How we were (so rudely) awakened this morning.

This morning was unbelievable! At 6:45am I was awakened to the sound of the girls voices chattering--VERY LOUDLY. What I thought was going on was that Abby got up to go potty and Savannah was already going and they were talking to each other loudly. Since the bathroom and their bedroom open to a common area where my room AND Luke's room are, I did NOT want them to wake Luke up, so I jumped out of bed and said, "SHHHHH....BE QUIET!!!" (yelling while whispering, nice touch!). As it turns out, I was not yelling at MY children, I was yelling at our NEIGHBORS boy, Kaeden who apparently got himself dressed, put on his backpack, walked right into our home and up to the girls room and was wondering why they were SLEEPING?!?! I could NOT believe it. His mom didn't know he was here either because she's got a little one and had a rough night and had fallen back to sleep with the younger one and Kaeden took off. How nice. Of course the girls would not go back to sleep. I was very disappointed because we had a late night and I thought for sure the girls would be sleeping in. No such luck! What a morning!

Baby it's hot outside!

My oh my...we've had an incredibly mild summer so far and honestly, I can't complain...it's the end of August and I think we've had about 3 or 4 HOT days so far this summer, but man, it's WARM! I heard that it reached 100 or more today and yesterday and I'm hoping that it's going to cool a bit in the near future, although since we don't have television to watch the weather and I never know what website has accurate information. I tell ya though, on days (actually nights) like this I seriously envy my children. I don't know why, but I have this need to make my children as comfortable as possible...I think all parents do, but I also think my selfishness has a bit to do with it :) (the more comfortable they are, the less chance there is that they'll wake me up at night!). The children have air conditioners in their bedrooms. AHHHHH!! So I keep their rooms cool and then shut them off before I go to sleep. There are nights when I wish I could just curl up in their rooms and sleep away in a nice, chilled room. Our room has a weird window that won't allow us to install an a/c without MUCH trouble. It's not so bad at night, but we also can't really open our bedroom window because we're right on the street and it's pretty noisy and I'm an incredibly light sleeper.

So we just got back home from my parents house. The girls went up there on Saturday morning and then spent Sunday and Monday in Tahoe. Lucky girls!! Grandma and Papa brought them up and took them out in the boat. They stayed at a hotel with a swimming pool and hot tub. They were living the high-life! They had a really good time. I'm going to get my parents to blog about it for me...since they know all of the details.

I'm ending here for now, I started this post last night and I've just gotta get it out there. I'll post more photos soon too!

My Goodness!!

I've been reading some of my friends blogs lately...namely:
www.homeschoolblogger.com/CupHalfFull (Which belongs to my good friend AmyBeth) and
www.greenrepublican.blogspot.com a blog I didn't even know existed until the other day and belongs to a long time online friend (the woman I'd like to be one day! Hahaha :))

Anyway, in comparison (and yes I know, there is no comparing one mommy to another and all that stuff, but in comparison, my blog is sad! I guess there is always something to strive toward and I do thank you ladies for being a constant inspiration, but for heavens sake, you're making me look bad!!!

Anyway, I am who I am and by the Grace of God am (hopefully) improving every day. I'd like to have strong political, nutritional, environmental views that I feel so passionate about that I have to get it out there and share with the world my cause...but I'm not there yet. I do have a passion for many of these things, but I'm still learning to FLY (so to speak). I also wish that I had an organized menu and homeschool plan and all that stuff...and hey, while I'm at it, wish I felt like gushing about my husband and how wonderful he is (which he is, I just don't feel that way all the time!!) and sincerely mean it...perhaps one day I'll get there. For now, I've got my simple stories, ambitions and lackluster passions to share...and with much prayer and of course each new day it'll improve. For those of you who are STILL with me and STILL reading my blog...THANK YOU! It's good to feel loved!!

Savannah is Brilliant!

Of course I've always known that Savannah's sensitive nature and somewhat eccentric way was due to the fact that she was a total genius, but she never ceases to amaze me with the things she comes up with. She's started writing short sentences with the magnets we have on the refrigerator, and of course the number of letters we have is rather limited, so she improvised...I thought it was rather brilliant using a "Z" for an "N" and a "V" for an "A". I tell ya, where does she come up with this stuff??

Something she said recently that cracked me up: "Mommy, what are you going to get me for Christmas?" to which I replied, "I don't know, what would you like?" She looks at me and says, "Hmmmm...give me some options!" Hahahaha...OPTIONS??? I didn't realize a child her age needed "Options"!

First day of school...in the neighborhood.

Yesterday school started in our area. It's strange to think that Savannah is officially a Kindergartener although we're not going to start until after Labor day. I'm in the process of getting our home organized and streamlined so that when we do start, it's not so overwhelming. To be honest, the thought of homeschooling IS a bit overwhelming anyway, but it's definitely a challenge I'm looking forward to. It's nice to have the neighborhood kids gone during the day again. It brings back a bit of normalcy. This neighborhood is wonderful in many ways, but the lack of privacy/time JUST for family is a bit difficult to swallow at times. We got new neighbors with 2 dogs--the one thing I was praying for was NO dogs! One is a Yorkie-Poo which Savannah adores. She's always wanted a little dog to care for and now she has one she can play with without all of the added responsibility. The dog runs all over, including into our home and then of course the girl next door comes running into our home after him. It's very frustrating because people around here feel like they can just come into your home whenever they want. It's also pretty much impossible to have any family time outside without other children around and that does get a bit old at times. Anyway, enough about that.

Abby has been staying dry like a champ!! She hasn't had an accident in a while and has actually earned new panties for Savannah AND herself. She was pretty excited about that. It's so nice that she's going to the potty on her own, without me having to remind her constantly. I never thought we'd get here!

The Girls First Camp Out.

Last night the girls had their very first camp out in our backyard. Grandma Karen and Grandpa Jonathan were the brave ones to sleep outside in the tent with them. It took quite a while for everyone to wind down (it didn't help that our kitty, Daisy was harassing them from outside of the tent) but just after 10pm everyone drifted off.

Grandpa and Grandma came over yesterday during our usual Friday morning "play-date". It was a bit hectic because there were LOTS of kids here. Liza was here with Joshua, Jackson and Joel and Julie was here with Brianna and Timothy. Jason, our new neighbor who is 3 was also here as was Felicity...then Grandpa and Grandma arrived! Talk about a bit overwhelming. It wore Grandpa out so fast he had to go take a L-O-N-G nap!

Once everyone left we got into more of a groove for the day (even though it was actually about 1pm by then). We had lunch, Abby took her nap and then the fun began. The girls helped Grandpa set the tent up. Tents have come a long way, this one was REALLY cool and was put up SO fast we had to do it twice because Jeremy missed the first take! Then we started a fire, roasted hot dogs (threw away the freshly purchased MOLDY buns--EWW!) and marshmallows and had s'mores--YUMMY! Apparently that campfire was the attraction of the decade because we had quite a group of kids over here. It was a great time though and it was so nice sitting around a camp fire, it's been a LONG time since I last did that.

The girls slept pretty well, although Savannah was up at 6:30--go figure. Abby actually slept in until after 8, even though it was pretty noisy and rather bright. When she's sleepy, she wants to sleep! What a good girl!

I tell ya, there is nothing like waking up and having your hot cup of coffee outside in the fresh, damp morning air! Oh, it was wonderful. I don't think I've ever seen our yard at that hour before (granted it was about 7:30, but still, I don't usually get outside that early). Savannah sipped hot cocoa (or lukewarm cocoa, as she likes it). Apparently she was watching Jonathan put in his contacts this morning and asked him what he was doing. He was explaining how he couldn't read anything until he got them in and she replied, "That's okay, I can't read either!" Hahaha...then later she told me that she watched Grandpa put his "tonsils" in! She's so funny!

Once everyone was up and moving around, we went out berry picking. It felt like an actual camping trip. It was quite a trek through lots of weeds and stickers, but we got enough berries to make a berry shortcake for lunch. Jonathan wanted the girls to have the full camping experience, so they cooked canned spaghetti on the Coleman stove. Then it was nap time for Grandpa and Abby.



This evening we had another fire and hot dog roast...and of course we had marshmallows. Grandpa and Grandma packed up and went home, but it sure was a fun visit. The girls passed the first test of camping readiness.

Big Stuff Happenin'

Well, we've got some milestones here! :) Savannah is officially riding her bike without training wheels! Yay! What a big kid! I should actually say, she's riding ABBY'S bike, not hers. Unfortunately her bike is a bit big, so she's taken to using Abby's bike, the bike that USED to belong to Savannah. Our neighbor, Rick was working with the girls yesterday and Savannah picked it right up. She was quite wobbly yesterday evening, but today she's been riding a TON! I'm so proud of her. Now we've got to find a bike for Abby because she's feeling really left out. Poor girl! I told Jeremy that we could buy a little bike that we could use for Luke when he gets older, and he seemed to be okay with that idea. Jeremy isn't always keen on the idea of buying the children toys that they're going to quickly grow out of so at least this way I can guarantee it'll get more use.

Just a couple of little notes about Luke also, just so I don't ever forget. He is excellent with grabbing stuff these days. One of the funniest things he does is he'll hold his hands above his face and stare at them. Then it looks as if he's "willing" them into his mouth as he S L O W L Y moves his hands down and into his mouth. It's such a funny looking and oh so purposeful movement. This little guy almost always has his sweet little ankles crossed and when he's not busy (which isn't all that often these days), he's got his little hands folded across his chest. He always looks like he's ready to say prayers. He's always done that and I just think it's SOOOO sweet looking, especially when he's in the sling or something and he's asleep, he looks like such a little angel. He is trying SO hard to roll over these days and he's getting pretty close. He goes easily from tummy to back, but he gets way over on his side from back to tummy but he hasn't made it all the way yet...I know it's just a matter of days though because he gets so determined sometimes and tries and tries and tries! You have to admire the persistence of children, it's pretty amazing.

Last night Luke slept from 8pm until 7:45am without waking once. Of course I didn't sleep well from 5am on because I kept waiting for him to wake up. I know once he gets into the habit of sleeping thru, I will too, but for now I'm just so happy that he does have the occasional phenomenal night. The trouble has been with him GOING TO and STAYING asleep. I usually nurse him to sleep and then put him in his crib. He's usually completely asleep, but about 20 minutes later he's crying again. It's very frustrating because I've had many nights where he's pretty much attached to me all evening long and I can't get anything done. Usually the evenings are my time to catch up on anything that I didn't get done that day, plan homeschool stuff or just enjoy the evening. Thankfully when he does that I can still watch television and all, but I usually get to bed way too late because he doesn't finally go for the night until about 10pm. Way too late in my opinion.

It seems like I do so much writing about Luke and Savannah and not a whole lot about Abby. I really don't know why that is, she really is an adorable, funny little knuckle head. She's always saying very funny, silly things, I guess I just forget them too quickly. I've been trying to keep track of the funny things they say, but of course I'm not too consistent with that...but I'm going to try. And my goal is to come back within the week and write about something silly or funny Abby did or said, because for heaven's sake, they happen ALL THE TIME...the girl is a character! And OH SOOOOO cute! She has to be about the cutest little curly-headed thing I've ever seen.

Jeremy has taken the girls on a "night hike" up the "Tallest Mountain". The "Tallest Mountain" is a hill behind our house that has a water tower and some sort of building with a radio transmitter. They went up there the other night because we keep intercepting radio transmissions over our surround sound speakers...kinda creepy! And sure enough, the guy was up there in the building and he told Jeremy about a HAM radio class and now Jeremy is all interested. Just what Jeremy needs: another expensive hobby! Anyway, they took off at 8:30pm, each of them brandishing a flashlight. It'll be fun to hear what they did and saw. As they were leaving they saw the owl we hear every night, so that's pretty cool. I was telling Jeremy that in no time (probably next year at this time), he'll be able to take ALL of the children while I soak in the tub or something. I need a good soak in the tub from time to time. Don't we all?

Well I should be going now. If I actually have the time and brain cells this evening, I need to start an outline for a business plan for an idea I have. It's an idea I've had for a very, very long time...like at least 8 years...and I'm thinking that it's about time we gave it a go. I told my dad and Jeremy that I really want to do this, but I'm going to really, really need their help...as in, they have to do the majority of the work. My #1 priority is to be a homeschooling mommy and I can't let a business idea get in the way, but it definitely would be something that would be fun for all of us to work on together. Who knows, maybe one day we'll be on "The Big Idea" with Donny Deutsch, you never know!