Post #300

Wow, I can't believe I have posted that many. It does make me happy to see that I have been able to keep up with this blog so I can add these posts as my diary entries. I am glad that I get to write about what goes on around here, my thoughts although not very nice ones some times. I tend to get carried away and end up writing more than I should. I have been trying to control myself and leave that extra stuff for my personal diary. Time is key really, I can't write when all the kids are home, so I usually do it when they are at school and Aaron is taking a nap, it works best that way, or some times I can't sleep at night and come downstairs to write what ever I am thinking of. Thanks for reading the blog and for your comments, they are always appreciated.

To buy or not to buy

That is the question... after a weekend of pucking (Aaron not me) and not being able to clean up that well int he middle of the night, I ended up with a bunch of stains in my room, the boys room and the living room. I usually don't have to worry about it with the older ones because they know drill and they make themselves wait until they get to the toilet. Being three years old I understand it is a little too hard to remember that and I am not mad at him for leaving red stains all over the place. But now it is up to me to get those stains off the carpet and made the house look nice again.
I am so tired but it has to be done because if I wait longer the stains will probably stay there for ever. While at Walmart at looked at a couple of possibilities like the Dirt Devil spot remover, a little hand held steam vacuum that was about $38.00 and also a Bissell Quick Steamer (upright) that runs for $80.00 at Walmart. I did not buy either one but instead got the Woolite foam that comes with a brush on a stick to make it easier to clean I guess. That one was only $13.00 and I decided to get it instead because now I am waiting for my sister in law Tashia to try a Bissell back in VA and she will let me know if it is worth trying it. The Woolite stuff worked OK, but it could look better, it needs a lot of elbow grease and I am out of it. I could have rented one of those machines from Krogrers but that would have been like $50.00 all together and it is a heavy machine and it takes me about a day and a half to get the whole house clean.
So now I wait and see if Bissell will be a good investment, since I have kids and it is a sure thing that they will throw up again.

Aaron being sick.

Since Friday at midnight Aaron has been sick throwing up. He actually seemed to be doing better by yesterday afternoon. After Dan got back from school we found Aaron sitting on the top of the couch looking out the window, I thought he looked a little down and so out of energy. We ended up going to the park to throw the football around for a little while, he was having fun and enjoying himself but did not eat dinner and this morning while I was getting ready to study a lesson I had to sub for in primary he came to me to tell me he needed to throw up and he did, this time he did it in the toilet!!! I usually keep Pedialyte in the fridge so when the kids are sick I don't have to run out to the store with a pucking child, but I ran out, so I went over to Wallgreens, yes I know it is Sunday but I am not going to let my child dehydrate. So once again he seems to be doing OK but I am not completely sure he is out of the woods yet. So not fun to have a sick kid, they just don't seem the same, Aaron specially looks so much whiter than usual and drops down on the floor where ever he is standing, he has fallen asleep on the steps, the kitchen floor, the living room. I want my Aaron back!!!

Stress, frustration or just simple temporary insanity.

On Monday while waiting for Dan to come home I had asked the kids to clean up their messy rooms. Did they do it? Of course not. Now I am a very easy going person when people around me do as they are told even if it takes them a whole day but if it gets done before the end of the day I will be happy. You think that by now after all these years they would get it through their heads but no.
BEFORE PICS




Shayna is my number one procrastinator at the house (OK I am guilty too), but seriously when I told her to clean up for the 5th time, I found her sitting on her behind playing on the computer. That did it for me. I went crazy and took all her books off the shelves, all her toys and countless trash that was hiding under the mattresses and piled it up in a corner while I took her bed apart. She has this cute bunk bed that Dan got for her back in Utah when we first moved there. I was never happy with it in the first place because I always wanted her room in a special way and the big bulky bed made it impossible to create the atmosphere that Shayna needed. But we got the bed and what did she do the first week? She broke the desk part where the keyboard goes, she painted all over the bunk bed, put stickers and just made a big mess with it. I always felt she never really appreciated what she had. I had told Dan that I wanted to transfer that bed unto the boys room so Victor could have it and he just didn't think it was a good idea.
So on Monday in my crazy single mom status I lost it and Shayna is now without her upper bunk bed. I created a space for Victor that he so desperately needed and he LOVES LOVES LOVES it, the fact that he has a desk and his own bookshelf was the best thing ever. Shayna on the other had was sad but when I finished with her bedroom she realized That my idea for a little girl room was a great one. She has so much space now and it is so much easy to clean up and keep organized. She doesn't have so many hiding spots to keep candy wrappers, candy, glue bottles, cups with water, pretzels, etc. I found SO many things in that bunk bed it was just absolutely disgusting.
It was a lot of work and at times I thought I was not going to be strong enough to move that heavy piece of furniture but I made it and with no broken bones or a single scratch. I am so proud of myself for accomplishing all of that by myself before Dan got home that night.
On top of everything I probably saved about $200.00 by recycling Shayna's bed. The only thing we needed to get was a little drawer cabinet for her lamp to sit on and a little book shelf for her many items that needed to be stored somehow. I found a cheap book case for $15.00 and the little totes are from the dollar store, aren't they cute?

AFTER PICS

Even Aaron has his own big boy bed now too, since Victor broke his when we first bought it.

Welcome back Papi!!!

Some kind of relief was brought back to my life on Monday night when we saw Dan in the crowds. The kids were so happy to see him again and they made him a sign.
After I pointed to them where he was they all rad towards him and left me holding the sign. It was all so dramatic :)

When we got home he proceeded to show off what he acquired while in VA, a couple of memories from his dad, some letters and of course the big item was this riffle had used when he was in boy scouts. Needless to say he is a very happy guy with this item. (not me)


Aaron then went to look for his gun and showed me how to shoot with it. I think he takes after his dad.

So GLAD Dan is home!!!

Last day being a single mom.

So we are finally at the end of this LONG LONG LONG weekend and we are so glad Dan is coming home tonight. We are planning to go pick him up and wait for him with a sign and everything. I have been having such a hard time with him gone and any times broke down crying and the kids got a little worried for a while. Tristan asked me last night "So now what is going to happen? Is Daddy coming ever coming back?" I know, I know, a drama queen over here crying my eyes out in front of my kids :) They have actually been their normal selves, but by me being the only one to care for them it just seemed like it was intensified a million times.
We kept busy all weekend, Friday Shayna had a special thing going on at the Humble Civic Center, she had entered a drawing contest and they were displaying her picture at this Rodeo Art Show. She was so happy to get a ribbon for it. I took the kids to Chick File for dinner that night, since Shayna had a Spelling Bee at school and she got a coupon for participating in it. So she got a free meal and I got a free sandwich and I only payed $10.00 to feed 4 kids and me. I LOVE coupons. Saturday we went to the craft store and got some colored pencils, acrylic paint and special paper for Shayna to paint, we kind of had a little art contest but it ended up being a nightmare since Shayna spilled the paint on the carpet as she was walking all over the place with her painting not realizing she was dripping the paint all over. So we did not finish that all the way, but she did a great job on the painting. Yesterday we went to church, the Spanish branch they have at the stake center and I really liked it. The kids had a hard time understanding except for Shayna, but I think it was a cool experience for everyone.
Shayna has been helping me with the quilt I am working on and she does a good job, I already promised her to work on her own quilt with her own design. So that was my weekend husband less and I don't want to do that again any time soon. I am glad he had the chance to go back and be with his brothers, sister and mom, glad he is able to bring back some memories from his dad, including a rifle (not so happy about that) and hope that he appreciates the time he had by himself but also hope that she missed us and will come back and give us big hugs and kisses because we sure missed him.

PS. I was also working a cute cake that I had to deliver on Saturday, I think it turned out really cute and the costumer loved it.

Dinner time!!!

Survived day one of being home all alone with the kids. We basically stayed home all day until afternoon when Shayna begged and begged to go to the craft store to check out the oil paints and art supplies. We ended up getting a couple of things for them to develop their artistic side and I have to say Victor and Shayna LOVE coloring, drawing and now painting. Before we headed for home I stopped at Walmart to get some fruit and yogurt for our dinner, I wanted to make something simple and delicious at the same time, lately they don't eat anything I make or eat the vegetables only and leave the meat or main dish on the side. I know that I should be happy they are eating vegetable but they need some protein as well.
So they picked their own yogurt and then I cut up their strawberries and bananas into pieces, added some grapes and then mixed in the yogurt, for the topping they all wanted mini M&Ms and Shayna and I had Special K instead, much healthier :)
They LOVED it, and ate it all gone, I was surprised since it was a big bowl and I had the exact same amount. They kept giving the thumbs up and that made my day. It was a simple thing and very easy to do and it made them so happy too.
I will have to come up with something good for tomorrow or maybe we'll just have the same thing again :)