 active little boys

And 1 dainty little girl

I'm 99.9% sure that this kitty wants to come home with me

 and Parker thinks so too

Brain overload

I haven't been sleeping well

Every morning by body aches

My joints crack

(The hubby says, go to the Dr.)

There could be a million things wrong 

but today I'll use this diagnosis -

Brain overload

I would love to climb back in bed

but I have a little one resting there

and too much to do

Where do I start-

I told the boys their school bags will be filled today

(I'm tired of 10 Wal-mart bags laying in my way)

I need to finish the school paperwork

When you have a child with Epi-Pens, inhalers and other meds

Schools want to make sure they have themselves covered

This mama has writers cramp

The bathroom needs scrubbed for the 4th time in 6 days

(I have threatened to make the boys sit if they can't aim)

I need to finish the application process and set up my interview

Yes, I MAY be working 3 jobs this fall. Am I crazy? Why, Yes!

I went shopping with a friend yesterday

My favorite finds were at Goodwill

A lamp shade to recover (I said I would never do this again)

and 2 blue Ball jars (I must find lids for)

I got invited to a baby shower next week

I need to find a gift

The baby's room theme is Dr. Seuss

ADORABLE

but where do I find Dr. Seuss stuff in this town?

We will be having our first

Scrap and Snack

in 3 weeks

I must figure out a game plan

(plates, napkins, snacks, prizes....)

I'm also feeling a bit guilty
We haven't taken a vacation
and the kids go back to school next week
My goal is to plan a surprise vacation
on a very tight budget

I'm going to write all of these things down on paper
Cross them off as I go
And hopefully feel like I accomplished something


Maybe I'll sleep better tonight

Just 1/2 a day

Can't I just have 1/2 a day

to do what I want to do

Eat what I want to eat
and not feel guillty about it

Call me selfish:

Spend a month

with my children

nagging, fighting, bickering

And you would want a 1/2 (maybe even a whole) day to yourself too

So, I'm making it a point to have some ME TIME

MUCH NEEDED ME TIME

We have spent all summer doing kid things:

College for Kids

Swimming Lessons

Cub Scout events

Baseball

T-Ball

Then the hubby informs me that bowling starts this month

He has always been good about letting me have ME time

The problem is -

There isn't any time for me after everyone else takes up the calendar

So this month is MINE-

It's my birthday month

and

after a month of my children driving me bonkers

I have taken over the calendar

Okay, not quite

But I have designated 2 days for ME TIME

AND I CAN'T WAIT

I encourage you to do this too!

I love my children more than anything in this world

but I love them even more when I have taken time for myself

Cats, cats and more cats

We went back out to the farm this morning

It was HOT

but I had to get Abbie brushed

that poor girl was just a shedding mess

She got brushed and she LOVED it

I'm not sure how much good it will do

but I'm sure it made us both feel better

We got to see the wee ones again-

They are just PRECIOUS

Here they are at a week old

AND LOOK AT THEM NOW

I call this one - muffin or angel face

This is the one I was hoping was a girl

but it's not

and it's a good thing because he is one active little guy

He even looks ornery

Parker gave lots of love

Smokey (Mama) was feeling a bit left out

She plopped right down on Spencer

This one is just the cutest little butterball

Am I allowed to have favorites?

Bribery

I would never bribe my children - That was what I said before I became a mother

Now that I have 2 children, bribery happens quite often

Parker had an absolute fit last week when he saw the carnival rides

and  I told him we WERE NOT going to Great River Days

The only part of Great River Days that I remember, is sitting on my Dad's shoulders

listening to Lee Greenwood and Suzy Bogguss

THOSE WERE THE DAYS

Now I worry about the condition of the rides and the people running them

By the way, I really dislike the word - Carnie

Let me also mention that I probably have

one of the worst cases of motion sickness

I can't even swing on a swing

Anyway, We DID NOT ride the rides

I know, I know....,  I should support Muscatine

We were in the parade

and picked up garbage for Cub Scouts

that should count for something

Instead - I bribed the boys and we went to the aquatic center

We stayed cool and the boys LOVED it

I didn't get many pictures

 They were under the water more than they were out

After a FUN day at the pool

The boys wanted to go see the kitties

I said I would give an update on the kitties

They are ADORABLE

 They are getting pretty playful

I was REALLY hoping this one was a girl

She would have had to come home with me

This one might work :)

I think she loves me

What do you think?