crazy train

The crazy train has left the station, and I was the first on on board!

This past few weeks, and more specifically this last week, have been so busy. No time, no time. And right now....well, still not much time. But I am hoping that after today I will be able to sit down and do some good, honest writing. I miss it, and miss reading the blogs I love...so bear with me. and after today, maybe I'll have the goods!

shout out!

To my brother and sis in law and their newest little addition, baby J!!! I cannot wait to go snuggle and love on this little guy!

As is the norm for my flair for the dramatic family, this guy chose to make his entrance into the world during some nasty flooding in the area!

even so...he is here and doing wonderfully, as is mommy.

This makes me miss this stage with my babies....i love, love, love snuggling with a newborn baby....the way they just snuggle right up to you and you can cradle them and they are so peaceful! ahhhh......i miss those days.


Well, in any case....i will get to snuggle this cutie pretty soon!!!!

It is wonderful to see the miracle of life after the tragedy of death....it gives hope and joy and sometimes a little peace.

Happy 2nd day of life J!!!!

no catchy title...just a post

I wanted to post just a bit....yesterday, a very dear friend of the family passed away. I dont even really know what to write, but I feel compelled to because this is my outlet....this is where I throw things out there that are going on in my life. so....here it is.
Death is inevitable. It will happen to everyone....so why does it seem so unfair? My heart aches for our friends, because it was their father who went to be with our Lord. He was one year older than my own dad....and I cannot even fathom life without my daddy here. My husband loved this man as his own father....loves this man's children as his own siblings....my sweet hubby has been best friends this man's sons for 17 or so years....so....his heart is breaking....
It seems so unfair that i am sitting here at work and they are having to deal with the loss of their father.....it seems so unfair that we were all visiting with family and celebrating Easter, and his life was slipping away. Except that...as difficult as it is for those here who love him....I know that he is now whole and celebrating with Christ. Not suffering anymore. So....I grieve for my dear friends, and their lovely mother because they cannot spend more earthly time with their father/husband. My heart breaks for them because of their pain. Yet....know that life here must go on, and all we can do is love on them and be there for them. Right now things just feel unfair.

woot-woot!!!!

Today is my FRIDAY! yeah, baby! {spoken as austin powers} I am so glad too!!! I am so ready to be done with work!!! on my 3 week countdown....unless i give in and work and extra week...then, well, I guess I just start my 3 week countdown over again:( OH well...just another week of pay to stash away.

I'm feeling a little nostalgic today for some reason. Missing when my babies looked like this. I miss having a baby. I dont really want another one...just miss mine being this little. I miss little feet and tiny hands. I miss rocking a sleeping baby. AH! There is nothing more peaceful than that!

I also miss this stage! This was one of the best snow days ever! My kids had so much fun, and this is one of my favorite shots of MK. She had to come in soon after this pic because she started turning blue from the cold! But, while it lasted....she had a blast!

Do you notice the live baby in the stroller here??? A and MR were pushing strollers around the house...only, A had a live baby in her stroller. This was her favorite thing to do with every single one of her sisters. Push them around in a toy stroller. For some reason, she got the biggest kick out of the fact that they fit like a baby doll. But, hey....I ain't complainin! Free babysitter? Heck yeah!

Well, I am off to enjoy my weekend full of coloring easter eggs, egg hunts, cleaning, and cooking! We are spending easter with my in-laws and wonderful bro and sis in law and my crazy, wonderful nephews! God Bless you!!!!

**update to the update**

well all...it seems as though we cannot make up our minds! Remember all the rambling I did about moving??? Scratch that. We aren't. Moving, that is. {and here is where i do cartwheels and shake my pom poms}

No...I guess I shouldnt say that. While I AM glad we are staying...there are a few reasons why I am the slightest bit sad about not moving. The short list is this:

1. I was looking forward to being closer to my brother and my aunt and uncle.

2. I was looking forward to being 2 hours away from mil/fil and R&J instead of the now 5 hours.

3. I was sort of looking forward to homeschooling my oldest daughter, but am relieved that I dont have to....she is already smarter than me, and that would just confirm it!

4. uh....thats about it.

I told you....short list. I will say this, though. Everything I said before today is true. I agonized about alot of things, and I would have been happy moving. Its just that I'm happier not. The good thing about it is....I am still quitting my job. I get to go back to staying with my kiddos, which, I am extremely glad about considering summer is comming and I am looking forward to spending lots and lots of time in the pool, and lazy days reading in the shade! Mostly, I am looking forward to spending those days with my sil! We plan to go to the library...grab up lots of good books....put on our swimsuits, throw the kids in the pool and enjoy this summer like no other!!!

I have less than a month left here at work, and am spending my time prepping stuff for my replacement. so...I guess I better go finish that. The faster I get him trained, the faster my last day approaches!!!

home alone....

I am home alone. Completely alone. For a week! Its good...and bad. Its crazy how much I miss talking! lol...I know. silly. But true. And crazy how much I miss hearing my girls talking. The hubby is working all week in that other state. My kiddos are all at my mom and dad's for spring break. And I am here. Alone.

I am sort of enjoying the quiet. I have been doing alot of reading when I should be doing alot of packing! But I hate packing so early! I inevitably will pack something that I will end up needing before we actually move. I hate that. But, it is sooooo quiet that I cant sleep! I have been letting the dog in at night to roam about the house. That helps a little...but I have a hard time sleeping when the house is completely empty! I know...there is something wrong with me.

My mom on the other hand....she will probably sleep for a week when the kids leave! It is not just mine that are there! It went down like this....Friday my bro and sil brought their daughter to me (from kansas) She wanted to go spend spring break with granny and papa too! So, after work on friday, I loaded up my five kids plus luggage, plus niece and started out... Oh Wait! we have to stop on the way out and meet A's bff and mom because bff is going with us too! So, here I am....alone, after a long day of work, traveling by myself with SEVEN girls!!!! I know...I'm crazy. But, actually it wasnt bad. We left out, and we did not have to stop once! That, people, is a miracle! If you dont believe in God, well....I'd rethink that position if I were you. 8 females in a car driving 300+ miles and not ONE bathroom break??? And the two older girls kept me quite entertained! I love chatting with my almost 13 year old....she is witty and funny, and her and bff are total opposites...so they have alot of differences of opinion that is quite amusing to listen to.

Anyway....so, we get there and the next day my other neice and my nephew come over to my parents...and of course they are going to spend the night! We cannot expect them to want to go home with the cousins here!!! I am telling you people...my parents are saints!

So....that eve...I take my oldest and bff to her dad's house where they will be spending the rest of their week. So, that leaves my mom and dad with seven kids at the house....but wait! There is more! My grandparents are on vacation, so...yesterday, they drove down....i dont know how long they are staying, but my parents have a housefull to say the least!

Saints, I tell you.

so.....it is wednesday. I only have 3 more nights of this quiet, so I am going to try to enjoy it, and try to get some work done at the house.....can you imagine if I wasted all this alone time on RELAXING??????????

its a new day, its a new dawn...and I'm feelin fine

Yep...I am starting to get excited about the move. Maybe its because somewhere in my heart, I have been preparing myself for this for a while now, and now that we have actually made a decision, I kindof have that weight off my shoulders. Also, we have begun to tell people here, and that too, is a relief. I put in notice at my job...and a dang good one too! I gave them more than a month....my hope is that they will have someone here to replace me by april 1, and i can train them and be done. But in any case, come mid April...I am a stay at home mom again. And, I cant wait. I will have half of april and all of may to finish up my packing and be able to spend some time with my sil before I go. I am excited about that.

We have already found a house, and I cant wait to see what I can do with it. It is a bit smaller than our house now, but it is very open and has so much potential! I am downsizing our "stuff" before we go, and am looking forward to the next chapter of our book.

As I said before, there are so many people that I am going to miss, but I am so excited that I get to go back to the buisness of being mom and wife! I am excited about spending the next year with my baby before she has to start kindergarten. I am excited about being home to plan dinner, and have it ready for the family. Shoot, I am just excited about the idea of cooking, period! I have not cooked much in the past 4 months! By the time I get off work, pick up the kids and we get home...I am exhausted, they are starving, and we end up either eating out, ordering pizza, or making sandwiches! I did cook a rather delicious meal the other day, but by the time I got home and got it cooked, we didnt eat until almost 8:00!! Unacceptable.

So....off I go...I have to finish up a few things here at work, then head home to.....well, u figure it out! taco bell....mcdonalds......braums......pizza.....nope....tonight its hot dogs! I have to pick up the house while they eat because I have small group tonight and will have the babysitting at my house....that means 12 kids at my house! whew! thank goodness I wont be there!!!