Kit, Liberty & the Pursuit of Happiness

Missing the South

2012-02-21T12:47:00.003-06:00

Happy Fat Tuesday, ya'll! I am missing the deep Southern culture this time of year. The yummy stickiness of King Cake, the spice of boiled peanuts and the fabulous parades throwing beads, stuffed animals and moon pies into the waiting arms of my cheering children. Ahhh, Mardi Gras, how we miss you. I did purchase a King Cake this year, but had to find one at a specialty grocer. ...sigh... and when your children reminisce about how they miss their Mardi Gras school break, you know we're missing Alabama.

So a little feel of the Soul of the South from a band with our {{Albama}} love goin' on...

The Old Saying...

2012-02-13T21:15:00.002-06:00

Ya'll know the old adage your parents parroted to you as a youth? It goes something like this..."if your ______ told you to jump off a _____ would you do it?" The correct answer here is "No! Of course not!". Hmmm...if your name happens to be Gavin and we filled in the blanks with "older brother" and "2nd story bedroom window sill" the answer would be "Yes, I would and did. Ninjas can jump that far." *sigh* His poor guardian angels work over-time keeping that kid out of the ER.

Reality Vs. Imagination

2012-01-28T08:05:00.002-06:00

And the dead shall rise...no, not a zombie apocalypse, just something worthy of resurrecting my dead blog. What is worthy of such feat? Imagination. Yep, boys and girls, I have found the secret to a happy existence. Imagination. The secret of life is learned from a little child. My beasties have a LARGE repertoire of imaginary scenarios to choose from. The idea occurred to me last night as I was tucking my youngest son into bed. He insisted on wearing a black cloth around the lower half of his face due to the fact he was the "lightning ninja" and ninjas wear black masks. After explaining he might just suffocate during the night and there could be nothing more un-ninja like than that, he settled for clutching it in his hand with the promise of wearing it in the morning. Why would this inspire me? Well, what I haven't explained is he also didn't want to go to bed until he realized ninjas sleep is also like training...you need energy and ninjas can sleep anywhere, anytime (ok, there might have been a little brain washing from me on that one). He decided bed wasn't such a bad idea. Hmmm...maybe we're onto something here. Yep, this morning the wheels were turning and I thought I'd try a little of the imagination thing for myself. And let me tell you, it is AMAZING! See for yourself.

Scenario: I am lounging in my bed.

Imagination: I am lounging in my bed against soft and fluffy pillows dressed in a lovely grass green peignoir. My hair is naturally, of course, cascading softly over my shoulders in large curls and I am darlingly fresh-faced after a rewarding night of beauty sleep. I am relaxing to the sounds of my children laughing and playing downstairs, while I read an enlightening book and munching on calorie-free bonbons (uh, lets make it red-velvet cherries from Albanees, yum).

Reality: (brace yourself) I am lounging in my bed against soft and limp pillows-probably due to the fact they are not much more than dust mite fodder. My hair is a relative rat's nest, yesterday's curls are not handling beauty sleep becomingly. I am not wearing a beautiful peignoir...I am wearing an old tee of Kit's and exercise pants-hmmm, smelling slightly stale...could be due to the fact I have worn them to bed a couple of nights already this week or maybe because my sheets need to be washed. Could be. I know I have dragon breath and the darling sparkles in the air are caused by dust fluttering down from the blades of my fan as it spins. My children are playing together downstairs, but the laughter is starting to get that shrill edge to it, a sure indication of intervention needed soon. No enlightening book, just me clicking away on the laptop, And no red-velvet cherries. Sigh...probably a good thing since they are not calorie free and I would be stuffing them down my throat as fast as my greedy hands can scoop them up. I am chewing on a broken nail, though.

See, imagination is so much better than the reality! The images make me smile...

You may think my reasoning silly, but when I'm smiling sweetly as I separate laundry (Imagination: I'm Cinderella {a beautiful dark-haired version} sweetly going about my chores my wicked step-mother created for me) and you are begrudgingly doing yours, you might just buy into my secret of happiness.

'Tis the Season

2011-12-13T18:05:00.007-06:00

And for some reason I am not feeling jolly. Could it be my shoes are too tight? I don't know, but I've been less than into Christmas this season. I started my shopping/budgeting late this year and I HATE trying to figure out money and gifts. Ugggh...if only I had an endless budget to give the best gifts EVER. I know I'd be an amazing gifter. It is my favorite thing to do!! Sigh...Behind and feeling stressed is not how I wanted my season to go. I had grandiose ideas of the things we'd do and experience and I truly haven't accomplished anything much. Blahhh!

BUT, the true reason for the Christmas Season has been smacking me upside the head quite often. It probably started out with Josiah coming to me and asking the "truth". I believe in coming clean, but also reminding him what Santa is all about. And, Josiah had no problem catching on. In fact, he has been teaching me the lessons. He has been so excited in sharing the joy of Christmas with his brothers. He helps out with Jean Luc (our special Cajun Elf on the Shelf) and gleams with joy when his brothers giggle when they see the funny places our elf hides. He has hemmed and hawed over his Christmas list since he knows when funding for gifts comes from. I have had to remind him to still write a list, Christmas miracles happen. He has come home with treats and ideas from school to share and help his brothers get all excited. And then, he even offered his money. I was looking online making lists for the boys when he noticed what I was doing. He remembered Gavin has asked for a DS this year. He knows they cost a lot and so the next thing I see is him coming towards me with his birthday money in hand. Being the sweet brother he is, he offered it up to help us afford Gav's DS. I told him not to worry about it, but he persisted and finally explained he wanted Gavin to have the best gift and wanted to help out. So willing to give. So willing to love. Thank you Josiah for a sweet lesson on selfless giving.

You gotta watch out for cracken, the weed and Sonic

2011-11-12T13:42:00.002-06:00

Another post minus pictures...awful, I know. It is because I used up all of my picture energy printing out a gi-normous stack for my little bro on his mission. Sorry...energy all depleted. So, ya'll get a little post of words. But at least I AM posting.

This past couple of weeks have been red ribbon weeks for my beasties. Gunnison came home shaking his booty to a rap "no, no, I won't do drugs 'cause I love my body too much!" Yes, little pale Gunner had his gangsta moment. Gavin came home full of quips on how drugs hurt your agility, memory and other necessary skills required to perform well in the ninja arena. And then Josiah came home full of good, accurate information. Stuff like "you gotta watch out for cracken and the weed. Mom, that stuff is bad! Cracken makes you all crazy and the weed makes you see things...yep, you better watch out for cracken and the weed." Cracken, huh...hmmm...better make sure I help him understand the real terminology. Wouldn't want anyone offering crack or coke to him and him be like "sure! As long as it's not that cracken stuff. You gotta watch out for it!"

And Sonic...I sure gotta watch out for Sonic. The realization that I am addicted to the jolly Happy Hour at Sonic kinda slapped me in the face. Emmeline is getting quite chatty, mostly gibberish, but real words and concepts make there way out randomly. I noticed as we traveled down Jefferson Ave., Emme will randomly call out "dank-you!!" After a few of these, I paid attention and noticed it was as we were passing Sonic. Hmmm...could that be it? Yep, on a random act of necessary vice-ness, I pulled in and bought a drink for me and some for the beasties. I thanked the car-hop and hear an echo behind me. I pour a bit off the boys' into her sippy (yep, I allow my not quite 2 year old too sugary drinks) and hear another "dank-you". Could it be? Uh-huh. Sonic has been re-named "dank-you". Unfortunately, the addiction realization continued when the car-hop made his early college/high-school rear back to my window to check on us. (By the way, did you know they offer free refills as long as you are there? Yes, that's right. Go ahead, smile as you get a refill on your big ol' Route 44 drink. Fabulousness.) "Hey," he says with a bright-eyed smile. "You colored your hair! I like it darker." I stammer out that this is my more natural color and thank you. He doesn't even know my name, but he has seen me enough to know my hair colors. Been there a little too often. Maybe. Just a little. Gotta watch out for Sonic. It's addictive, I tell ya.

Hmmm...

2011-11-03T08:47:00.002-05:00

You know you need to write a blog post when you, yourself, start checking the blog daily to see if a new post has composed itself...

Hmmm...I promise a post will be arriving...not promising it will be much. Sorry, just not feelin' the bloggy cleverness lately.

Noggin

2011-09-28T17:02:00.003-05:00

I took Emmeline to her 18 month well-baby check and immunizations today (I know, she's past 18 months). She was on the 1% for height, 1% for weight and 65% for head circumference.

Hmmm...Kit is just waiting for her to stand in front of the TV screen .

The Act of Becoming

2011-09-19T10:37:00.002-05:00

-Warning- This post is just my rambling thoughts. No cute pictures of the beasties or beastette-

From the time we are little we are questioned what we want to be when we grow up. In fact, my two oldest boys were recently asked this question in school. Their answers made me smile as they fit their personalities to a "T". Josiah wants to be a scientist, a researcher and Gavin wants to be a ninja-veterinarian (he does not feel these professions need to be exclusive). I always knew I wanted to be a mother, a wife, a sister, a friend and a good daughter. In seeing myself in these roles I sometimes wonder how I got here. How did I end up being 30 years old, caretaker of 4 children-of course having the body to prove I have given birth to said 4 children, wife to my husband and minder of all things pertaining to my household and family? I know there were choices that led me here...before meeting my future sweetie I had decided to move to OK and attend OSU, after being married we ended up surprised with number 1, praying about number 2, being surprised by number 3 and knowing there needed to be a 4th. We moved here and there, but always keeping in touch with our family. These decisions have all helped shape my life, shaped me.

I hadn't really thought about this much, but the realization struck me when given a blessing by my husband. The words in the blessing from my Heavenly Father were a phrase out of my patriarchal blessing. In that moment, I knew I had become something the Lord intended for me from the start. It was a peaceful feeling to know I made it to the right place at the right time of my life. So, the tired gears in my mind have been going for the last couple of weeks. Chugging along at a depressingly slow rate, let me tell you...but I have noticed a feeling of recognition when I have come across things that have made me...ME. Loving to be around children, the desire to learn more more more, the protectiveness for anyone I feel maternal about (whether it is my beasties, my friends' children, my little brothers or the most darling, fabulous, cute co-worker of my husband) and the urge to armor up my little warriors for the battles of life are a few things that make me who I am. These traits are in part innate and in part learned. But, I struggle every day, EVERY DAY to be a better, nicer person. It's hard!! The struggle often ends in defeat with me in the corner furiously sipping on a CFDCw/VC (caffeine free diet coke with vanilla and cherry added- for those of you who don't know my addiction) to help me feel better about myself and my failures. The thing is, I am my worst critic. My harshest point of view is directed at myself. Do I fail? Oh, so often it hurts! But, I get back up. I keep struggling to be better. That is the conclusion all my muddled thinking has resulted in-the getting up, the trudging along, the bumps, bruises and scars are all the act of becoming who we should be. I am in the act of becoming.

Checked Out for the Summer

2011-09-08T14:36:00.003-05:00

(downloaded from google images)

Whew! This has been one crazy summer...family visiting, driving over 36 hours to South Dakota for a fam reunion...then the return trip, another road trip to Okie for my little brother's wedding to the darling Miss Hannah and finally the start of school for all three of my boys. Sheesh! If only the road trips made me shed weight instead of gain it. I'd be one skinny babe if the hours spent in the car battling barf, headaches, name-calling, shoving, malfunctioning electronics, dirty diapers, missing shoes, decoding T0m-Tom directions, and shouting at the beasties made up for the pb m&ms, triscuits, Twizzlers and milk duds shoveled into my mouth on a regular basis.

Mom, Mimi, Birthday Girl

2011-07-08T09:30:00.003-05:00

Happy Birthday, our sweet Mom.

We all love, love, love you!!!

Here's to another half a century!

(I know these aren't my children...we definitely need to take pics on our vacation this year!)

10+

2011-06-23T13:14:00.003-05:00

We made it 10 years! There have been many, many, MANY times I thought I'd kill Kit and I'm sure he has had quite a few incidents where he was positive if he didn't tuck his hands into folded arms he would simply reach out and strangle me. But- like a fine bottle of balsamic vinegar (seeing how we don't drink alcohol and diet caffeine free dr. pepper doesn't age well, I thought I'd choose an analogy that worked) things have definitely gotten stronger, deeper, much much better with time. I look at my eternal sweetheart and my heart thumps a little harder. I rub his smile lines around his eyes (and if you know Kit, you know they are smile lines...ok and squint lines if he isn't wearing his sunglasses) and adore how sexy he has gotten. I love watching him speed through yet another dirty diaper of Emmeline's and talking trash with my boys as they watch each other play video games. I love how he has started to finally understand how helping out around the house can help him out and how every now and then I come home to dishes done or the floor swept. I love how he knows what I mean with a particular look at church or at a party or across the dinner table. I love how he loves me and despite a body that has carried and birthed (that word brings to mind heaving labor...and yes, yes it was) 4 children, he still finds me irresistibly sexy. I love how he answers the phone "Hello, beautiful" when he knows it is me. I love how I have learned to ignore his "Sunday black socks" and he has learned to just listen when I cry and give advice later. I love how we are better together.

Here's to 10 years, Babe, and counting!!

Got Brains?

2011-06-13T20:30:00.008-05:00

Ok, so this is Kit...you might be wondering why Liberty hasn't posted in a while. She might tell you that she is busy with life, or that she is so tired after cleaning the house and doing the laundry and wrestling with the children that she is to pooped, he he he I said "poop"(reference below blog) , at night to blog. She might even throw in, just as a diversion, that she is training for a 10 mile Tough Mudder, this last is true but would be a way to distract you from what the real reason is. She would be trying to pull the proverbial wool over your eyes. After almost ten years of marriage Liberty has found something she truly is in love with...no, not me but...

I'll have to admit the game is like Electronic Meth, instantly addicting and starts to take over your life. I don't know why, maybe it's the cute little expressions on the plants' faces or the way the zombies tirelessly trudge along in their short little lives as an occasional "brains!?" escapes their zombified lips. After a few games though, you start figuring out how to get out of work and soon you are on the street corner selling pirated tickets for Battlestar Galactica on Ice to school children so you can buy other electronic devices, portable ones, so you can play the game anywhere. And thus it has my beautiful wife clasped in its deadly grasp (no pun intended). Children have been ordered off the XBOX, interrupting their gamings of Plants VS Zombies (PVZ), so she can play. A PVZ tournament has been scheduled for the "Last Day of School" party we are have at our house. Nobody but our family is invited, if we did, it would mean we have to share precious PVZ time. Even as I type, you can see I am not playing PVZ...and I have proof...

There she is playing while I blog, will you help me help her realize her problem? We have even had discussions about buying another TV and XBOX so we play two games of PVZ at the same time (ok, so not really, but it would be fun...maybe that is something I can swing to make something worthwhile come out of her addiction...hmmm). It's like a car crash and I can't turn away, just watch helplessly on the side lines. Help me, my fellow blog friends, you are my only hope... help me get her back to blogging...

...then I can get some PVZ time.

Poop

2011-06-03T15:25:00.005-05:00

Those of you who are determined to stay clean-minded, read no further.

I, too, had the desire. However, motherhood has wiped that wish right away. You see, life as a parent is full of poop. It comes in so many forms: little mustard seed poop from breast-fed babies, nasty "what in the world did he eat" diapers, little rose-bud mouths blurting out "Poop" in the middle of church, panicked shouts of "I have to go poopy, NOW!". I can't forget dirtied underwear from potty-training, jokes featuring bowel-movements and sounds, and tales of scraping out you-know-what from beneath a daughter's fingernails.

The thing is, I don't like poop. I don't even find it at all humorous. Bathroom jokes are lost on me; when my children blurt out inappropriate "potty" words just for the fun of it, they are sent to sit in the bathroom. I would like to forget that anyone even has a need for toilets. So, why a post on poop? Well, I am SICK of it! Maybe if I air out all of my grievances, they will be alleviated. It seems that poop has been one of my plagues in mother-ness!

I would have to claim my oldest set the course, with splattering yellow substance all over my white shirt minutes prior to our leaving for church, and it has been downhill from there. You see, it seems Josiah has some kind of bowel issue. We have been seeing a GI specialist for awhile now, in the attempt to figure out what is going on. Poor boy, I am truly sorry for him. It isn't easy to have to freeze, clench your bottom, wait a second to get control, then run straight for the bathroom. We probably should have recognized there was an issue when as a 3 year old we were visiting OSU campus feeding ducks at Theta Pond, Jos told us he needed to go to the bathroom. Immediately handing the bread over to Auntie Steph, he and I hightailed it across the park to the nearest building...too far away. As we walked/ran, I became aware of little plops occurring in time with wails from Jos (being so scrawny, things simply fell out of his not-so-tightie-whities and shorts). Yep, my son's poop was spotting the sidewalk.

Since then, mother-hood has hurled all kinds of poop at me. I. Am. Tired. Of. It. This past month has given me waaaay too much interaction with the substance. Gavin had weeks of upset stomach and digestive tract. The doctor ordered a stool sample. Yep, the collector was me. Unfortunately, I had to sacrifice a small Tupperware for the collection. There was NO way I was holding that little cup under my son's rear. The nurse neglected to give me a collection hat. Lovely.

A few days later I took the kiddies with me to Chik-Filet for family night with some friends. Emme decided to dirty her diaper. I had decided to be a neglectful mother and not pack diapers. I carried her out to the car on my hip...hmmm, after buckling her in I realized I still smelled poop. Huh, two lovely sh-mears of brown substance gleamed against my white shirt. Obviously a visit to Target was out. No getting out of a run to Wal-mart, though. I needed to pick up a laxative and intensive bowel cleanser for Josiah per doc's orders (am I seeing a pattern here?). I slipped my brown sling on (anyone noticing brown with think they just caught a glimpse of a piece of the sling, right?) and squished stinky bum into it. I would like to claim that was the end of the embarrassments due me, but it wasn't. Emme went on to pee down my leg into my shoe (did you know full diapers simply can't hold ANY more?) and left a lovely puddle on the floor. A little old lady was tottering around and I had images of her slipping in my daughter's pee puddle, falling and breaking a hip. As serenely as I could around teeth clenched in mortification (Josiah in the background bellowing "Stand back everyone, this is my little sister's pee!"), I begged paper towels from the pharmacist and swiped it up. I think I set the record on self-checkout that evening.

The following Monday I set off to pick up flowers to plant. We tackled Home Depot and just as we are checking out in the outside garden center, Gunnison tells me he needs to go to the bathroom. Since he has been potty-trained, I have realized Gunner can wait a bit before the needs become accidents. So, I ask if he can wait until we get across the street to Lowes. He agrees and we set off. We enter in the front garden center and start looking at the clearance racks of flowers. Gunner and Gavin start playing spies and dart in and out of the surrounding shelves. I ask Gun if he was still ok. "Yep!" Keeping one eye on them and the other on the fabulous finds for 75% off!!, I fill up my cart and call for the boys to head with me inside. From across the aisle comes the wail, "Oh! I've got to go poopy, now!!" Oh no, I should have seen this coming. Spy wars only distract until the need becomes incessant. At a near run, we take off for the restrooms-that are far across the store and in the back. Of course. As we rush, I notice a wafting smell reaching my nose. Poor little Gunner starts to cry. Those underwear went right into the garbage, wrapped up in a bazillion paper towels. Thank heavens I remembered wet-wipes.

Poop is so un-kosher. Who likes to show up at playgroup and start a conversation with, "You should have seen the bm my son made today. Doc is having us keep track of when, how much and description!" Uh, no. Poop is the lurking monster under the bed. We can laugh about it every now and then, but how many fearful mommies out there have just thrown the underwear away to be rid of it? Who else is tired of doing laundry with a faint aroma of a not-so-pleasant truck stop?

Poop. I'm tired of it.

Maniacs

2011-05-20T09:04:00.005-05:00

Behold the Rugged Maniac and Rugged Miniacs...

Kit entered the Rugged Maniac race with a few office buddies last weekend. Seriously, you must be crazy to enter such a race! There are obstacles, running through forested areas, leaping over fire and mud, mud, and more mud! Kit had a blast! Meanwhile, a Miniac course was set up for the younger crazies. Of course my resident loonies took up the challenge.

About to prove how rugged they are

Dancing to the fabulously loud music

Crawling under lines in a mud pit

Climbing over the wall-Gavin would lag behind Josiah in the wall climb, but he would pull ahead every time going through the mud pit and would beat Josiah. Gav was one determined little miniac...

He's a rugged one...who loves him mama...

While the boys were proving themselves, Kit was out proving he was just as rugged. Here he is scaling a wall surrounded by...yep, mud.
The enormous slide the guys had to go down to reach the last leg of the race. They zoom down into a giant puddle of mud! All of them said this was their absolute favorite part.

The real fire pit they had to leap over. I watched them stoke it up a few times

Here they are, the manly-men...the Rugged Maniacs!

Emme chillin'

Eating all the calories burned off in the form of cheese fries, corn dogs and bbq sandwiches

By the end of the afternoon, we were all beat and more than a little grouchy

Crazy, yep...the house is full of them. What is even crazier, there's another race in October and we're entering it...together. Uh-huh, I got sucked into this one, let's see if I'll pull through. Wish me luck in my training. I simply must prove I am worthy to be spouse to the Rugged Maniac and mother to my Rugged Miniacs!

Happy Easter!

2011-05-02T19:32:00.002-05:00

(Gunner became a hunted Sasquatch, but I never did catch him for one more try)

We're Howlin'

2011-04-05T15:59:00.003-05:00

This happens to be one of Gunnison's new favorite songs. If we're driving by with the windows down, do not be shocked if you hear his accompanying howls.

Because...

2011-03-31T18:44:00.006-05:00

Because I love how my littlest boy uses his entire face to smile

Because I love the confidence of my oldest, even wearing his goofy "100 Day" hat

Because I absolutely adored Emmeline's BIG bows

Because I am sad she will not leave the bows on...and we have had to move on to little clips

Because there is never a set of pictures I download to the computer without me looking fabulous (thanks dear)

Because I was crazy and tried my hand at making a spring wreath

Because his excited grin was just so cute

Because I am thankful for friends that help make Cub Scouts a good experience

Because even though it only came in 11th, it was the coolest car there

(you know, the orange one with the big black OSU)

Because we are so thankful for an auntie who sends such fabulous jammies...seriously grateful, it has given such joy to the wearer and laughter to the see-ers

Because I have at least posted...whew...the longer I wait in-between, the harder it gets!

Granddad Says...

2011-03-06T16:12:00.005-06:00

For the past couple of weeks, we have had the presence of my father in our home...well, at least in word. It all started with Gunnison coming down for breakfast one morning. He was quick to tell me what he wanted to eat because according to him, Granddad was coming to pick him up later that day and they were going on a trip together to the mountains. He needed to eat, because Granddad wanted him to have energy. He needed to brush his teeth, because Granddad wouldn't like stinky breath or dirty teeth. He quickly got dressed because he knew Granddad couldn't take him to the mountains in his pajamas (he took them completely off that day, not even letting them lurk under his pants). He wasn't playing; Gunner was serious. He kept watching, waiting. He was finally distracted by us going to playgroup and then the library. He went to bed that night and my heart hurt a little that he wasn't able to take his trip with my dad.

But then, the next day, Granddad came to stay. Everything Gunnison said dealt with Granddad. Granddad wouldn't let him wear his striped shirt, only the "B" for Bear shirt. Granddad wouldn't let him sit in the black and grey car seat, just the red and black one. Grandad said Gunner didn't need to eat carrots at dinner and of course Granddad would let Gun eat some candy before bed. Granddad helps choose which chores Gunnison does throughout the day and he is always going to reprimand Josiah and Gavin for their wrongs against Gunner.

My mom wasn't sure Gunner remembered exactly who his granddad was. Hmmm, maybe "Granddad" was just a name for an idea in Gun's mind. Nope. I found a few photos of my dad and watched Gunner point him out with a grin. His champion was there in picture for him to admire. So, while I gnash my teeth (just a bit) at how Granddad would never shout for Gunner to "just obey", or when Granddad is determined to let Gunner play with my cell phone, I think of my son's smile at his granddad's face in the photo and the ways his face lights up when I read one of the emails my dad has sent the boys and I am thankful he is visiting our home. Even if it is in word only.

It's My Party and I Can Cry if I Want To!

2011-02-22T19:35:00.011-06:00

I believe I have used that title before...yep, here, with a little red someone...

At this party, it was our little beastette.

I don't know what it is about birthdays in this house that seem to bring on the tears.

Thankfully, the entire day was not composed of tears. Emmeline decided a morning nap was not in order (with a little decision-making assistance from noisy brothers). Our plans were to picnic at the park, but the wind was blowing a little too fiercely for us...I know, we've turned soft since we've been away from gusty OK. So, we opted for lunch at Bojangles, home of the YUMMO french fries. Mmmm-mmm...just typing this makes my mouth salivate for their seasoned fries. We all agree they are fabulous, right down to Emmeline.

See my dainty daughter shoving, not just an entire fry, but her fist in as well?

The wind died down a bit, just a few blowzy gusts instead of the knock-me-over-if-you-are-the-size-of-Jos, Gavin, Gunner-wind, so we headed to the park to play. Emmeline loves being outside.

Emme wants all to admire her tongue.

An unsuspecting picture. Love it!!!

After spending time on the playground, we picked up Lloyd and hiked around a couple of trails at the park. Josiah and Gavin decided to emulate Lewis and Clark and took off, determined to hike all the way to California. Kit and Lloyd went to go find them, leaving Gunner, Emme and me in their dust. We had a long, detailed discussion of what would happen if we had to stay there...forever. Gunnison decided he would be King of the Squirrels. Graciously he told me Emme could be the queen. Me? I still had to be the mommy...forever picking up nuts, I guess.After an outfit change (due to a less than pleasant-smelling happenstance) and torrential tears (where the 1st picture is from {mean, mean, Daddy! snapping pics instead of giving loves}) we sang Happy Birthday and Emmeline got to dig into her purple cupcake. (Incidently, do not think yellow cake batter will dye purple...you end up with a color I term "Brain-matter")

Admire the tongue!

Yep, the whole fist-into-mouth, again

Wait! You get to admire her tongue, yet again!

This is her new "cheesy" face

On to the gift opening! Emme had an over-abundance of help with opening her gifts. Gavin was extra polite about it, though. He'd lean over close and ask, "Do you want help, Emme? You want help? Oh. Ok, I'll help you!"

Despite the tears, the Big Number 1 was fun. Thank you for the darling gifts and love! Regardless the miles between us, you all know how to show your love. We truly appreciate all you do for our family.

If my heart gave an extra thump or two throughout the day and my eyes leaked, just a little, when I kissed her good-night, I simply reminded myself it isn't every day my littlest turns one. Funny how quickly they grow. It seems that with every birthday my babies have, I have a lot of joy and a little bit of growing pains.

And Then It Snowed...

2011-02-10T09:07:00.003-06:00

You know how the Native Americans danced to bring down the rain? In our family we have our very own Snow Dancer.

We took a couple of takes, Gav wasn't satisfied with a fall as the grand finale move. And guess what we woke up to this morning?

On the Move

2011-02-03T19:59:00.003-06:00

Emmeline usually has her tongue out in concentration...either that or big fat alligator tears and snot as she makes her way to someone who will pick her up (I know...poor little girl is just so neglected...)

Boots

2011-01-27T08:38:00.003-06:00

Boots. These $1.50 rain boots are Gunnison's favorite footwear. I bought them for him at the beginning of fall. Due to nice weather, they were tucked away into our black bench. As the weather worsened, so did Gun's desire to wear them. Finally, I couldn't say no and The Boots became an essential part of his wardrobe. In fact, I would say the only pair of footwear he wears (except for Sunday shoes...I do have some boundaries, people). Easy on. Easy off. Helps hide the jammies poking out the bottom of his jeans...can't say I complain too much.

Finishing December

2011-01-21T14:31:00.005-06:00

We had some fabulous snow...I {heart} Christmas snow...

a white Christmas was lovely

And about 2 minutes after this picture was taken (which I hurried out to do as soon as he was dressed for the outdoors), Josiah was in the house drinking hot chocolate 'cause it was "freezing outside!!" My poor snow-deprived children didn't even know how to squish the snow together to make a snow-ball. They finally learned before all of the snow melted.

Next, a picture of the BEST Christmas presents...ever!!

I think I could just post this picture and call it the most wonderful Christmas blog

Note the fabulous camo heels (they look even better on),

the flower bag and oh-so-embellished shirts for me!!!

My husband (with a little help) gave me a fabbity-fab Christmas.

I'll move on now from my worldliness and show you a telling picture of my beasties (the Sunday before Christmas).

Gunner is giving you a peek at his oh-so-darling jammies poking out and bare feet (he chooses to wear jammies under his clothes...yes, I'm that kind of mom)

Gavin looks a little stoned...hmmmm...no, I'm not that kind of mom

Emme is thrashing, trying to get out of the death grip of her big brother

Jos, well, Jos actually looks cute in this picture, except whatever he's doing with his hands...what is he doing with his hands?

We've lost pajama boy and this is a much better picture...look! Emme is even smiling for it!

Everyone in their Christmas pajamas (these are now the reigning under-the-pants jammies)

One last picture. Santa brought Emmeline a new doll. She adores it. She reaches for it when she's tired and when she's getting up from sleeping; she kisses it.

She {loves} it.

I hope you're not too pictured out...

Merry Christmas!!

Thank you, everyone, for making it a fabulous one!!

What a Waste of $$

2011-01-17T08:34:00.004-06:00

This is a little rant today...please don't read if you want a charming, picture-laden post. It is simply a whine...

I hate spending money on Not Fun Things. Let's see- tampons, toilet paper, underwear for my beasties, undershirts for the beasties, socks for the beasties (unless they are fabulously stripped or argyle), diapers, wet wipes, soap, food unless it is really yummo, electric bills, okay- bills in general, batteries, toilet parts...

I love spending money on Fun Things. Purses, shoes, clothes for myself, clothes for the beasette, clothes for the beasties, even clothes for Kit, yummo treats, hair accessories, ties, earrings, makeup, things to cute-up-my-house, gifts for people...ahhh, just thinking of all the Fun out there just waiting to be bought makes anyone smile...

Until you look at your account and realize you've already spent your money on Not Fun Things!!

Update

2011-01-11T15:04:00.004-06:00

Since my last post got such a response (thank you for your advice and prayers), I thought I would update you. I wrote a note to Gav's teacher asking for her observations and her thoughts on what was going on. I have been in his class a few times and he does well. He has friends and adores his teacher; she is FABULOUS-which you will agree, too, if you read on. Anyway, I went to pick him up from school and she met me to talk with me. She said she noticed he looks down in the morning when he first gets there, but that once he's there he warms up, loves learning and is a darling boy to be around. She said she had him come talk to her, just one-on-one, and asked about his feelings of school. No big surprise-he likes school, but he would rather be at home with Mom and Gunner and Emme. He wishes he could just stay home and learn everything there. She asked him what his favorite part of school was (writing). She said they then came up with a game plan to make things better. She assigned him a daily job that only he can do. He is the Journal Cleaner-upper. (He was proud when he told me and had to describe how he wipes her writing off of the chart) Also, every day he and Mrs. Blake will have one-on-one writing time where he can practice sounding out words and writing them. (There is an in-class aide, so this is possible). I am so thankful for his teacher. She noticed his feelings, didn't brush them aside and has gone out of her way to make things better.

He still asked if it was Friday, still asked if it was his half-day and still made me count on the calendars to see when they would happen, but he didn't cling to my hand and there was no quivering lips (whew! I don't know how much more my heart could take-and if you don't know already, I'm not the too-soft-heart type. One might say I lean [probably not in a good way] too much to the other side--I have been called heartless by my oldest more times than I count).

Thanks again for your listening ear, shoulder to lean on and definitely great advice!

My heart hurts...

2011-01-10T08:10:00.004-06:00

I could use a little advice here...

Gavin attends pre-K everyday. His day is long, from on the bus at 9 to off the bus at 4:20. His teachers are darling, he is learning a lot and enjoys school just fine when he's there. The problem is getting him there. I would have thought things would be easier by now, but they are not. He doesn't fight it (like he did for a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving) but it seems almost worse to me. Every day he asks how many days until his half day (our school district gets a part day on Wednesdays) and then how many days until the weekend. The other problem here is that he doesn't enjoy the weekend. He spends the entire Friday night-Sunday night counting down, in dread, how many days until he goes back to school. Nothing to my knowledge has happened. I know he hasn't gotten in trouble. In fact his teachers adore him. He has friends and he says nothing has happened. He just doesn't want to go....Sigh....He tries to be brave waiting to get on the bus, but if you know Gav, this about breaks your heart. He just squeezes my hands tightly and tries to keep the tears back and the quiver out of his voice. Taking him to school didn't help either. It just prolonged the stress of leaving me and there were more tears while he was at school instead of just a little on the bus. Part of me thinks maybe he just isn't ready for school, but I can't keep him out. He is already 5 and needs to start kindergarten next year. It is also a full day program (they don't have half day around here). He is ready to learn and does and Gavin needs the structure from school. I have tried to teach him things as I did Jos (who didn't go to preschool or pre-K), but he doesn't like to learn with me or I don't know the right way to teach him.

If you have any suggestions or have dealt with this yourself, I'd be more than receptive. Thanks! Sorry for being a sob-story, but it hurts me....

Shenandoah Mountains

2011-01-07T14:26:00.010-06:00

At the beginning of December, our family were able to go on a little vacation to the beautiful Shenandoah Mountains. I won a 4 day stay at the Massanutten Resort (you know the kind where you're required to listen for a few hours as they tempt you into purchasing a time share the cost of a new car). Despite being crammed in a little condo, we had a blast. One thing is for sure, we will be going back to visit the mountains again. Next time probably in a tiny tent camping, but it is "when", not "if".

Oooh, who is that darling boy? What, you can't see who it is from all of the layers? Yes, it was COLD. Not just cold, but teens cold. And, we were foolish enough to go hiking in that crazy weather. Our warm Mobile blood was freezing inside our shaking limbs!!!

Kit's coat and Emme add a little bulk to me (please just assume it is a lot of bulk added on!) Poor guy was making do with LOTS of layers so I could be warm....hmm...you'd think I'd own a coat, but it is now on my list of "to get".

Not only were the views spectacular, but they threw wildlife in for free! We saw deer galore and a bobcat scamper across the road!

Jos and Gav absolutely loved the hiking. I will have to admit it was a lot of fun. Emme, all snuggled warm under the coat and lots of layers thought so, too. Gun on the other hand...let's just say he craved a cup of warm hot chocolate and his cozy blankie.

The ice was incredible!

Hiking to one of the many waterfalls. Gun, Em and I had headed back to the car by now.

We splurged and ate out one of the nights at a rib place. Yummo!

Pardon the lovely hat hair

The area is full of awesome caverns. Simply breathtaking!

We even found a Who along the way and decided to keep him.

It was fun to get away for some fab family time. We can't wait to go back. Maybe we'll share it with others (hint, hint--we'd love visitors!!)

The True Meaning...

2010-12-23T12:52:00.003-06:00

A little while ago, I overheard Josiah telling his little brothers about Santa.

"You know, Santa brings us gifts to help us remember about the true meaning of Christmas. He gives us gifts to remember the greatest gift was Jesus. Jesus was born-that is Heavenly Father's gift and Jesus died for us-that was Jesus's gift for us. So, then all Santa asks is for us to be good like Jesus asks us. I know Santa will bring me lots of gifts, 'cause I've been good...I don't know if you're getting a lot. Maybe you need to be better."

Happy Baptism Day

2010-12-18T21:01:00.004-06:00

Oh, my sweet boy. It is so crazy for me to think you have reached the grand ol' age of 8. Ancient, wise and oh-so-strong of an age in your mind. To me, it is just a blink past the moment I first held you in my arms. You were a scrawny, fuzzy little red-headed Yertle the Turtle. Now, you are still scrawny and fuzzy, but so much bigger. It is definitely much harder to cradle you in my arms now.

Your baby blessing spoke of your curiosity of the world and your quick, questioning mind. Nearly every day I think of those phrases when I think of you. I love that you have such a fast-paced mind. You puzzle things out and wonder over so many things. I especially love the desire to learn more about our Savior. I will never forget the night you came down (waaay too long past your bedtime) to double check with me about a scripture you were looking up to "read what the prophets said in their own words about the birth of Christ".

I appreciate how different you are from me. You, my son, are a born leader. Too often I am reminding you not to be the parent. But-I rely on you to help me with your brothers and sister often. Your love for them is so apparent to anyone who meets you. You are so quick to help them up and cheer them up. All your little "treasures" you bring home from school makes their eyes shine. Thank you for being such a wonderful brother. Thank you for being a wonderful son.

I am truly so pleased with you and your decision to get baptized. You have always wanted to, but wasn't sure in your mind if the Church was true or not. You wanted to believe, but just wasn't sure. My heart burns when I think of your fervent prayer. Sweet, honest, pure Josiah-ness coming through in the words you spoke to our Heavenly Father. The answer was so strong, your dad and I could feel the knowledge you received simply by being in the same room as you. I was so proud that night. The Lord let me feel, see with my heart, a glimpse of the great warrior you are. The great warrior you are growing into. I thank our Father for allowing me to be your mother. I only pray I will be able to be all of the mother you need to see you through the trials that will come. I know you will succeed in becoming the man our Heavenly Father sees you to be. I love, love, love you.

Love,

Your Mom

Again, thank you to all of our family who made it this far east to attend Josiah's baptism. We are so blessed to have such a loving family.

Fabulous Family

2010-12-12T20:02:00.008-06:00

And when I say family, I mean A LOT of family. It was absolutely wonderful! The weekend before Josiah's birthday, my mom, my sister, Stephanie, and her family (after a 2 day trip!!) arrived. We saw a few sights and hit the largest craft store on the east coast, The Country House.

Then it was Josiah's big day. As the day before Thanksgiving, we didn't want it lost in the preparations. We had nothing to worry about. He partied very well with his cousins until Grammy and Papa arrived at lunch time (can we say early, early morning flight). A little later in the afternoon, Aunt Sydnee, Uncle Dale, Parker and Ellee arrived after a day's drive from Ohio.

The family count: 9- adults, 1- 13 yr. old and 8- 10 yrs and under. Our little house was filled to the brim (thankfully we have 2.5 bathrooms), but we wouldn't have wanted it any other way. I think we rubbed along quite fabulously despite the close quarters.

Happy to open gifts!

Thank you Auntie Stephie, for this caught-the-moment pic. Ok, credit for all the photos need to be given to her...

Aunt Ashlee got the right thing! He wears them everywhere. He justifies this as "you never know when you might need to hike!"

It was one big crazy fest, let me tell you!

I love this grin. Pardon the fuzzy hair. We did it after the morning gift opening, but after a day of partying, eating and bowling, by the time it was time for cake, well...definitely back to undone-do-ness.

He is grinning about his fabbity-fab "OSU" cheesecake. He loves Kit's cheesecake (Grammy's recipe), but was thinking of straying for a regular cake if he could have colored frosting, etc. When he found out his daddy could make him his very own black and orange cheesecake, there was no looking away again!

This is what too much partying and sugar does to you...be warned...

The next day was Thanksgiving. With all the hungry mouths to feed, I didn't even have an urge to whip out my camera. Probably a good thing. With Kit's knack for clicking embarrassingly ugly moments, way to many of us would have been remembered by our posterity for our ability to shovel the food in (I say many in hopes I wasn't the only one eating myself sick!). I wanted everyone to feel like this was their Thanksgiving, so I had each family pick a couple of dishes they have as their traditional fare. It was delicious! Kit fried us a yummo turkey (my dad's turkey is amazing, but I will have to say I could not do without Kit's rubbed, injected and fried turkey again...yummm), Grammy took care of the dressing, Sydnee made the broccoli casserole and cranberry freeze, Steph took care of many, many pies and everything else was a group effort. Yu-ummm!

The day after Thanksgiving was NOT spent hitting the stores. Although Kit and my brother-in-law perused the ads just in case. After Josiah's baptism (an upcoming post, I promise), we decided to head out and visit historical Jamestown. It is amazing to live so close to early american history. I can't wait to go back when we have a little more time. With the damp cold weather, we got the barest hint of what the poor settlers dealt with. It definitely put technology, medical knowledge, warm clothes and a heated home on my list of things to be thankful for.

Cousins posing by the unrealistic statue of Pocahontas. One of the site workers laughingly mentioned how too like Disney's version she was. In reality, by all accounts, she was about 12 years old, short and rather sturdily built. Yeah...not like Disney's at all. This statue is one no one will admit to accepting, he told us. It doesn't look like Parker minds holding her hand, though. ;)

Again, please excuse the bad hair! Agggh! So, looking past the do, I love these boys so much.

I am so, so very grateful of everyone's sacrifices and efforts to make it here. I know we have many loved ones who simply couldn't make it, but to those who could and did, a heart-felt Thank You.

Monkey on my Back

2010-12-12T20:01:00.001-06:00

Phew! I have quite a few things to cover...hold on for upcoming posts. Sheesh...the pressure is getting to me!

Ahhhh!!

2010-11-18T11:06:00.007-06:00

I am crazy-excited family will be getting here starting on Saturday! (the others will follow a few days later)

Hmmm...if only my house could gussy itself up just a bit on its own...

The Nose

2010-11-13T09:15:00.003-06:00

We should simply call my second son, The Nose. He sniffs out even the most obscure smells. From a very early age he would comment on how the road smells on a hot day, the stink of his baby brother's spit-up or determine if he would like something or not from the scents wafting up to his little schnozer. A couple of weeks ago we had a FHE on the fly as we were driving dinner to Daddy (standing duty) that night. We were talking about our senses and how blessed we were to have them. Josiah mentioned his favorite sounds and the things they made him think of. We then moved on to the sense of smell. This was Gavin's forte. While the rest of us mentioned such things as molasses cookies, pizza and flowers, Gavin's were more unique. He loves the smell of ice-"it just smells nice and cold", the smell of horses-"makes him think of Grandad and his work clothes", and the smell of the outside of a gas station-"makes me think of trips to Oklahoma".

So, when he came to me this morning wearing a shirt pulled from his drawer claiming it smelled "just like Grammy's house", I just had to have a sniff. I bunched the shirt up, tucked my nose in, closed my eyes...and smelled the warm scent of the Applegate home.

Balance

2010-11-10T07:52:00.003-06:00

My husband is worried I am turning our only daughter into a prissy princess with her big hair bows and girly things. Considering her 2 favorite toys of the moment, I think I have a pretty good balance...don't you?

Happy Hauntings

2010-11-06T08:21:00.007-05:00

We celebrated Halloween well this year. We tried a basic version of the "13 days of Halloween", munching on ghastly dinners and snacks. It was fun for me to get into the feel of the holiday. In addition to fun meals, Kit and I thought we'd try out a local pumpkin patch. After a mishap of wrong times printed in a flyer for my children's schools, an hour drive, sad kids and the resulting McDonald's dinner, I ended up taking the kids myself another day while Kit was on duty. The end result was so fun. I only wish we had been able to stay longer (we rushed back for the boys' primary program practice).

Gunnison loved the chicks and ducklings.

The corn maze. The boys had a blast. Gunner was worried a couple of times, but Josiah, our navigator, made sure we all made it out alright in the end.

There was something about the giant ones that attracted Gunner He was determined to choose the largest one there to bring home.

The only picture I took of Emmeline. She was trapped in the sling the entire time. She doesn't seem too worse the wear, however.

Our family pumpkin carving. Josiah was completely grossed out scraping out the guts.

My sexy husband...he's going for the "psycho" look...yea, I can see it...

We attended 2 parties this year. The Coast Guard base party and the Trunk-or-Treat for our ward. The CG party was a bit of a bust, but at least we got a couple of pictures. the Trunk-or-Treat was a blast, but of course I forgot the camera completely. Blehhh.

Our 3 Little Ninjas. Ready for action...well, all except Gunner there. He looks a little bit unprepared if someone came to battle.

Little Miss Emme...may I present my first pink Halloween costume! I was so excited to dress someone in something girly! Ahhh, it felt wonderful!! She's our little flower fairy.

Kit, dressed as the OSU fan, holding our little pink. He thought she was adorable, and was just a little bit irked she didn't win the costume contest. "A plush Frankenstein costume won, a plush Frankenstein!" He did, however, think it would have been even cuter if she had been a little girl ninja, too.

The ninjas trick-or-treating in the neighborhood. They had a blast!

Whew! Quite a bit of pictures to get through. If you made it, hoorah! In case you didn't notice, I did another post before this one of Gavin's birthday.

Gav Turned 5

2010-11-06T07:28:00.005-05:00

Yes, Gavin had his birthday a while ago, but life seems so crazy around here...and yep, that would be my excuse.

Gavin is now officially 5. He has been working towards getting a year older...well, for a year. He is ALWAYS looking ahead and trying to be as old as Josiah. I think he is finally realizing he won't ever catch up. He is our "all rough and tumble" boy. From 9 months he was walking and he hasn't slowed down since. We love you, Gav!!

Surrounded by gifts. Huh, not quite the happy face I was expecting from someone about to tear into wrapping. I think he was spacing out.

In his requested skateboard gear and his new wheels

Gav requested we go to Red Robin for his birthday dinner. He wanted to have the "Tower of Onion Rings!". Which I found a little comical in that he only really likes the breading on the outside. No problem, Kit and I love onion rings!

He was so excited when the waitresses and crew came and sang to him. They brought not just one sundae, but 3-one for each of our 3 boys. Nice move!! Note Gav's head gear. He received this birthday crown from him teacher and wore it all. day. long.

His cake of choice was a box of cupcakes with white and dye-your mouth black frosting. He wanted the cool transformer rings artistically placed on top of each.

We let him go outside and practice some cool moves after cake and ice cream. We love the boards from Target-you can get starter ones with tighter bearings so they don't roll away from you quite as much.

Gav making a "fierce" face.

I will take the time to brag a bit about Gavin here. He was chosen from his class (with another little girl) to be the Citizen of the Month. With being the first of the year, they didn't have a character trait chosen to be exemplified, but chose children who came into the school year already above and beyond in good citizenship behavior (sharing, listening, honesty, etc.). I was so proud of Gavin. He can be a bit of a stinker at home and I was slightly worried about how he would take to going to school, especially all day. He has loved it and according to Mrs. Blake, his teacher, they love having him.

Nice hair, dude. I do send him to school with cuter do's than this. I believe he has played much already.

We love you Gavin!! You are one blurred movement most of the time, but when you slow down, we get to experience your sweet heart in motion. Thank you for being our favorite red-headed 5 year old boy!

Delivery Service

2010-10-15T16:47:00.005-05:00

I love libraries. The warm smell of paper, beautiful orderliness and the quiet snick as people type, searching for information. It holds one of my favorite addictions-books. A place where I could spend hours, if allowed.

We made a run to the library today. It was all four beasties-the big boys had a half day. We traipse through the library, a miasma of sounds surrounds us, interrupting the hush. We pick out movies, then off exploring the shelves for waiting treasures. I love how my children love the library...I just don't love bringing my children there. Where once a peaceful place, you add my brood and it becomes active, chaotic. I catch Gunnison as he runs to show Josiah a "special" book shouting at the top of his lungs, "Jos, it's your favorite!". I herd Gavin away from his typing on the computer-to look for books on ninjas (hmmm...are we surprised). Josiah wanders over to the non-fiction on his own. Emme, thankfully, is trapped in her carseat carrier. She, however, adds to the cacophony with her squeals, turning quickly fretful. Me? Do I get a chance to feed my lust for letters lined neatly on the page? No, this visit isn't for me. I'll get my fix sans beasties around, thank you.

We collect our chosen items and head for the front desk. Gav isn't feeling well, so he lays down. Josiah joins him. Gunner is off, well...who knows why Gunnison likes to meander off, and Emmeline has now officially had it. I stand patiently (as much as I possibly can) bouncing the car seat to calm Little Miss, but set her down to dart after wandering Gun. Her fussing reaches shrieks. I think we have officially passed the point of "you sure have your hands full". Yes, we have. We have reached the point of "Delivery Service". I entered the realm of fast food library-ness. With the suggestion and understanding smile (from a second librarian who arrived on the scene), I pack up my beasties and move on out to the car. They delivered our literary goodies right to my driver's window. With great gratitude (and a wee bit of shame) I appreciated the delivery service.

There will always be another library outing. How could I possibly keep my children from learning to love the library as much as I do? BUT- Here's to hoping I won't be using that particular service again.

Dinner & a Show

2010-10-01T06:46:00.003-05:00

The show was a farce...

We settle down to eat the chicken noodle soup and biscuits I made for dinner. There is a bit of a scuffle over who gets to say the prayer. Gunnison asks first, so he is the lucky one. Gavin, the unlucky one taps his spoon throughout the prayer in defiance over the situation. Kit and I ask the big boys about school, people munch, I feed Emmeline, things are good. Kit turns to me, "Where's Gunner?" Hmmm...youngest son is missing. We find him, make him stay at the table and eat a little more of his, as of yet, untouched food. Gavin tells Josiah to pull his finger (??!!!). I quickly put a stop to that-I don't like potty-humor, especially NOT at the table. But, the discussion of what pulling your finger (or hand) means ensues. I sigh, Kit laughs...dinner continues. Where's Gunner? We find him, remind him he has to stay at the table until he is excused. He picks out a few pieces of chicken from his bowl and starts eating (sans silverware of course). Kit and I start talking about the house; Josiah breaks out in song (we actually have a rule against singing at the dinner table-cruel and unusual, I know). Gavin shows off by seeing how high he can flip his spoon by slamming his fist on the handle and...where's Gunner? We haul his skinny little bottom back to the table, make him eat one more bite, ask to be excused, and now he's legitimately on the loose. Gavin tells us the noodles taste funny and asks to be excused. He's legitimately on the loose. Josiah asks for another bowl of soup, his third (!!!), but only the "liquid soup part" because "I don't really like the rest of it". He hunches over his bowl, his hands demurely laying in his lap, and proceeds to slurp loudly from his bowl, with just his mouth. Emmeline, not to be outdone by the chaos around her, decides to squeal and make herself heard. Gunnison comes running into the room, Gavin's chasing him. We send him back out. We look down, and Gavin is skulking in and trying to hide under the table and Emme's high-chair. He is "spying" and "being a ninja"; we send him back out. Josiah declares loudly he is stuffed, and to prove it, lifts up his shirt to see just how much his belly protrudes from between his bony litttle rib cage. He asks to be excused and heads out to join the fray of the chase/battle we can hear coming from the family room beyond the kitchen. Kit and I smile, laugh...or cry?? and comment on how in 30 minutes, the meal had become a dinner and a show.

ORANGE

2010-09-18T09:21:00.003-05:00

Despite living away from good ol' Stilly for 6 or so years, we still think oRAnge on weekends

(you're not seeing things, she does have a dirty face, orange with sweet taters)

This was the first photo that popped up when I was moving my pics to my computer. Hmmm...could he possibly have tried out my camera?

What Do You Do in the Summer Time?

2010-09-05T15:02:00.010-05:00

Hmmm...what did we do this summer? The beginning of the summer was busy with our move and crash-course painting our house. Once my parents left and Kit started back to work, I was left at home. Alone. With 3 sons, 1 daughter and one empty summer looming ahead of me...overwhelmed? Heck yes! I will never profess to be one of the fabulous mothers who have craft time, enrichment activities lined up and everyone has a fun and educational time. Do I wish I was? Definitely. Right now I'm just striving to get a hold on my life and from there I'll work to improve. Baby steps, right?

So, after realizing staying home meant children fighting, me yelling, children crying, me yelling...I decided we all needed to try to get out and GO and DO. Expend energy. Each week we found things to do. We attended the free movie at the Regal Theater once a week and made sure to go to the library weekly. And- we went to the park. Newport News Park. {cue heavenly singing and trumpeting} Seriously, this park saved my sanity and my childrens' lives. This park has hiking trails, wildlife winking at you from behind trees, multiple playground sets and bathrooms. Yes. Sounds to good to be true, huh. It gets better-it is about a 2 minute drive from my house. It has been our second home (the preferred home to my beasties). We would pack a picnic (sometimes healthy, often happy meals) and just play or hike around. The weather is gorgeous and there is so much space energy can fly and noises don't seems quite so loud.

The park is also a nature reserve and the animals must know they're safe. They frolic around us. Birds fly around and dive for fish, bunnies nibble grass, squirrels attempt to eat our lunches right off of the picnic table and deer taunt us with their steaks waving in our face. I have never seen so many deer so unafraid of humans. They are a bit on the small size (we nicknamed them the dog-deer) and they permit us to get quite close for photo-ops.

We did spend a little time taking care of chores around the house...curses to laundry...and relaxing with books and movies from the library when it rained.

Emmeline is quite the favorite sibling of her brothers. They compete for the right to hold her, pick out her clothes and dress her up. The little diva is sure loved.

I came back into the kitchen from setting the dinner table to see this-

What cracks me up is that she is letting Gunner feed her. She just opens up wide and chows down.One of our rainy-day activities was to go to Toys 'R' Us and make a photo-Christmas List. Fun, now I will be able to (hopefully) remember what they want for their upcoming birthdays and Christmas.

Another positive aspect of the park was the harmony we found there. My boys argued less and helped each other more. Josiah was quick to push Gunner on the swings and they loved exploring things together.Not everything was fun and games, but sour moods were overcome quicker and I retained my temper easier. Ahhhh...it felt good to yell less and laugh more.

Where was Little Miss in all of this play? Generally she was simply content to just perch in her car-seat and watch her brothers' antics. If that wasn't good enough, there were many hands ready to cuddle her close.

School starts on Tuesday...am I ready? I would have to say yes. Life is going to be simpler with just two little beasties (well, beastie and beastette) at home. But...I will miss their giggles, listening to their crazy play and silly thoughts.

So, what did I do in the summer time? I not only survived, but enjoyed it! Here's to another fabulous summer on its way out...

It's My Party and I Can Cry if I Want To!

2010-09-03T17:58:00.008-05:00

He did...cry...and party.

Gunner turned 3 and had a wee bit of an emotional birthday. It might have been due to staying up late the previous night watching for owls at a local park program, or simply because...he was having that kind of day. Regardless, we had a fun birthday, complete with presents, chocolate cake and mint- chocolate chip ice cream (as requested).

I think his favorite part was opening gifts. That brought a smile to his face! He opened his Aunt Ashlee's gift and he smiled, then turned to Kit and asked, "Is it for me?" Kit nodded, but he had to be sure, so he asked again, "It's mine?". You should have seen the wattage of that smile...unfortunately it was short lived when his brothers decided to "help" him out by seeing if his toys worked...

Our gift to him was a year membership to our local Living Museum. We went as a family and had a lot of fun. The museum is a hands-on place where children learn about the world around us, complete with an outdoor area dedicated to the animals local to this area. My boys went gaga when they saw a "real-life" bobcat...don't ask me why, but they are really into bobcats right now. They play like they are baby bobcats hiding in dens, etc. so to see one sleeping in the shade was just, you know, amazing!

Currently, they are having a dinosaur exhibit and part of it is an outdoor show where they talk about dinosaurs and other creatures living back then. Josiah answered a question correctly, so he was chosen to come up and be the dinosaur model.

Gavin got to go up and hold a picture of a type of dinosaur and Gunner tagged along. One of the few times he was smiling at the museum...in fact, I believe this is the only picture I got with him smiling while we were there.

The cute, flattering picture I took of my husband...

The oh-so-fab picture my husband took of me...

The boys go to touch some sea creatures including a star fish and this horseshoe crab.

Josiah's depiction of a serious paleontologist as he is digging for dino bones.

We had lunch at the museum and picked up Gunner's choice of cake and ice cream on the way home. No, I don't bake the birthday cakes...

One of the fun things I've been noticing about Gunner getting older is that he is having preferences. It can be a bit of a trial when he decides to be a fashionista and chooses only certain shirts to wear or throws a tantrum about what he wants to eat, but knowing what you like is one of the things I notice my big boys doing as they get older. Gunnison is no longer my little toddler, but he is becoming a sweet, little boy. He has chosen mint chocolate chip ice cream 2 different times when we had gone out for ice cream, instead of just choosing what his brothers had. When he said he wanted it for his birthday ice cream, I asked if he was sure and he told me it was "his favorite". :) I love this stage of big, little boy.

His grin at everyone singing to him.
And, yummo. Eating his favorite ice cream.

Happy Birthday, my big 3 year old!!!

Addendum: Kit claims I did not take a flattering picture of him...it wasn't his "good side", so he thinks we're equal...HA! is what I say to that! :p

Upbeat

2010-08-16T21:28:00.003-05:00

I'm sure if you didn't know already, I love music. All forms...I especially adore the kind of music that makes me smile. Happy lyrics and tunes lighten my step and seem to make me sweeter (or at least I hope...) I have Hannah, a darling family friend, to thank for this song. It might be familiar sounding-it was on a Target commercial a few years ago...ahhhh...another love--Target commercials! :)

Then, I found this one...LOVE IT! (Lousy video, but great song)

Girls {HEART} Bling

2010-08-14T22:11:00.002-05:00

Daddy sure loves 'em!

The Way to Ride a Bull...

2010-08-08T20:16:00.008-05:00

Over the weekend I observed the proper technique on how to ride a bull. Stay low- tight to the bull's back, have four points firmly planted-more if you are able (hands, knees, feet, elbows, etc.) and hang on tight. Only fools wave their arms around!

Gavin starting out:

Getting smart:
Rockin' the bull-riding:

And there he goes:

We attended TRACEN's (Kit's base) annual Coast Guard Day celebrations on Saturday. It was a blast! They really knew how to throw a party! There was tons of food (hamburgers, hot dogs, barbeque and all the fixings, ice cream, etc), a DJ, a live band, rock-climbing wall, clowns, bounce arounds, laser tag, a mechanical bull (as you've seen), volley ball games, petting zoo and so much more. The weather was gorgeous- (yes, I am gloating now) a comfortable, sunny afternoon in the 80s and we were able to spend all day without dying of heat exhaustion. I, of course, forgot to bring my camera, so bear with the phone pics.

The Petting Zoo:

The big boys went and played laser tag with their daddy. They were on team America against the pirates. Jos was the last one standing the first game, but his team struck out quickly the second. His explanation for this-"They followed my plan of action the first time, but no one was obeying the commands the second time!" Gee, a little dictator at heart...

While the "men" were off doing their macho thing, Gunner, Emme and I went to view the petting zoo again. Gunnison was in love with the little goat. I don't know what it is about Applegate men and their love of goats...well, does my father-in-law have this fascination?? Hmm...I don't know...maybe it is just a "Kit Applegate and sons" obsession...

Gun petting the little goat for the, um...50th time:

Admiring the sheep:

He thought the Shetland pony was pretty awesome, too. He kept smiling and saying, "See, Mama, it is my size!"

We didn't love Emmeline that day, or Josiah very much...their love meter was on no-love-for-you. So, not very many pictures of them. Sorry...

Just kidding...we were rotten parents and only took pictures of our favorite children ;)

Good Things to Come

2010-08-07T20:19:00.001-05:00

Thank you, Annie, for posting this. I just had to share it too, for all those who need the uplift and hope...really, who doesn't?

I want, I want, I want...

2010-08-03T15:14:00.005-05:00

I feel like I have the gimmies...it seems to be the topic of my posts lately. I promise a good one soon, but I found something I want! Have any of you heard of the Silhouette?

Well, I have. I have seen them all over the place on the crafty blogger world! It is a vinyl cutter, a fabric cutter, a paper cutter, heat transfer paper...you design and blip...there it goes! All of your crafty dreams come true. Can we say signs, wall art, cards, clothes, pillows...Ahhhh...does anyone else desire one as much as me? Check out a giveaway here. Is your creativity flowing yet? What would you do?

Gettin' Carried Away

2010-08-02T18:42:00.003-05:00

I don't know if anyone has noticed, but my children tend to be a bit, ahem...clingy as infants. I pick them up, carry them and attempt to accomplish tasks while still maintaining a content beastie/beastette. I discovered (or I should say my sisters) discovered the best mode of transportation for such little ones- a sling. A hands-free way of carting...ahhh...smiles all around.

So why this post? A favorite site of mine Little Birdie Secrets is hosting a giveaway of-you guessed it-fabulous slings! Go over and take a look...or maybe don't...the less competition, the better!

Fashion Show

2010-07-29T19:25:00.005-05:00

Emmeline is modeling her *hot pink* knit skirt, *navy* puffed sleeved onesie shirt, and the ever-present bow. Note how feminine doesn't necessarily mean uncomfortable

Here, Miss Emme-Lou-Who is sporting a *pink* and *white* checked bib (thanks Grandma B). She is stylin' (in her functional, yet fashionable, cover-up) while downing her yummo-cereal

In this next photo series, Littlest is embodying how femininity is not merely defined with *pink & purple*. She is girlie to the core in her daring *black*, *white* and *yellow* ensemble (thank you, Grammy)

Look! She's actually smiling!!

Her favorite pose: "hand-touching-face"

My Fav!

The Dad Life

2010-07-19T11:27:00.002-05:00

This made me laugh...Thank you to my dad, my sweet father-in-law, my sweetie and to all other daddies out there rocking the "Dad Life"

Ahhhh!!

2010-07-15T08:56:00.003-05:00

After many years of being the dishwasher...it is pure bliss to now own one!

**I'm in looooove**

Some Pictures

2010-07-11T14:40:00.010-05:00

I don't have much to say, but I did promise some pictures of my beasties and beastette...so, this is my quick way of appeasing the masses (or maybe just the "family" mass). For those not of the interested ilk, you might find your eyes glazing over, so feel free to pass on.

Saying Good-bye to Mobile

Gloria's Produce Stand on the way to Dauphin Island

Summer Trip to Oklahoma

Theta Pond on the OSU campus...my boys are lovin' the opportunity to pose

Playing in the pool at Mimi's

Georgia was a riot on the trampoline. The little ones loved the rare chance to play when the big boys were moved off

My beautiful sister, Stephanie, and Ella

Greyson (the impish cherub) and Scarlett

OKC Zoo

Georgia in absolute Diva mode and the legs of her beautiful mommy, Whitney, whose face I am sorry to say I didn't catch in any picture

The "Big Boys" best buds

I loved this picture! Ezra sneaked in our room every night he could to sleep with my beasties. He's an honorary beastie for sure and welcome in my den anytime!

Pops

One of the Fav Uncles, Philip, and Cooper (I love Coop's blue tooth grin from fab soda)

Kit wearing his "leave" goatee and always present sun-glasses

Playing at the park while visiting Grammy and Papa's house

I have to note here that we did, indeed, see Grammy and Papa despite the lack of pictures. I am horrible at remembering to take my camera places and to actually use the thing when I do take it. We also got to spend some wonderful time with Aunt Ashlee and our sweet nephews, Michael and Tyler.

Again, Gav is in pose-mode

What Kit does best at the park

Newport News, Virginia

July 5th picnic

We have an amazingly enormous park just down the road from us. We took the opportunity to have a wienie roast and then walk on one of the trails in celebration of Independence Day.

Emme mid lip-sucking...her new "trick"

Boys in Avatar poses, trying to look fierce

Kit's attempt at a good picture...hmmm...more faces less ground and butt, please

Gunner's fierce face...he looks a little more frightened than fierce, but he has a mean bite, so he passes the beastie requirements

I think this is Gav's GQ pose

An actual picture of the diva smiling! Well, mostly...

He was a bit worn out after the picnic, sun and walking. Hand in shirt, much better than hand in pants!

Lots of Changes...

2010-07-08T08:41:00.002-05:00

Chaos reigns supreme in this household...but, we've been dealing with a little more than normal (can chaos get more chaotic?? hmmm...something to stay up waaay to late dwelling on). We moved from Deep South Alabama to Peninsular Virginia, are proud (or at least will be when things look a little less ghetto) owners of our very-own-cosmetic-fixer-up home and hubby started working at his new post at the training center.

Thanks to my parents, who are so very hard working (or should I say driven...although who was slave-driving who is up for grabs), we were able to get all of the ceiling and walls painted before the movers arrived with our belongings. Taking into account all the prep-work that came before the actual painting-sanding, puttying, patching holes, re-sanding, re-sanding, re-sanding and texturizing the walls- I am amazed one of us didn't just kill over. We're talking about waking up early, going to bed early (early-morning, that is), trapping 3 little boys in various rooms at a time, trying to slap paint on the walls while cooing and blowing kisses to a temperamental 4 month old and straining a back that has been strained way too many times... just remembering starts my head bobbing; now I'm rocking and strange sounds forcing their way up my throat and out of my mouth...please excuse the slight relapse...

I will say the house looks 1000 times better already. No, that is not an exaggeration. Going from magentaish-mauvish walls (and sickly sea-green walls and grey walls that were supposed to be white) to my fabbity-fab shade of aged yellow (think powdered, dried ginger), beautiful blue for the little boys' room and soft fern-like green for Josiah and Emme's room has made the house more light, open and simply better. I will be attempting to tackle the gold (as in gilt gold), baby boy blue and magentaish-mauvish trim soon. I love my new light fixtures and will love my new dishwasher once it arrives. It feels nice to have ownership (or at least borrowing it from the bank) especially with a home warranty. Yes...gotta love AC issues and clogs 75 feet down the line. Thankfully, things are starting to calm down, at least to it's normal chaotic nature.

I will be posting some pics from our Independence Day celebrations, very soon, I promise!

A little shout-out to my brother, Spence- Thanks for the idea for the blog name. A little cheesy, but absolutely perfect!!

A Tale Not for the Faint of Heart

2010-05-17T21:17:00.009-05:00

Not so long ago in a land called Liberty's Rental Home (better known as Land of Old-Not-Energy-Efficient-Due-to-Cracks-and-Crevices-Around-You-Name-it), a beautiful, svelte warrior girl (it's just a TALE, remember and I can't stand the word woman)lived. She was a bit worn out from all the battles fought this past month. Her assistant, a dashingly handsome, strong assistant, had been off-duty during the day so that he might battle an evil oil spill, threatening the welfare of the town's folk, by night. This left the girl to face and win many battles on her own: the Fecal Prince, leaving his mark every where he went, the Trash Mouth, who slung barbed insults like stones and Nebulous Noise, who crept here, there, everywhere wearing down the girl with its loud, yet sneaky maneuvers.

Just when she had conquered her foes and thought to relax, her assistant was called away again. This time, he was needed in far-away Virginia, to complete the deed of Closing on the House. And so the warrior girl was left to herself. This tale is not of her battle with Car Quitting on a Hill in Torrential Rain. No, it is of a more devious, yet smaller, enemy come to prey: Little Winged Insects.

On a cloudy, humid night after a couple days of rain, little winged termites come out to play around town. They form swarms of moving, wiggling insects, creeping, crawling over everything they come in contact with. These things are drawn to light and will find any way to get there. The tired warrior girl had just finished painting a dresser (a fabulous shade of black) and sent her young beasties off to bed after a quick FHE (natives were too restless). She had her little beastette hanging on as she puttered around the house putting away laundry and picking up random toys. As she moved around the house, she noticed a couple of insects flying around the dining room light. Hmmm. When she walked into the kitchen, there were a few more around that light. She brushed away an errant hair and noticed it wasn't a stray curl, but a winged enemy flitting around her head. Arrggh! Moving speedily into the living room, she saw movement all over the couch, wall, chair...everywhere! The enemy was infiltrating her fortress (ramshackle as it was) and moving in quickly. This meant war! Brushing away tears of frustration, the brave warrior pulled out her trusty Dyson, small yet powerful, and went to battle. Every click of the hose as the insects were sucked in, brought a frown of disgust to her face. Uggh, but she was determined to win. In a lull of movement and after a hasty call to her assistant, who proved useful with a little advice after chortling way too much, the girl taped around the windows and pushed rugs against the doors. Click, click, click. She was sucking the winged insects as they flew through the air. Cleaning the enemy off of the stove, around the baseboards, from the furniture, the end was in sight. Ahhh...lights off, a lamp on to help draw them in and she was able to pick off the stragglers as they flew. Another battle won, the only injuries the heebie-jeebie goosebumps and a lingering feeling of bugs crawling on her...

The warrior girl is tired...she needs a break.

Hmmmm

2010-05-16T20:20:00.001-05:00

"I know you really don't believe me now, Mom, since I lie a lot. So, I decided that I won't lie anymore...starting tomorrow."

--Josiah

My Little Theologian

2010-05-10T20:07:00.003-05:00

Kit has been working nights due to the oil mess in the Gulf, so we were on our own for FHE. I decided to go fun and easy and set up "game night". We ate sandwiches and chips around the Sorry board. Jos looks closely at the board after we had been playing for a little while.

"You know Mom, Sorry is like the plan of life."
"Oh? How's that?"
"You start off in a safe spot, like the pre-existence, then you go on earth, where you are beat up on, then you get back home when you're done and you're safe there!"

Leave it to my son to teach me a spiritual lesson for FHE.

Gunnerisms

2010-05-01T20:26:00.002-05:00

My youngest son is quite the little pill lately. He has been keeping me hopping...unfortunately over dirty underwear, toys he has pulled off the shelves, pieces of paper he has "cuttin' up" and other random paraphernalia. To remember the craziness that is Gunnison, I thought I'd share a few little funnies with you.

We've been working with Gunner to fold his arms and close his eyes for the prayer. He knows what to do, he's been doing it forever, but lately has been refusing to participate. So, one evening at dinner, we reminded him to fold his arms. He opened his large blue eyes (even wider than they normally are), spread his arms open, palms up and declared, "I can't! I'm sorry, I just can't!" He looked so ridiculously serious, as if he simply couldn't fold his arms and close his eyes.

Another prayer incident occurred at church. We were sitting in the foyer, due to loud naughtiness, when it came time for the closing prayer. I told him to close his eyes and fold his arms. He dutifully crossed his skinny little arms and squeezed his eyes shut...only for them to pop open immediately. He exclaimed a little too loudly, encouraging snickers from other foyer-parents, " It's too dark behind my eyes! It's just too dark!" This has become a common refrain at prayer. He has even gone so far as to ask for a light due to the darkness behind his eyes.

I don't know if I have mentioned how very into Star Wars my boys are. Seriously into it. Gunner knows who Bubba Fett, Hans Solo, Jabba, Leia, etc. are. He knows WAY more than I do. His love for Star Wars plays a part in his imaginary play, choice of toys and daily life (he'll pretend his fork is a light sabre and attack his food or brothers with it). Anyway, so the other Sunday we were out in the foyer due to loud naughtiness (hmmm...might there be a trend here?) and I was making him sit on my lap and be still. The rule is: outside of the chapel you are still in trouble and required to sit still and be reverent until you can go in and be reverent. So we were perched on the couch and I decided to tell him the story of David and Goliath-thinking he would appreciate the violence in the tale. He was so into it! He was listening intently and really focusing on my telling of it (I was being fabulous, with animated voices, expressions, the works). Congratulating myself on being an A+ mother, I get to the part where David is standing up to battle against Goliath. "David pulls out his trusty sling, puts in a rock, swings the sling once...twice...a third time and lets the stone fly! Gun, what do you think happens next?" The reply was given with his oh-so-wide eyes, " Darth Vador comes?!" Uh....no.... Unfortunately for my premature back-patting, Gunner lost interest with the story once he heard my answer. If only Darth Vador was featured in the Bible and Book of Mormon, my kids would be all over reading the scriptures!

Life

2010-04-19T12:18:00.006-05:00

I really don't have anything fabulous, cute or funny to post about. Life is simply carrying on it lovely and not-so-lovely self. Emmeline is 10 lbs., and oh so happy while she's held; Josiah has another loose tooth so he's snaggly-looking (he refuses to let anyone pull them, blehh!). Gavin is rambunctious, climbing everything, attempting to do mid-air flips while running ( we've made sure he understands he CANNOT practice this!!!) and making unusual facial expressions. Gunnison is now in the potty-training stage *SIGH* (an extremely loud, heartfelt sigh). He is doing well, considering we are starting on week 2 of the process. I dread this time, always, but it is here and once we start, we don't go back.

We had a fun spring break, but just spent it around the house. We went to the beach, attempted with spring cleaning, played at the park, picnicked and played UNO about a zillion times. Kit, the lucky one, took the big boys to a matinee of How to Train your Dragon. All in all, a fun enough break.

I can't wait until we see family--counting down!!

Okay, I'll stop with the boring report . I'll update with something fun, exciting or entertaining next time!

Close-ups of Littlest

2010-04-09T11:21:00.004-05:00

Just a few pictures for those who want to see little miss Emme close up...demand...and eventually I'll supply...

One of the last cool days. Outfit courtesy of Auntie Steph

During the oh-so-long wait in car-pool
Easter: Daddy refused to let Emme wear her hair bow while he was holding her-picture big, pink and fabulousness

Wasting time at McDonald's playland. Raining outside...crazy boys...you get the idea

Whew!

2010-03-30T20:14:00.009-05:00

Blehhh! I hate writing huge posts...I'd rather just fill in the space with random tidbits, complaints and silly thoughts, but a lot has been going on around here lately, so I guess I should report on things of that nature.

Once Emmeline was born, things got a bit hairy-scary around here. Big surprise, that...The blessing day arrived like a whirl-wind full of family (thankfully!). My mother, sister-Stephanie and her darling brood, and my mother and father-in-law were able to make it down here. Things worked out, due to them being on their spring break, that we were able to spend a little bit of time together. We, of course, hit the thrift store and scored big on summer clothes...I sure LOVE when that happens! I am always amazed at how fabulous it is to spend $40 at the thrift store and I walk away with over 2o items...ahhh...listen to the clink of my pennies as they fall back into the piggy bank...We also planned to attack the outlet malls, but in traditional style, things have a way of not working out just as I have planned. On our drive to Foley (an hour away) with 6 of the 7 children divided between my mom's van and my own, (Gunner stayed home with Kit who was awaiting the arrival of his parents) armed with snacks and personal electronics, my car decides to give a smell of burned rubber, the steering becomes hard to maneuver and the battery light comes on. So I pull to the side and call my brother-in-laws (thank you Phil and Spence!) If you are like my brother-in-law, Spencer, hearing those symptoms means only one thing-serpentine belt broken. We call Kit to meet us on the side of the road and he heads our way with a new belt, tools and the missing seventh child. A quick fix...or at least it should be. Traffic is running like molasses in winter (not a Mobile winter, a northern Michigan one) due to a large accident on I-10 so it takes him over 2 hours to reach us. It ends up taking FOREVER to get the belt on, in fact, we end up leaving Kit with the car waiting for his friend to come help him put it on after more than an hour of me and him working on it-getting covered in thick black stuff-due to gunk all over my engine because a line has a small leak and the fluid burns to think black blugghh (now my husband is more than ready to find the leak and get it cleaned up after trying to remove the black from his skin-it didn't come off easily-I looked like Crank the Mechanic on Sunday for the blessing). I strap Gunner and Emmeline into Kit's car and off we go attempting to enjoy shopping with all of the children now. Hmmm...how do you think it went? My children (they really didn't deserve the term- let's call them demons instead) were horrendous! All the poor kiddies were tired of their personal electronics and had eaten their fill of the snacks long before now. We were a spectacle-Come one, come all and see the crazy ladies and their babies!! Seriously, we garnered more looks, most incredulous, a few smiling, than I EVER want to earn again. *Sigh* The deals were good, but not THAT good. What's even crazier, is that thinking back on it, I kinda smile, simply because I got to spend time with my mom and my sister and how we could chortle about the whole situation, 'cause if you don't laugh about it, you'll sob!

Oh, whatever happened to Kit stuck on the side of the road? Well, his friend made it there less than 10 minutes later and they had the new belt on lickety-split, Kit went home to meet his parents and enjoyed a lovely meal out-with NO children!!! Ugggh...he gets all the luck! ;)

The next day was Emmeline's blessing day. Emmeline was darling for her great debut. She was beautiful in a lovely white blessing gown, simple, but PERFECT and to top it off, her little toe and fingernails were a demure pearl pink, courtesy of her Auntie Steph. I was not feeling quite so fabulous...we arrived to church late-despite the fact our Sacrament meeting is last. I know, I know! In my defense, 3 women and 7 children all needed to be gussied up (in 1 bathroom) and my dear husband was long gone due to his calling obligations. Also, fabulous spring forward happened to fall on same day...oh joy...But, my sweet ward has gotten used to us by now and smiled and chuckled just a little. Thank you for the smiles, they stemmed the tears about to burst when I walked in. It was wonderful to have her blessed in this ward surrounded by the people we love and who love our crazy family. Our ward is simply an extension of our own families. Her blessing was beautiful. There was a slight moment during which I wanted to scream "Stop! Not another child with a strong curiosity of the world!! Please!!! Look at all of the others...think before you speak such words, man!!" But the urge was tamped down and I enjoyed the rest of the blessing. It truly was beautiful. She was blessed with the innate knowledge of her Heavenly Father's love and that through knowing her, people would know of His love and she would bring love to those in need of it. I love how each of my children's blessings are so different, yet aspects are the same (a curious nature, for one). I am so thankful for a Heavenly Father who knows each of us individually and guides us and blesses us with special gifts of our own. We all came back to my tiny home and enjoyed spending time together. Emme's Grammy and Papa couldn't get enough of her. I don't think she spent a single moment outside of someone's arms!
We are so thankful all of you who could come did! There was plenty of hair-pulling, laughing and memories made, so thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Stephanie with her boys, Cooper (8) and Greyson (5)

Typical family picture

Grammy (Kit's mother) holding Emmeline

Cousins, at an old fashion soda shop

Stephanie's daughter, Ella (2), enjoying her ice cream cone

The next momentous occurrence was our trip out to Yorktown, VA. Kit has been there a few times for training in work, but this was a first for my children and me. We left Sunday and drove straight through (over 16 hours). Not the best trip my children have had, but at least Emmeline was a super-star! We stayed in a cabin on the naval auxiliary base, thank you military moral, for cheaper than in a hotel. It was cozy and the base has trails to hike, a playground and other amenities. We were in high spirits, until we started looking at homes. Uggh! House hunting is NOT fun, let me assure you! It is stressful and can be disappointing. Housing on the east coast is...well, expensive. A bit more expensive than it is in Mobile. Our basic allowance for housing goes up when we move there, but not much. We are still pretty low on the pay-scale totem pole. But, the Lord hears and answers prayers and we were blessed with finding a home on the next to the last day we were there. Our bid has been accepted and now we're just waiting for inspections, etc. to work out. Uggh, uggh, uggh! I will say I am getting excited to start thinking about color schemes and such, 'cause believe me-it needs a good paint job!

The boys on the first day of house hunting

Sleeping in the cabin (they always choose to sleep together, whether the bed is a twin or a king)

We had some fun, too. We visited friends who moved from Mobile to Yorktown (thank you Chris and Suzanne for the yummy dinners, advice and babysitting!), Kit celebrated his 33rd birthday and we hiked around on the base. I even got to see the dog-deer! I never believed there were deer about the size of my dog, Lloyd (a LARGE yellow lab); in fact we refer to them as the mythical dog-deer, but they are real! Imagine that-deer the size of a large dog. When I think of deer, mule deer and white tail deer come to mind, not these tiny little runts! Josiah and Gavin were sure they spotted fox under every bush and bald eagles in every tree and were keen to avoid the "Rabies King" racoons they felt were lurking around the bend (a post on this will be coming soon).

My handsome 33 year old husband
Happy Birthday, love!

Ooh, cereal?!
Hiking

Yorktown is beautiful! The whole area is full of historical sites. I can't wait to explore more and experience all the history to be found. Just driving around, we were able to see old Revolutionary War trenches and mounds, a potter's field and the foundation from the British governor's mansion blown down from guns on the colonists ships out in the York river. When we get settled, our house is open for those who want to visit. We are minutes away from Williamsburg and Jamestown (you know, John Smith and Pocahontas) and only a couple of hours away from D.C. I will definitely be reading up on my American history before I move out there.

The trip home was much better. We decided to stop for the night in Atlanta, GA and spent a few hours visiting with my Auntie Stacy, Uncle Eric and their darling children. Despite living only 5 hours away, we haven't gotten together enough. I hope we can find a way for them to come here, visit the beach (without torrential downpour this time) and enjoy the sun before we move.

Now I feel like time is ticking away. It will fly past as I get the house ready to be packed up, (hooray for movers! Ahhh, the knowledge that someone else will be moving my belongings is fabulous) school finishing up and dealing with new housing issues. I am so excited for the change, yet also so sad! I've been feeling a bit nostalgic as I soak in the site of the dripping Spanish moss and realizing this was the last time our family will make it down here to visit. Mobile has been so good for our family. We love you and will miss you!

Whew! I'm trashed from having sat down to write this and I'm sure you are worn out from reading it. I hope it calmed the raging, chanting mobs! ;)

Sorry, sorry!!

2010-03-29T08:25:00.003-05:00

I'm so sorry I haven't posted in forever. I'm sure most of the world couldn't care less, but for those (er...Whitty) who are getting more upset at me daily, I will try to post toot-sweet once I get trip crappo settled and pictures up-loaded on the computer

.

The Way Things Are...

2010-03-07T21:39:00.002-06:00

My mother has been gone a week now...

Gunner has been sick with a cold and sick with having a new addition to the family...

My chest is ginormous (at least feels that way) and I think I smell like milk ALL of the time...

My belly jiggles with a mind of its own, not to mention the wrinkles on it resemble the face of a 96 year old woman...

I'm up and I'm down waaay too much...

I can't seem to keep up with my house, laundry, dog, children...

BUT-

I'm thrilled at not wearing maternity clothes again...

I LOVE dressing little miss in cute clothes...

I adore the smell of new babies, the way her head fits fabulously into the palm of my hand, the way she pulls her legs up to her body when she yawns or is picked up...

I melt at the sight of my boys adoring their little sister, wanting to be close to her, to kiss and hug her (and spreading their germs as they go)...

Sometimes I just have to try to enjoy the sweet little things...

The Story

2010-02-25T11:18:00.003-06:00

It seems to be my tradition after I give birth to rehash the event for all to read. I'm not sure how many of you want to know the gory details, but if you're interested, keep reading. For those who would rather believe fabulous storks bring darling babies to beautiful, relaxed mothers (wouldn't that be lovely!) avert your eyes and quickly scroll down to view my cutie-patootie in her too big bow and her going home outfit...yes, it is pink!

At about 36 1/2 weeks I went into false labor. I starting contracting 10 min. apart and they lasted through the night then moved closer together in the morning. By 10 am, they were roughly 5 min. apart, but not too intense. They were real contractions, but just without the 5 min. apart edge, if that makes sense. I had a dr. appt that day, so he had me come in early and checked me. I had moved from nothing to a 2. Not bad, but not typical of my labors. He gave me the option of checking into the hospital and breaking my water, or I could walk around and see if we could get things going more intensely. I chose to walk around. They started being more intense, but would ease into less intense contractions (now 3-5 min. apart) if I sat down. I went back to let him check me and now I was a loose 2. Not good on the progression front. Our little girl's head wasn't really engaged. He had me go to triage to be monitored and while I was laying there, things just fizzled out. He let me choose what I wanted to do and we chose to go home and wait things out. Kit had given me a blessing and it helped to make our decision. Throughout the next two weeks, Emmeline dropped and I would have strong, real contractions, but always random-no rhyme or time to them. My doctor checked me and I was almost a 4 and her head was pressing down well, hmmm...big surprise I would have contractions? He offered to start me-the belief being if we could get my contractions in rhythm, I would have a quick labor. How true that was!

I went into the hospital Friday the 19th at 6:30 am. At 7:30 he broke my water and they started me on a low dose of pitocin. The contractions were intense, but I could breathe through them. Things went from intense to very intense and my nurse (who was the BEST ever) called my doctor. Unfortunately, very intense went to have-to-push-NOW the very next contraction. So I was struggling with a LOT of effort not to push until my doctor could arrive. When I lost the battle and HAD to push, he sailed in to save the day. He took his time, made me take mine and little Miss Emmeline made her way into this world at 11:14 am. Just less than a 4 hour labor.

Let me say here how much I LOVE my doctor! He is so personable, listened to what I wanted and needed and made such an effort to have things go right. I didn't tear or need to be cut and that was definitely due to him. I was also so impressed with my nurse, Wanda. She was just what I needed. Since I labor naturally, I feel so trapped in pain when I lay in the bed. She worked with me, the tubing and monitors so I could be in a comfortable position sitting, then kneeling, then perched on the edge of the bed. I know that helped my labor to progress much quicker than if I had laid there on my back. She was cheerful and always had words of encouragement. She didn't talk too much or touch me during contractions (I'm awful-those are my 2 biggest things I can't stand when I'm laboring-even if they are just trying to be helpful).

Emmeline was such a darling surprise. My boys all had red fuzz, not too much on top-mostly body fuzz and sweet pale skin. They were longer than Emme, so they looked much thinner, not nearly as chubby and all struggled a little at birth with various problems-breathing, heat retention, etc. This little girl was such a change with hair (actual hair up there, not just fuzz), dark coloring, chubby cheeks and instant health. My boys have fallen sweetly, deeply in love with their little sister. I love it!!!

Now for the pictures-it still catches me off guard that I have a daughter. I still call her son, every now and then and when I catch sight of her bows, I smile.

Not super attractive picture of me, but this was just before leaving for the hospital

Proud Daddy

Mimi (my mother) holding Emmeline

Emmeline in her pink going home outfit-courtesy of her Auntie Stephanie

All ready to go home in her car seat-note the cute princess socks I made

And Emmeline has landed!

2010-02-19T17:32:00.005-06:00

I'm not as clever as my wife and everybody could probably care less about anything, really, that i have to say if it doesn't involve the youngest member of our family...so, I'll cut to the chase. At 0630 this morning Liberty and I went to the hospital...fast forward four hours and forty four minutes...and catch. The Doc did a beautiful job doing it and Liberty was flawless, a gold medal performance:) The result of the 4 hour and forty four minute endeavor was youngest member of the Applegate Clan's landing. Liberty will surly post more later but hopefully the following will suffice 'til then. Enjoy!

Heellooo Emme

Hello Hair!

Big brother Jos with little Sister

Clone Trooper Gavin with little Sis.

Lib looking beautiful and Baby doing great

Yes...you saw right the first time ... Hair!

It's What??

2010-02-12T10:41:00.001-06:00

Snowing!!! Seriously, here in Mobile, it is snowing! Big FAT white flakes...

A weather phenomenon not experienced here since about 13 years (or so I'm told) ago. Let me just say my boys think it is the coolest thing EVER! (Just wait until we live in Yorktown next winter...)

More Preparations

2010-01-28T15:50:00.004-06:00

I get to start preparing for something else! Seriously-making plans is relaxing and fun for me...as long as I have a long time to prepare. I love researching online, figuring things out and forming opinions.

I'll quit expounding. We just received our newest cut of orders. Courtesy of the USCG, we will be moving this summer to...imagine a nice rat-tat-tatty drum-roll here...

Yorktown, VA

We're really excited. It was our #1 pick (we choose from a list of available posts then we get placed {hopefully/usually} off our choice list). Kit will be a Maritime Safety instructor at the Coast Guard base.

I love moving. I don't like the necessity of finding and making new friends, but exploring and experiencing new places is so fun! Had we never moved to Mobile, we wouldn't have swam in the gulf

tasted a low-country boilattended Mardi Gras paradesor experienced true living in the deep south.
In Virginia, we will be surrounded by history, four seasons (hmm...we'll have to get used to cold weather again) and brand new people and experiences.

Anyone who has been there, please share!!

More preps--I ordered some bows from Oh So Girly! and I {LOVE} them! (feel free to picture me stroking them lovingly with a stupid grin...) Now if my car-seat cover would come, I'd feel even more prepared...possibly even kinda ready for little girl!

Dreams...and Preparing

2010-01-23T08:28:00.007-06:00

Other than my husband, sister Stephanie and nephew Ezra...do any of you have crazy dreams? I don't and don't even remember any of my dreams when I wake up. When I'm pregnant, though...well, that's a different story. Seriously, I have the goriest, funniest and weirdest dreams when there's a bun in the oven. AND they are so realistic feeling and vivid-it's like dreaming in HD! With each of my children I've dreamed about their delivery (many times). With Josiah, I dreamed I gave birth to an orangutan and everyone kept saying he was so beautiful and no one could understand how I didn't find him the most beautiful baby ever! With Gavin, I had dreams of giving birth without knowing I did. He would just slip out and there he was! Gunner, well, sometimes he was all grown up when I delivered him; other times he came too early, but was perfectly healthy...just the size of a walnut and I would carry him around in my pocket. Weird, I know...

I haven't had any dreams of the delivery with this little girl...until last night. In this dream, I went into labor at home, delayed going to the hospital too long, and delivered my own baby in the bathroom (very little pain and gore was involved- if only that part could be true). The big surprise was the little girl wasn't...she was a little boy! I wasn't sad about that, until the realization hit that I gave away my boy stuff and have been spending time and money collecting girl things. Oh no! He was beautiful, though, with tons of dark hair (obviously a fictitious dream), but he also had a club foot and a couple of other problems. I woke up with the overwhelming desire to go to the bathroom (no surprise there) and had to feel my basketball belly to assure myself it really was just a dream. Quite the scare.

With our ultrasound, the tech was VERY sure it was a girl, and believe me, it was quite a different view than it was with my other three. BUT- you hear of it happening. All this excitement and hype and instead of pink, out comes blue!! Despite the shock, I know we'd love a little boy as much as we would this little girl. I'm just hoping the shock doesn't happen!

In speaking of all things pink, I've been a little stressed lately. Anxiety has seem to set in. I'm not positive if it is because I'm having a girl (something I am NOT well versed in), because I am having #4 and it will be my last, or because I simply understand what having another baby in the house means. To combat this anxiety, I've been trying to do fun preparations. My sweet sisters are letting me borrow some of their baby girl things so I've been washing and putting the clothes away, darling friends threw me a shower (can I just say it was belly-shaking fun!!!) and I have been trying to be a little crafty and attempt to make little girl things.

Over Christmas, my sisters put me onto "princess socks". These are plain little crew socks all dolled up with beads. So easy and so cute!

(The following picture are not of my creations...camera is still on the fritz)

(Picture courtesy of Marlo's Crochet Corner)

I've also tried my hand at making some felt flower clips to put on a headband for little girl. Kit is of the opinion they are WAY too large (maybe her head would tip to the side just a little).

Maybe I'll have to try some of a different variety...

(Picture courtesy of Rookie Moms)

I want to try some of these fabric flowers, so cute!!!

Are there any other fun crafts out there I can attempt without too much skill? The craft bug (nesting instinct?-although I'm not too inspired to deep clean my house) has set in!

High Maintenance???

2010-01-17T16:30:00.004-06:00

The question has been rolling around my household for over a week now. What makes a spouse high maintenance?

A variety of definitions have been presented...a person who needs a large amount of toys/material goods to be "happy", someone who has to always be right, a person who expects dinner to be ready on the table, children to be perfect and life to run smoothly without any necessary effort from self, and emotional high maintenance- someone who needs a lot of attention, to be coddled, cooed over and able to talk things through every step of the way. I think people are, in general, a mix of all of these. Some just have more tallies in each column earning the "high maintenance" title.

I don't necessarily think being high maintenance is always a negative thing, seeing how marriage needs to be maintained to keep the seams from gaping and people together. However, it just seems to me that there are certain people who require more energy from their spouse to keep things running smoothly.

Where has all of this come from? An innocent conversation with my husband...one where I voiced that my sweetheart was higher maintenance than some other husbands. (Let me interject here that I don't believe I am a low maintenance wife. I know I require an ear to talk through EVERYTHING and I am a very emotional person-highs are high and lows are low) I believe he took offense and this has become quite the topic. He has asked people's opinions left and right if they think he is or isn't and what their definition is. In typical Kit fashion {smile and chuckle here} he has discarded all opinions unfavorable to his opinion and touts the ones he prefers.

Something often overlooked, as has been by my husband, are the benefits of having a high(er) maintenance spouse. In having Kit as my honey, I am spoiled in certain areas. Kit loves my birthday and Christmas. He always tries to come up with the right gift regardless of cost and energy. He is definitely the one who has romance on the mind and will surprise me with little things (PB M&Ms, flowers, Mint Oreos) to simply see me smile. He LOVES me. I am blessed to have him as my spouse. If he doesn't notice the mess to help clean the house or calls me 3 or 4 times when I am out for some alone time- well, at least he didn't notice the mess and loves to hear my voice.

So...what is your opinion? Are you a high(er) maintenance person, is your spouse? What is your definition and thoughts on this?

LOVE

2010-01-07T10:13:00.003-06:00

I know it isn't even February, but I have been thinking a lot about love...

I love LOVE! I do. I am a romantic at heart. My favorite books are those with happy endings full of romance and yes, love. I adore how there are so many different kinds of love. Family love-the worry, loyalty and closeness we feel towards members of our families. Parental love-full of hair pulling, laughing and crying. There is the first blush of love, sweet with butterflies in flight in your stomach. Then there is deeper love, after a first (or fiftieth) argument that comes with heart thumping, maddening anger, frustration and yet...enduring love.

I love how love changes with time, aging and becoming clearer, more defined. I find I love my husband in spite of his quirks and he loves me in spite of my mood swings. I want to be the couple who are in their nineties and still crazy in love-you know the ones-laughing together, holding hands. One day at Wal-mart I saw an older man and his wife and they were pushing their cart together. He had his arm around her waist then ( I had to giggle here) he let his hand fall to pat her bottom! It was fabulous!! They were so in love! How do we do this? How do we make the excitement and blush of love endure? I find I am so tired and irritated to laugh with my husband. I find I am so touched-out by children that a pat on my rear is NOT something to laugh at, but to scold for. I realized I have lost my flirt when I read this post. Uggh! How to get it back? Hmmm...I'd love ideas...as, I'm sure, would my husband.

I'll leave you with a song I love...one that makes me dance around my house and feel butterflies in hopes my husband hears this song and thinks of me... Hey, Soul Sister

The Mistake

2010-01-05T16:15:00.005-06:00

So...I change my blog background/layout fairly often. I know what to do to keep things from getting lost. Usually. I switched layouts and accidentally delete my blog list today. No worries. I had an old version of my blog open so I began transferring the info from one to the other. Slow going, but working. Then, DH calls me needing a number and address, my boys start in with their needs and it is time to go get Josiah from school. Ok. I leave the windows open online and go about my business. I come home and send the beasties outside and sit down on the computer. WHAT?!! Kit popped in here on his way from point A to point B after work, checked something online and...yep...closed down the windows. So not his fault...BUT...seriously, he leaves things up online for hours! SIGH. He's doing penance by being in charge of dinner tonight. Maybe this guilt thing cna be drawn out for a bit...hmmm...don't tell!

The point of this post is to ask for your assistance. I pieced what I could from memory, but if any who read my blog notice I don't have yours on my blog list, please let me know. UGGGH! Thanks!

Ewwww!

2009-12-15T11:22:00.002-06:00

My oldest is growing up! Just this past week, kisses seem to be dis-gus-ting. Not sure what the change is, but now the sight or sound of smooches between me and his daddy gross him out. "Mommy " kisses are still acceptable, but kissing between boys and girls is yucky. This morning as I kissed Kit good-bye (a quick peck) I was informed by Jos that "it vexes his mind when we kiss." Where does he come up with this stuff?

That's okay. I don't mind him being grossed out by kissing...so long as it lasts 'til he gets home from his mission.

Blogging Stumped!

2009-12-13T20:13:00.002-06:00

Or should I say blogging slump? Blehh! I hate when I can't think of anything to blog about...it is not that NOTHING is happening, just nothing noteworthy. Well, a lot of what I blog about isn't worthy, but you know what I mean. I thought I'd just share a few random things, if only to get something new up on my page.

We recently acquired another member to our household...Jean-Luc. He is a charming Elf, straight from the Cajun Elf-on-the-Shelf Academy. Where, I have been told by Josiah, he learned how to NOT move at all, not even to blink. He appeared in our house leaving a book for my sons to find. Josiah knew exactly who he was, since he has a special elf in his classroom, Jingles, and he heard about Demetri, his cousins' Russian elf. Gavin had a smidgen of doubt that poor Jean-Luc was real, he even poked him a few times with a piece of paper (not his finger in case he was real and would take away his magic) to prove he was just a doll, but Josiah claimed his fortitude was acquired with the training he has received. I was even so silly as to mention I thought Jean-Luc winked at me...Josiah promptly responded "Mom, he's not allowed to wink! Sometimes it is easy to imagine things, isn't it." My children have all been won over and look with anticipation each morning to see where our silly elf is hiding to watch our family.

Another fun addition to our house has been a darling nativity set my dad sent us. Crazy to think, but I didn't have a nativity set until he was so thoughtful and set me one. I never bought one out of the dollar store in avoidance of wings, etc and at least the ones I saw were kinda bleh. As a new tradition we have added a few pieces each night and discussed who they are and what part they have in the Christmas Story. My boys have been so cute in their anticipation and have reminded me to add the pieces each time. I love to see the Spirit of Christmas in their eyes and hear them speak about the real reason for this fabulous holiday time.

We are getting ready to go home to Oklahoma for Christmas. We haven't spent it with the Holyoak clan since Gavin was born, whew! four years ago! It will be a production, but oh-so-fun, with my sisters' and their families there and Mack, too. We will be missing my brother, Jesse, but we will definitely be thinking about him in Japan. So far away, often too far away!!!

Life just seems to be making its way...slowly at times and too quickly at others. I'm feeling large and bulky one day, then claiming I'm not nearly as big as I was with Gunner others. My boys make us smile and laugh, then pull our hair. Life carries on in its crazy, fabulous way.

Splurges

2009-12-02T13:43:00.003-06:00

I was pondering splurges today. You know, adding up the little things I do for myself. I don't view myself as selfish really (but then, do you know a selfish person who does?-so, I'm hoping I'm not just deluding myself), but I have a few luxuries I allow myself. To start, I adore paper plates. I know, I know...I'm killing the world single-handedly with my splurge, but I don't have a dishwasher. Not an excuse, but I ABHOR dishes. Truly, it is my most hated chore and I would rather mop floors, do laundry and clean toilets than wash as many dishes as we produce by hand 3 times a day. Which brings me to my next splurge-bleach tablets for the toilets. Fabulous! I love the smell of bleach every time the toilet is flushed AND how easy the toilet is to clean. I also love color catchers for the laundry. They are my peace of mind in case of color mishaps. Love 'em!

I splurge on my appearance, too. I love the look of my nails being done, but cannot afford the upkeep. To keep my man-hands from looking so manly, I splurge and buy fake nails and apply them myself once a week or so. Ahhh, well manicured hands for a fraction of the cost. I'm going gray(blehhh!!!) and I am so not okay with it! So, to combat the old-tired mommy creeping in, I dye. I {{heart}} those little boxes. Phew, keep that gray away!

I also keep easy foods on hand for my beasties' lunches. Ramen and chicken nuggets have a continual place here in my home. I love the convenience of the quick fix for their hunger. Saves time; makes me smile!

Are you as selfish as I am? Or, am I telling you all my deep, dark secrets? I love hearing about other people's favorites and can't-do-withouts.

Thankful

2009-11-30T13:38:00.003-06:00

Today I am thankful for the Thanksgiving break we were able to enjoy in a beach house with my in-laws. We had such a fun time and I love spending time with my sisters-in-laws and their families. I love how we've gotten closer over the years and they are such strong women. Every time I am around them I learn so much. Sydnee has older children than mine and I love listening to her experience raising them and being a stay-at-home mom. Her opinions on literature, the world and the gospel are invaluable to me. I love being with Ashlee and sharing the experiences we are having with our 2 year olds and being preggo together. She is so strong- working and having her sweetie gone often.

My little beasties had a blast! Picture scrawny little white boys in their boxer briefs, which somehow are still baggy on them, frolicking multiple times a day in the sand and water. I don't know how they didn't turn into little red-headed popsicles in view of the cooler weather and water, but they survived and thrived with enough energy to run in circles around the house.

I am also thankful for my brother, Mack. He was such a help on this trip! He was everywhere lending a helping hand with the kids, dishes and excitement :) ! I'm glad he survived to tell tales!

I am also thankful for the Thanksgiving season and for the segway it lends to put us in the right state of mind for the Christmas season. May my family remember the true reason for Christmas and be filled with love for our Savior.

Thankful for Primary Programs

2009-11-15T16:10:00.003-06:00

Today I am thankful for Primary Programs. I don't know another time when you can watch children roll around, pick their noses, make odd faces and sing in funny voices and still feel the spirit so strongly. The children's sweet spirits come through and the Holy Ghost testifies of the truthfulness. Beautiful. Hilarious. I had the best seat in the house today (up by the podium) and had to laugh at a first for me. I got to witness a little boy pretending to be a beaver (thankfully NOT one of mine) and lick and gnaw on the seats. No means of persuasion could get him to stop. Truly funny, a little gross, but very, very funny.

Thankful for Freedom

2009-11-11T10:00:00.004-06:00

Today I am so very thankful (as many of you are) for the wonderful country we live in. I am thankful for those who have fought and died to protect the rights of men and those who have fought and lived to stand as testimony to our need to protect those rights. I am also so very thankful for the fathers, mothers, wives and children who let their loved ones go with their support. How blessed we are!!

Thankful for Wal-mart

2009-11-10T17:03:00.003-06:00

Wal-mart? I know...but when you practically live there, you gotta be thankful for it sometime. Despite often having limp produce, too little parking and WAY too many people, it fits my needs. I adore the fact I have one less than 2 minutes away and on a whim I can drive there for WHATEVER I might need. (Not to mention the quick little time-out I can give myself for these quick little errands!) Fabulous, let me tell you!

Thankful for Time-Outs

2009-11-08T13:19:00.004-06:00

I'm thankful for time-outs. Not the times when I put my beasties in them, but the ones I occasionally allow myself. I was able to go out with a few of my sweet friends for an afternoon. I love how being with close girl-friends gives me a moment to rant, relax and laugh so hard my belly hurts (and shake like an enormous jello-mold). I love being uplifted and the feeling of the weight of life and mother-hood being released like helium-filled balloons. I definitely need time-outs more often!

Thankful for Returns

2009-11-04T21:21:00.003-06:00

Tonight I am thankful for my husband's return home.

Thankful for Support

2009-11-03T18:32:00.004-06:00

Today I was thankful for my brassiere. I know, it is something always used (or should be) and rarely thought about. I feel as if I have gotten quite buxom lately. For me, normally I am non-existent after breast-feeding and adequate while pregnant. Not so this pregnancy; I have become well-endowed. Now to the point of my thankfulness. I have been living in my bra 24-7 due to tenderness normal to pregnancy. Last night I thought I'd be wild and free and let things be relaxed for bed. I woke up miserable and oh-so-sore in the chest area. So, slipping on my well-worn, more gray-than-white supportive undergarment, I felt the bliss of support. Ahhhh!

Thankful for November

2009-11-02T09:37:00.004-06:00

I love the Fall Holiday Season. First Halloween, then Thanksgiving, then on to winter and Christmas. I love it all. Despite the opinion of certain family members (Kit and Mack), even though I listen to Christmas music and relish in the gift procuring before Thanksgiving, I do appreciate and love Thanksgiving. The spirit of gratitude is strong in my heart and I am thankful that despite our crazy, materialistic world, as Americans we still celebrate a holiday where we are truly thankful for the blessings we have.

Halloween

2009-10-29T21:15:00.014-05:00

**I'm not feeling witty, or Whitty, so I will let the pictures do most of the talking in this post (keep your sighs of relief to yourselves!)

We started our Halloween celebrations a bit early this year. With Kit being out of town (he's been gone for 3 weeks for training in VA) I thought to give us a head start and enjoy the season...(okay, so the real reason was mostly to have things spaced out so we have something to look forward to and to save me stress)

We started by carving jack-o-lanterns for FHE last week. A bit early, I know-my boys go outside every day to check and see if they are "decaying" but, I couldn't wait! I LOVE carving pumpkins. It is one of my favorite Halloween traditions. The tension relieved by ripping out something's innards, maybe. Whatever the reason, I {HEART} pumpkin carving. I don't actually carve things myself. I leave that up to whoever the best carver is. I have too many memories of ruined creations...eyelashes falling out, ears coming off, teeth getting knocked out...(not me, my favored pumpkin) just ask my family, it was ruinous to the occasion. So to save myself the heartache, I have retired my personal knife and I am now self-proclaimed Queen Innards Remover. Since Kit was gone, the carver was my brother, Mack. The boys drew out their ideas and Uncle Mack made them happen.

You will notice how Josiah and Gunnison look a little "special" in the next couple of photos...

Mack, the carver, relishing in the use of his big knife

I love how cute my boys look with their pleased expressions {{hugs}}

We had our annual ward Chili cook-off and Trunk-or-Treat this year. I love ANY event where they will feed me chili! Yummo!! So, I was inspired to put together costumes sooner than the day before the big H. Despite the distance between us, Kit made a major contribution to Halloween this year in the form of figuring out what Gunner and I should be. We knew Gavin was going to be a leprechaun for Halloween back in the summer (his decision) and when we were in OK helping Steph pack for her move we came across this little linen suit of Grey's and knew it was perfect. Add his mischievous grin and red hair (which is hiding under the hat) it was a perfect fit. I didn't have to do much with his costume other than stencil "GOLD" on his pot and put it together. Josiah's was another matter. He has been quite excited about what he wanted to be for a LONG time, but-what to be?? That has been the question plaguing us for awhile. From Darth Vader to a porcupine to a door (yes, a door...per Jos-"They can be quite dangerous you know. One minute you'll be walking along minding your own business and Boom! you walk right into one! It happens to me all the time." ) We finally agreed on the eyeball and without too much difficulty got it put together. Gunnison was "God's gift to Women". He wore his bow and a gift tag. His smile was infectious and I thought he pulled it off well. ;) I was a Pumpkin Thief. A couple of "huh?"s, but most people got my husband's sense of humor. It made me smile, so it was worth the funny looks!

**I apologize for the next pictures. Mack's camera was struggling, too. I'd better get mine fixed before the upcoming holidays!**

The boys and their "Prince Charming" Uncle Mack

Me...and my stolen pumpkin

You can't see the belly too well 'cause I'm wearing oh-so-slimming black and the camouflage of a child, so this next one embarrasses me plenty...all because I love you!!!

( I totally pull off the Fertility Goddess look here, especially if you could see my nicely rounded thighs!)

"4" means you can climb trees...

2009-10-12T16:33:00.006-05:00

Gavin was quite excited for his birthday. He knew that once he hit the fab age of "4" he'd be able to climb to the very top of the magnolia tree in our front-yard. He's still working at it, but that's just 'cause he's a "new 4 year old."

We love birthdays in our house. I'm sure I've said this before, but birthdays have always been so special in both my family and Kit's growing up. It doesn't have to be big, but it is still a fabulous day to celebrate only you! We started the day with the birthday banner and streamers hanging and Kit woke Gavin up to go to Krispy Kreme's for a pick-out-whatever-you-want breakfast. Gavin chose an ooey-gooey chocolate sprinkled covered donut and managed to eat half of it. I think most of the fun came from picking out and less from the eating. :) From there he came home and his birthday fun started (actually, I let him lay around in his jammies and watch T.V. while I took care of the chores).

We don't open gifts until everyone can be there, and it is SO hard to wait when you're little and Daddy coming home is such a long time away! My grandma (Grandma B. to my beasties) send a card with a dollar for Gavin to spend all on his own and we needed to complete the task of cake and icecream picking-out, so we decided a birthday trip to Wal-mart was in order. DON'T go to Wal-mart with only a dollar. When the sight of your very own Power Wheels army jeep stares you in the face, a dollar dinosaur, plane shooter, ball, or box of candy just doesn't look quite as good. After convincing Gav his dollar just wouldn't stretch that far, we took a break from the toy section and headed to the bakery. Those ginormous cakes sure look appealing! Gavin was pretty sure he needed one all covered in butterflies and bright colors...it was only $20!! Knowing my children do not really eat birthday cake, we decided on a bright, cute, round, yellow one with large sprinkles, a happy birthday sign and "Gavin" written in green. From there we moved on to the icecream choices. I even thought we'd splurge and get the non-Wal-mart brand. Despite all of the appealing choices, he still chose Neopolitan and called it a great birthday trip. ( A couple days later we went to Dollar Tree and was able to find many more choices to spend his dollar on!)

After picking up Josiah from school and Daddy and Uncle Mack got home, we opened the gifts. It is always such an event in this household. We have to field little hands from opening gifts before the birthday boy (Gunner opened the one gift sack 3 different times during the day, thankfully without Gavin seeing, until I was able to put it up and out of the way). He loved everything he was given. THANK YOU EVERYONE!!! He even got a brand new big-boy bike he had asked for, but by far the hit of the day was the bow and arrow Josiah gave him. Funny how the one of the cheapest things can be the best (although only one of the arrows isn't broken now, boo). Second to that was the cowboy costume his Mimi chose for him. Crazy boy has been wearing it non-stop. But what else should I expect from the boy with the never-ending imagination!

From there we headed to the Boiling Pot for what else-crawfish and shrimp! Gavin's all-time fav food! After devoring a huge plate of fried shrimp po-boys, crawfish tails and fries we headed home (with an enormous to-go box) to attempt to eat cake and icecream. Gavin went to bed one happy "new" 4 year old.

Today he used his Aunt Sydnee's gift- a Build-a-Bear gift card and got the cutest turkey, named Figwort (so named with the aid of Josiah) and a pet Jack Russel terrier for Figwort, named Figger (hmmm, I wonder how he came up with that one?). It was a fun way to spend Josiah's day off of school and a good time to spend with Daddy before he left (to a training school for a few weeks). Thanks Aunt Sydnee, Uncle Dale, Parker and Ellee!!

**Our camera went on the fritz...not many pictures...the rest are on Kit's phone, but it wasn't downloading right...sorry**

Pandemonium begins
The prized bow and arrow

Our Rough 'n' Tough cowboy
(his hair was done, he just messed it up tons putting on and taking off the cowboy hat that came with it)

This one is only to show inquiring minds the baby belly resting on my thighs

Brothers...

2009-10-01T16:18:00.004-05:00

I love how my boys all love each other. Josiah will try to bring Gavin something home from school each day, whether it is a rock, a leftover piece of his afternoon snack or simply a picture from school. Both Gavin and Josiah watch out for Gunner, their eagle-eye watching usually taking the form of yanking some object deemed "unsuitable" from his hands amid shouts, squeals and cries. Gunner is sad when his big brothers aren't with him and so excited when they come home. They truly love one another. Don't get me wrong, my boys are rough and tough and do not hesitate to throw balls at the others' head and tackle each other on a whim. Yet despite all that, they are best friends. I love their camaraderie. I hope this love will extend to their little sister. I want them to be her friend as well as her protector. Well...maybe not too protective...Kit is already feeling sorry of the guy who thinks he'll be worthy to date her. Three big brothers and one big Daddy is an awful lot of testosterone to contend with. ;)

You did read correctly...kinda hard to believe, but it is true...

It's a GIRL!!!

The Great Red Ruby

2009-09-28T11:01:00.003-05:00

A couple of weeks ago Kit opened one of our kitchen drawers to see this:

What is it? Play-doh squished and squashed around a juicer.

According to Gavin, it is the Great Red Ruby, hidden by pirates...buried treasure...

Becoming a Son of Thunder...

2009-09-20T19:51:00.006-05:00

Written by Kit

My father-in-law uses this term for someone who has the fire of righteousness in them. He gets the reference from the New Testament which references the Apostles James and John who in the gospel of Mark 2:17 refers to them as “Sons of Thunder”. Also in Luke 9:52-54 there is a story about James and John, 52. And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. 53. And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. 54. And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? I know that if the Lord had let them, they would have had faith the carry out the desire. My father-in-law, when working with others as a member of the Stake Presidency, asked that we have the “thunder” and I, as a missionary, I used the term “fire”, to please the Lord, to be a “son (or Daughter) of thunder”.

Over the last 6 months or so I have had the great privilege to witness the development of a “Son of Thunder”. As many of you might know, my brother-in-law, Mack, has been living with us. When he came to live with us he is what most would have call a typical 19 year old. Caught is his own world, where scuba diving, cars and the “where is the next fun thing for me” attitude centered his life. Don’t get me wrong, Mack has always been a good kid and I have always loved him. But over the last few months I have seen a visual and spiritual change. I have seen a boy become a man, and the words that I heard my father-in-law speak of solidified in my mind.

I was called as Elder Quorum President and one of the brothers in the ward had become blind among dealing with other health issues. I was asked by the bishop to find some one to help up keep his lawn. I asked Mack to do this. He smiled at me and said, “Yes Pres. Applegate, I’d love to,” and he did. Every week he would take his time and go to the brother’s home and mow his lawn. Every week when I ask who will help the Elders in our ward by going on splits he always raises his hand and helps out the servants of the Lord in doing His work. Just this last week another brother in the ward had his sewer pipe running by his house collapse. It was a last minute thing and late on Friday night I asked Mack if he could help the following Saturday morning bright and early. He said, ”No problem.” As we worked on the 20 ft of sewer, he was joking and laughing and working very hard. I heard comments from others on the work crew like “Mack the human Earth mover” and even the Bishop gave him the nickname Bobcat because he worked like one. At the end of the day when we were driving home, Mack and I were talking and he told me, “I felt that the Lord was with me, He (the Lord) had to have given me strength because I wasn’t tired and am not tired.” Most 19 year old boys would have said, “I’m the man” or “ yeah I’m a stud”, but this Son of Thunder laid his success at the feet of the Lord. My boys look up to Mack, they love him. He always takes time to play with them. He has told Lib and me to go on dates and he watches them. As I see their eyes light up when he talks to them and he wrestles them I can’t think of anybody else I would rather have them admire.
Over the last months I have seen his countenance change. I see light when I look at him. When he teaches in Elders Quorum I see light, when he plays with my boys I see light. To those who think that they know Mack and the phrase “Son of thunder” doesn’t come to mind, then they truly do not know him. Is he perfect? No, but this is why he and we are, becoming Sons of Thunder.

Addendum-Pitcher Plants

2009-09-18T15:26:00.005-05:00

Pitcher plants are carnivorous plants whose prey-trapping mechanism features a deep cavity filled with liquid known as a pitfall trap....foraging, flying or crawling insects such as flies are attracted to the cavity formed by the cupped leaf, often by visual lures such as anthocyanin pigments, and nectar bribes. The sides of the pitcher are slippery and may be grooved in such a way so as to ensure that the insects cannot climb out. The small bodies of liquid contained within the pitcher traps are called phytotelmata. They drown the insect, and the body of it is gradually dissolved. This may occur by bacterial action (the bacteria being washed into the pitcher by rainfall) or by enzymes secreted by the plant itself. --Wikipedia

Belated Labor Day

2009-09-18T08:48:00.006-05:00

I have been meaning to post this...but, you know how the time to post can get away from you like laundry duty, check-book balancing and child rearing.

We had a fun Labor Day despite canceled plans and inclement weather. Our plan was to go across the Bay to Foley and check out their old soda shop. We got the boys all excited just to be disappointed with darkened windows and a "Sorry we're closed" sign on the door. Bummer! Whatever shall we do?

Pizza to the rescue! We had passed a billboard sign advertising for Mellow Mushroom pizza on our way into town and Josiah has wanted to go there since, well, FOREVER. The decision soon turned sighs and moans into grins. Thank heavens-having 3 little boys mutinying is not a pretty sight! We were entertained by spying on the kitchen preparing the pizzas by stretching and tossing the dough into the air. We then devoured hot, stringy-cheesed, yummy pizza (not quite on par with Hideaway pizza despite its fabulousness).

Yes, my husband often looks like this

Josiah and Gunnison cheesing it

My brother Mack and the elusive Gavin

Captured, Gavin allowed us to get a picture of him

Noticing the blackening sky and almost drinkable, humidified air outside we decided to take a chance and see if we could squeeze in a couple of easy geo-caches. After a quick find, we headed to destination #2, a pitcher plant bog. It was a board-walked area above soggy ground filled with striking pitcher plants. Here and there we were able to spot beautiful swallowtail butterflies and delicate orchids. The threat of seeing a possible cotton-mouth kept my children securely on the board-walk, but encouraged much leaning over the edge and exclaims of imagined sightings. We made it back to the car as the first large drops began to fall (we have ginormous raindrops here). Perfect timing! We drove a more scenic route back to the Bay and then on towards home.

Family Pic

*Please excuse my bad hair-incredibly, ugly humid and my fat arm-I hope it really doesn't look so fat when I stand normal...here is an infamous belly-shot

It was one of those days where things don't go as planned, but is full of fun and relaxation. Simply getting away is out of the norm, so it was exactly what was needed by all of us.

Ode to Josiah

2009-09-08T13:07:00.005-05:00

This is a post about all things Josiah-funny. While our oldest son supplies us with a lot of things to sigh over, he also makes us laugh over and over again. In general it isn't what he is intending, but that doesn't stop our chuckles from bursting forth. Josiah is a wonderful mixture of inquisitive thinking, imagination and knowledge. This makes for some interesting conversations.

The other day Josiah was rubbing his legs, which are quite hairy. He then leaned over and rubbed my arms. Looking closely at my arms he stated quite matter-of-factually, "We are mammals. You make milk for your babies and I am very furry. You even have some fur on your arms."

One of the things that drives me quite batty is whining. Lately Josiah has been whining in the ugliest voice imaginable! To combat this, every time he whines, he gets a red slip (a negative reinforcement, green slips are given as positive reinforcement). Jos came into the kitchen where Kit and I were getting dinner ready. He starts talking in a whine then catches my eye. He quickly follows up what he was whining about with, "You might think that sounded like a whine, but it wasn't. My voice just came out funny."

Earlier this past week, Josiah was having a drama morning. He was upset I hadn't set out his clothes for school the night before and I was expecting him to dress himself. Out of the back hallway a paper airplane comes sailing out to land near my feet. I ignore it and carry on with getting Josiah's snack ready for school. Eventually I make my way to open it just as Jos is coming into the dining room. I open it and see this:

With a panicked look, the first thing he blurts out is, "It's not you...it's a...monster I dreamed of last night!" I must add here that Josiah often sends notes to me via paper airplane. Whether they are to tell me he loves me or that I'm mean, airplane is one of his favorite modes of communication. I had to laugh at this one, despite the obvious fact it was me, and not too pretty. I believe it is one of my favorite pictures...I'll keep it for blackmail when he is older.

Josiah has taken to sleeping without a shirt on "like his Uncle Mack". I came to give the two oldest good night kisses after having put Gunner to bed, and see Josiah rubbing his armpit very lightly. I ask what he's doing and he informs me he is just checking to see if his arm hair was growing in like Daddy's. I asked him what he thought and he thought maybe it was. "Soon," he said, "it'll be as much as Dad's." Despite how hairy our little orangutan is, I don't believe he is getting the beloved armpit hair yet. But, I think I'll keep that disappointing news to myself.

There are so many other things from talking about birth of babies to Star Wars that keep us laughing. Some of these incidents are probably "you had to be there", but I thought I'd share them with you anyway...if only to remind myself to chuckle when I'm sighing.

Gunnison's Terrible 2

2009-09-04T09:27:00.007-05:00

*warning: lots of pictures*

Actually Gunner isn't a too bad terrible two...we've been in it for awhile now (he started the "symptoms" around 18 months...all my beasties get beast-like around 18 months). His birthday was a lot of fun, probably more so for the older two boys. They could hardly contain themselves as they counted down all week.

We started out the festivities the night before with the kids helping me make a birthday banner to hang in the morning. It started out as a secret, but was soon unmasked and Gunner helped decorate his own sign. Everyone woke nice and early, but none too happy. Gavin and Gunnison are generally grouchy in the morning and Josiah was quite put out that his brother's birthday was not a good enough reason for staying home from school. But-off he went with the promise we wouldn't do anything "birthday-kind-of-fun" while he was gone at school. Gavin and I tried to be sneaky as we wrapped presents in my room, but Gunner didn't like being left out, so he got to help tie on the ribbons. We had a fun day, playing with play-dough and just relaxing.

Play-dough play

Gunner showing off his "animal"

Once Josiah and Kit were home we commenced with the Present Opening. Gunner was grouchy again and wanted to play with whatever he opened. He wouldn't let go of the shoes his Aunt Ashlee gave him or move on to the next present after the "Spidy-man" fruitsnacks. He did get excited with the super-hero cape we gave him and he sped around the house. He then got VERY excited when we told him we were going to eat at McDonald's and play on the playland. That is, unfortunately, his favorite meal (Josiah tried to convince him he wanted Mexican food -Jos's fav-but to no avail). He was so excited to eat there and play, so it was a lot of fun.

After returning home we broke out the itty-bitty birthday cake he and the boys chose. It was between a gigantic one that would have fed our family for a month or the itty-bitty one. I couldn't interest them in the mid-sized one...so the teeny-tiny one it was. Gunner blew out the candles as soon as they were lit a couple of times, but he couldn't help but grin while we were all singing to him. We then ended the evening with Family Movie Night (Friday night tradition), Pete's Dragon. All the children were making Elliott sounds the next day...well, they still are.

It really was fun and I LOVE celebrating birthdays. It doesn't have to be big, as long as the birthday person knows how much we love them. I truly am blessed to have Gunnison in our family. Despite times of grouchiness, he is a sweet, fun loving little man. He makes all of us smile with his prancing and dancing and singing of "Yoda" and "Anakin Guy" (Star Wars songs by Weird Al...yes, those are his favorites...). His older brothers adore him and we know our little warrior is destined for great things. We love you Gunnison Michael!!!

Gunner hiding behind his play house with the fruitsnacks

Tearing into a gift
Gun admiring the shoes from Aunt Ashlee

Gunner modeling his new super-hero cape

Reading the book Aunt Sydnee sent
The boys opening Grammy's gift
Play Land!

Cake and Ice cream

Saturday morning play with the new train set

Baby Talk

2009-09-04T09:10:00.003-05:00

Thanks for all of your congrats and well wishes...and hopes for a girl. Kit was most distressed by those comments, he's sure you will upset the balance with all your wishes and might just jinx us...with a girl (quite the bad thing in his eyes).

We definitely were not "trying" for a girl (which a lot of random strangers ask me), though I would be very pleased if we were blessed with one. We both feel this will be our last (whew!!! a huge sigh of relief). I love being a mommy and I love my children, but I do not feel like I could be a mom of many children. In fact, we probably would have stopped at three if we did not feel like there was one more spirit waiting.

I already have a "bump". I start showing EARLY and with 3 previous baby bellies still there, this fourth is nice and large already. I don't believe I'll be showing pictures any too soon...maybe if Kit can catch one VERY flattering. I've been feeling pretty good lately, although still tired. I'm usually off to bed by nine...don't be surprised, of all my pregnancy symptoms, tiredness is always #1 and earlier I was falling asleep after sending the beasties off to bed at 7! I was more sick with this little one than I have been with the others, but still it isn't as bad as some women and it has recently passed. My basoomas are getting extremely large (sigh) it is probably due to the 15 lbs. I didn't lose from Gunner. Bleh! I will have to work very hard after this one 'cause I can't keep claiming baby weight forever...when is the cut off date for that sort of thing?

Things are going well and I'll have to post after my ultrasound October 1st! Can't wait to find out!!!

#4

2009-08-27T18:47:00.001-05:00

We have our fourth beastie (or beastette??!) on the way! Hooray!

A Week of 1sts

2009-08-18T09:07:00.007-05:00

This past week was a busy one-caused by the 1st day of school. Josiah started the First Grade. My baby is officially a big boy. He was very excited about the first day. His teacher, Ms. Hegwood seems like a lot of fun. The classroom is decorated with all things under the sea. Josiah loved it! Unfortunately, his enthusiasm has waned slightly. The call of the unknown fun he thinks he is missing at home forces him to whine and beg to stay home daily. If only he would realize cleaning the house, doing laundry and other mundane tasks are the unknown fun he's missing.

Another first occurred this week. Gavin received his first stitches. You would think with my three beasties and how crazy they are this would have already occurred, but I believe their poor guardian angels have been working overtime. Gavin climbed down his bunk-bed and got his head walloped by the ceiling fan. Our good friend, and ward member, came by to take a look and eventually stitched him up. MAJOR crying, thrashing around and 3 stitches later, Gavin thinks his stitches are pretty cool and loves telling all who will listen about the "lots and lots of bloooood all over!".

Kind of a silly first is little Gunnison. He has sure been cracking me and Kit up. This week he's taken to laughing evilly. It is quite reminiscent of my niecy, Georgia. He cackles as he runs away- "I running, ha ha ha!" or makes fun of his brothers- "No candy for you, ha ha ha!" It is so funny...and such a grown up thing to do. Little stinker is growing so quickly!!

Kind-of a boring post, but at least I posted!!! Whew, I about killed myself with the effort!

Inspiration To Smile

2009-07-28T10:39:00.009-05:00

Alright, it is about time I posted. It always seems so hard after a hiatus. So, I'm sitting down amid laundry and old magazines I'm going through. Hmmmm...

Music has been on my mind for awhile. I love music, the way it can make you remember moments in time. How it can inspire you to smile, relax, persevere. It can become a force to drive you to run, to clean your home (at least for me!) to get the job done. I find when the right music is on, I am happier, sillier, quicker in my movements. It may be I'm tuned into my emotional self (too much), but I like the pick-me-up that can come from listening to my favorite tunes. I love discovering new artists that move me, listening to old favorites that bring dreams and memories to mind and vetoing others that bring me down. What do you love? What inspires you?

Some Favorites

Letting off steam

2009-06-27T13:12:00.002-05:00

I was having one of those days this past week. You know the ones-where the house feels too hot, too messy, too small...where the beasties feel too whiny, too argumentative, simply too much. So, I quickly made the decision to get out of dodge...or at least my sticky, cramped home. We took off for Dauphin Island and made an afternoon of it. As we were driving, I could feel how wound up I was. Do you know what I mean? Where my shoulders were tight, my neck aching, my teeth clenched and the feeling like I'm a thin piece of string held to the tautest point right before snapping. I tried to talk myself down, but wasn't having much luck when one of my fav songs came on the radio. That's Not My Name I don't know what it is exactly about this song that makes me smile, but I do and I have the irresistible urge to sing along with my imaginary microphone and dance with whatever body parts I can as I drive, clean or whatever I happen to be doing when I hear this song. So...on comes my song and I glance in the rear-view mirror to see if any of the beasties noticed. Yep. They all were looking expectantly at me with their imaginary microphones ready. Yes, even the littlest beastie likes to sing along. I had to laugh...and of course sing. In my tone deaf voice (that is why the radio needs to be up WAY loud-that way you can't hear yourself singing awfully) I belted out the words and let off a lot of pent up steam. Do you ever let off steam in silly ways? Share!!! I can always use more ways of letting go...

Snap-Shot Moments

2009-06-22T15:43:00.005-05:00

A quick pic of Gunner as I found him-with a raspberry marker beard, gloves and embellishments to his outfit. The little beastie had been going to town with a forbidden marker he purveyed from the big beasties. This is his "cheese" face.

Kit and I were able to have a night out for our anniversary, something we haven't done since Josiah joined our family. My brother, Mack, braved the energetic beasties and even cleaned up a "blow-out" situation courtesy of Gunnison. He was truly wonderful to give us that overnight freedom. Kit and I went out to dinner at Felix's Fish Camp where I devoured an Ahi Tuna steak on par with a lovely juicy beef steak-and for anyone who knows my tastes, that's saying something! We then spent the night in a nice hotel downtown and enjoyed sleeping in a bed without any extra little bodies cramming in. We also delighted in a morning where BOTH of us could sleep in...what bliss.

The next day Kit took me out to lunch at the Shed for fab barbeque, another favorite of mine. Yes, I am truly a hardcore carnivore. We had fun being silly, sharing PDA and simply being alone...together.

Not the cutest picture, it was hot and humid...flat hair, shiny faces...but, we were together and enjoying life!

Silliness-me kissing the Shed 'Gator

Father's Day- for Father's Day we decided to frost some special cupcakes just for Daddy. The boys went to town as you can see by Gun's blue beard and mustache. I think he has a thing for facial hair.

Josiah cheesin' it
Oh yum... be forewarned- do not eat anything Gavin frosts...this is just a part of his frosting technique.

Look out baking blogs...get a load of these beauties...decorated by the Applegate Beasties!

Gavin's own creation. Kit and Mack wisely left this for Gav to devour himself.

L.O.V.E.

2009-06-15T14:03:00.002-05:00

Happy 8th, Baby!!!
XOXOX

My New Love

2009-06-10T14:57:00.003-05:00

Let me tell you how this love affair began...it began with an amazing list known to me as my daily obsession, but known to all as Craigslist. Now, I had been in search of a small desk to fit in my boys' room and low and behold one appeared on my obsession. Listed as heavy, solid wood- $15, but without a picture ... my appetite was whet. I drove out to DIP to check it out and...oooh, wonderful potential. Now, I'm attracted to this desk, but it is not my true love. As I hauled this beauty into my van, the seller wanted to show me another treasure of hers. She hated to sell it, but had to downsize. Being polite I went, saw and*****I fell in L.O.V.E.!!!!***** I did, I'll admit it. I fell head over heels for something I really didn't have room for. The charm, the uniqueness, the fabulous-ness of what it can be-AND-only for $35. When can you get a hutch for $35?! BUT...sigh...I'm practical...I went home without my beauty....

I called my sis, Whit, and lamented the loss of this treasure. I wanted it, but I didn't need it, really don't have a spot for it...she and I decided I'd sleep on it. I did...I still wanted...I resisted...

The story would end there, except I couldn't get it out of my mind. I told my husband and brother all about it. I rehashed "the meeting" with my sisters and Mom when they came later that week. I was lovesick...so, I gave into the attraction and phoned the seller. It was still available! She hadn't listed it and it was mine if I wanted. Such glee filled my heart. I know I shouldn't be attached to material goods, but I AM!

My wonderful husband went with me to pick up my love. It was everything I remembered and the love was still there. We brought it home and I've gone to work. Loving this baby hasn't been easy, much stripping and cleaning have been going on, but it is a labor of love.

I'm sharing with you my mid-work pictures. This is after I have stripped the heavy yellow 70's varnish off the top of the hutch. I'm debating whether I need to strip the primer already on the base or not. If you have any suggestions, I'm open to them. I'm learning as I go on this one.

Can't you just picture it in a beautiful, popping shade of red? Note the beautiful stars
Hmmm...I'm smiling...

The Top

The Base-bad pic, taken from under my table :)

The Side-View

The Most Fabulous Knobs, EVER

The Cute Kid Who Happened to Want His Picture Taken-silly beastie!

HaaHaaHaa!

2009-06-06T20:10:00.002-05:00

Kit and I are chuckling in the living room. It is an hour and 15 min. since we have put our children to bed. Time to relax...or not...

Josiah moves slowly from the hallway. His lip is quivering.

"Mom, just listening to you two laughing out here makes me cry a little bit. 'Cause I know you're having fun and I am not."

To be honest, Kit and I laughed harder...poor little boy.

First Beach Jaunt

2009-06-02T20:25:00.007-05:00

Okay, so not exactly the first one of the spring/summer...that was attempted with my Auntie Stacy, her family and my family over Memorial Day weekend. Let's just say: wind, rain, sun...wind, rain, sun...more wind, more rain, call it quits. I hope they can make it over here again before the end of summer, or at least before the end of beach weather and experience the sun and fun the right way.

So, for our first-successful-beach jaunt the weather cooperated fabulously. Nineties, hot sun, easy drive to Dauphin Island-fab! After a long hike in the white sand to the water (goodness, the beach has grown since we first moved here) we settled ourselves in for a long afternoon. The boys are always a little timid of the water at first (I am so getting them into swimming lessons this summer!!) but quickly warmed up and were giving my heart quite the exercise as they "swam" around in the warm water. Gunner enjoyed digging around in the sand and I thought I might just be able to relax and get some color on my pearly whites (and I don't mean teeth).

Such wishful thinking was futile. Gun grew very interested in the going-ons all around him. After chasing the seagulls, he meandered back to our blanket covered in black goo. Yes, I thought the same thing...but no, he wasn't covered in crap, he was covered (one whole leg and hand/arm) in a thick, oily, sticky substance. I washed him off with sand and the water, but to no avail. It simply thinned and spread. I quickly had a son with ethnic appendages. Being a good MST coastie wife, I called my husband and asked him what the crap had washed up on shore. Tar...hmmm...being the good coastie MST husband, he had me walk up and down the beach determining how many tar balls and stained sand were there and document it with pictures. I know Kit misses Response...the desire to come out to investigate and over-see clean up was apparent in his voice. Walking with my boys on the beach is like herding cats (a term stolen from my dad-in-law), but our mission was soon over. Back to enjoying the surf. A while later, Jos comes bounding out of the water with...yes, you guessed it...tar covering his pale belly and down the side of his swimsuit. Seriously-I looked around-my kiddies were the only ones now colored from tar!! Not too much there, but my beasties found it! Isn't that ALWAYS the way. I decided to ignore it this time and we had fun for the rest of the afternoon.

Fun, sun and yes, some color. Of course it is only one strip down the front of my legs, but who wouldn't love red shins. Maybe I'll start a new trend...or better yet, maybe I'll return next week to work on the back and sides.

2009-06-02T20:25:00.000-05:00