Little Miracles/The new blue

(Can you believe there are pictures!!! I threw some in of Mason because he has yet to show up and if you ask me, he is pretty stinkin cute!!)

Last night I read a quote: I was told to count my many blessings, I did...and sure enough, I'm missing a few. You might have noticed that I'm not the only blog on the web without a picture anymore. That's right, I got one. One!! It really was a small miracle. I did nothing different then I ever do. I did get greedy and went for two, not so lucky. I'd like to claim that I know the process of posting pictures better then you all, I'm sure I've clicked the "done" step many more times then you. Have any of you emailed the blogger help group a million times to get the same carbon copy response each and every time? My advice, don't buy a new computer, it might seem exciting loaded with features but you might never be able to post a picture again. We've tried everything, taken every security measure possible off of our computer, opening windows to all kinds of vulnerabilities (but hey at least I'd have pictures on my post, right?) Well a family decision has been made and I'd like to introduce you to Chris, my fabulous husband and official picutre poster.
As far as the new blue, I found it to be much more fitting for my username and blog title. It's all about the rain. Here goes one last picture try from the homefront. Unsuccessful

1 week and I'm NOT counting

So Monday is here which means next Monday, August 7th, is only one week away. But believe me, I’m not counting. Reality is kicking in that phase 1 of parenting is quickly approaching the end. Charlotte is on her way to kindergarten. Someone needs to hold my hand. Can I make it through? Sadly I wished for many days to end sooner then they did, and now I’m wishing I had so many more. Don’t you hate it when people say “Just enjoy this time your in, it will fly by and you’ll be sad it ended, ” and now I’m saying it. I’m realizing there are so many more things I should have done with Charlotte’s time and plenty of things that I shouldn’t have. The fact is I love her to pieces. She will always hold a special place in my heart because she is my first. Of all the things I hope she’s learned, I hope she remembers how loved she is. So I have one week to spoil her to pieces as my last chance. It started Saturday with our big Mommy/Daughter date. We went and got all ready for school: the clothes, the backpack, the lunchbox, school supplies, a new necklace and some intermittent stop for new bedding. (How will she get the rest the needs without cute sheets?) She went to IHOP for the first time and had a huge pancake. We are so excited her egg allergy is gone. The highlight was the manicure and pedicure which she has asked for, for a long time. Following the nails we went to the pool and had so much fun. It was the best date for both of us and she’s officially ready to go now. Her teacher’s name comes in the mail tomorrow. I keep wanting to hold her, read to her, play with her and I believe she’s starting to think I’m weird. All unpacking is on hold for one week (oh shucks!), because its my last week with her before I send her to the big K. So give all your little ones a big squeeze….and if you have any extras give them to me. I’m going to need it.

Cookies anyone?

If you are well informed on cookies then fill me in. So you see, I'm having trouble posting pictures. I know I'm not the most computer intelligent but I know I'm following all the steps and its still not working. A fix is in the works. I emailed blogger and it has something to do with cache and cookies, both things that sound great, but stop me from putting pics us. Someday.....

Don't talk to them....they're Mormon!!

So the pile of boxes have been reduced to my head instead of the ceiling. We are now sleeping in our newe home, yea!!!! (Our status doesn't really fit the description of "moved in"). The kids have held up suprisingly well. I'm realizing how bad life really was the past three months, which I can say now because it's over with. The people here are so friendly...no, soooooo friendly, which we gladly welcomed. The house is great and we now have room for visitors, so come one and come all. Now need to book in advance, we're not that cool.
So the people we bought the home from are the best ever. Not only did we get the house but a friend to. The real estate market should consider getting new yards signs that indicate if a friend comes with the deal as well. The wifes name is Heather and she was so nice to give us all the neighborhood info, extra furniture, (all nicer then what we previously owned), goodies galore for the girls bedroom, a clean house, fresh landscaping, the whole works!! One more bonus was the large bottle of wine on the countertop with a sweet letter. I immediately wondered what to do with this wine, any suggestions?
The day we moved in Heather came to say hello, as we were talking the missionaries walked past. I waved and smiled, Heather said "Don't talk to them, they're the Mormon missionaries"
I responded by telling her that it was O.K. because we too were Mormon. As she's pulling her foot out of her mouth she says, then you probably aren't going to drink the wine. I told her probably not (you never really know...it had been a realy long week. j/k) We're both feeling embarassed. An hour later our new bishop shows up looking concerned and asking if everything was O.K. Heather, our seller, had been a room mom with the bishop's wife who she knew was Mormon. Heather had left our house, called the bishop to tell them we were home alone, with a truck full of stuff and needed the Mormon support team to move us in. The funny thing is it had already been arranged and we were just an hour ahead of schedule, waiting for the E.Q. to show up. She is just so nice, watching out for us and all. Later I met her at the pool with Charlotte and Rozlyn, while Mason slept and the guys unloaded. She told me she had contacted the Mormons to help us and asked if one of the Mormon wives was watching Mason.
Well the Mormon talk has been huge, at the pool Heathers daughter asked Charlotte, "Are you Mormon?" Charlotte looked confused and replied "I don't know, what's that?" It's time to break out the Brite music "I'm a Mormon, yes I am, and if you want to know what a Mormon is I'm a living speciman...." So all the neighbors now know, from Heather sharing her embarassing "don't talk to them" story, which really makes life easy for us. Bring on the missionary experiences.
This is the worlds longest blog, I'm not a very concise story teller. If you've made it this far you get one final non-PG rated story as a bonus, & I'll leave make it concise..the cable guy saw me in my bare nothings. After the pool the day we moved in the movers were still unloading so I went in my bathroom, paranoid at so many men wandering around, locked myself in, stripped down, and wandered into the closet to grab some clothes to find the cable guy just as scared as I was. So my question to you is, why are the cable boxes in the master closet???

Breakfast Time

So I woke up this morning to the dreaded Monday morning knowing that in just a short while kids would wakeup and not only that they'd probably be hungry. Rozzie was the first to arise, in an attempt to catch a few more Zzzz's I bargained with her that if she wouldn't make any peeps we'd have waffles for breakfast (the kind you pop in the toaster). So waffles it was, which really was the easiest for me beacause I just put some syrup on thier plate, give them the waffles whole and then it becomes a finger food, just break off a small piece and dip it.
Well Mason has most recently discovered table food. We were pleasantly suprised on our trip to Idaho to learn from my brothers baby, who is 3 weeks older then Mason that you dont' have to break the cheerios in half. Babies can eat them whole without even choking!!! I could have learned this lesson 2 kids ago. Needless to say we've really expanded our eating horizons since then. The problem is that baby food is no longer a favorite as it once was, in fact he'll hardly eat it. We get more on his face then in his mouth. He much prefers his canned veggies to the pureed variety.
On that same trip , we were highchair-less. Mason and myself were made fun of because I'd just sprinkle some food on the floor and he'd crawl after it, eating away. I now can laugh at myself and realize how bad it must have looked. This morning after waffles they were still hungry, but trying to minimize the amount of work I'd have to do, I just started handing them some of Mason's KIX. So we weren't eating on the floor but we were eating without bowls, sharing from a family pile of KIX generously poured on the middle of the table. This proved to be a great activity. First the KIX got smashed and turned into spicy pepper, "don't taste them they'll burn your tongue", second the mashed KIX became pixie dust, which they smashed with their pitch forks. Then they were taking turns feeding Mason "cheese filled KIX" they claimed that these ones "tasted really good". We all got a good laugh and the game lasted forever. I'd reccommend it to anyone trying to stall a future Monday from really starting.
While I was cleaning up, Rozlyn rummaged through Mason's drawer and showed up in the kitchen in his church clothes. It made me laugh and laugh and so I had to snap a picture so that I could send it Chris and show him the fun he's missing out on.

(So I can't figure out how to post pictures, but they'll come someday)

New Family Rule

Today is Sunday, really the best day of the week. A husband all day long, a nap, talking to friends and family and now blogging (this constitutes as family history, journal writing, right?) So today we were at our almost new ward. We went a week early to recruit help to move us in. We love the E.Q. moving package and you can't beat the price. This is our first opportunity to take advantage of such a service. While at church we implemented our new family rule for the first time: No more then two children can be touching mom at a single time. If two kids are already on me, the third must wait there turn. It might sound harsh, so let me assure you that I really do love my kids to pieces. They're the best. I just can love them better two at a time.

Along with the new ward came a new church time. 9:00a.m. We were so excited to find this out. We have a way of being magnets for the worst church meeting schedules. Over our 4 years in Houston we bounced between 8:30, (which meant leave the house 8:00) and 2:00 schedule. At one time they split the wards in November and we were teased with 10:00, a decent time, until the time switched at the new year, about a month later. The past two months we discovered a new worst time 3:00. That is why we were so excited about 9:00. Chris joked that it would probably be back to 1:00 in January. He was wrong, when we got to church today they announced that in August our ward would start meeting at 1:00, (they change on the school years). We are officially the bad schedule magnets. On the bright side, we do have one more week at 9:00:)

A Great Day!!!

A Great Day!!!
What a great day. From time to time a day comes by that you're so grateful for and you realize life isn't as bad as you once though. Today is one of those days. First off it's Friday (and it's already 3:20), that is just a movie or so away until Chris comes home and I take the weekend off. Second, I braved the impossible and took all three kids (who can't yet swim), swimming and no one drowned, or even came close. Swimming is the biggest ordeal with three, from getting the gear, to sunblock for everyone, to an intermittment snack that won't get to wet and soggy, to the baths when we get home. It's no wonder we hardly ever do and why I'm in such a great moode when we survive it. Third, it's Friday (like I already said) but that means we are finally less then a week away from closing on our house. The countdown can officially begin. Life is only good so long in an apartment with 5 people and next Thursday marks the end. Fourth, the is the best news of all, I got all three kids asleep at the same time (which I should thank the swimming for, along with the Texas heat). This only happens maybe 1 time per month. Charlotte rarely sleeps, and Rozlyn is only sleeping a few times per week, I can't seem to get them to sleep on the same days. On top of that I have to coordinate it with Mason's nap, needless to say getting all three asleep is next to impossible. However it happened today, and I'm always a better mom when that happens. Fifth, I'm now a blogger, which I can thank the sleeping kids for allowing me the time to put it together. I know this all seems very circular but if your a mom you'll understand my excitement because as a mom who has hard days, day in and day out, you have to get excited for the little things.