Wordless Wednesday

When yogurt is used as a hair gel

Spring Break

Ally with her bear family
Ally taking Little Man's picture

Spring Break is over, well it will be on Monday when all the kids have to head back to their respective schools. Even though my kids are not in school quite yet, we've been affected, all, well most of our activities have been cancelled this week. No play group, no PWOC on Tuesday morning, and no Awana on Wednesday nights, it's been a bit disruptive, our schedule has been off. But come Monday, things will be back to normal.



I remember back when I was younger, Spring Break held such wonder and excitement for me. I always prayed that it would be sunny and warm enough so I could wear shorts and try to tan my pale white legs. But as growing up in Michigan goes, it never did, it was always cool, and no spring.



And I never went to one of those wild spring break places, I'm glad since they seem to be all about drinking and partying. But in college I was always working, never had the time or the money for that matter to enjoy the week off.



So this week we spent quite a bit of our time outdoors, it was sunny, though a bit windy (living on the plains will do that). I've gotten to know some of my neighbors, yes I've lived here two years and don't know my neighbors all that well. I find it difficult to make friends.



But, let me just be honest, there is a whole lot of gossip going on amongst neighbors. And I'm not all that comfortable with it, I don't really want to know who is pregnant while their husband is away or who's having soldiers spend the night while their husband is deployed. So maybe this is why it took me so long to get out.



UPDATE:

Crazy Daughter is sleeping so much better, though she's beginning to notice the crushed up Melatonin, I've told her it's sugar. Smart girl. So I am praying that this keeps up and I won't have to fight with her again.



Little Man is now not wanting my bed, he wakes up in the middle of the night, still not understanding that he can walk to my room and want to lay back down in his own bed. Though I still need to be in there until he falls asleep. But what an improvement two days can make.



Thanks for all your help and your comments.

Hallelujah She's Asleep

I want to say thank you for all your help with suggestions for my daughter. I wanted to get her up really early this morning, but I was tired. So we went to Wal-Fart and got some melatonin supplament , took out the lamp that was in her room for when she had her fear of the dark and put in three night lights.

We spent most of the day outside, so I don't know if it was the fresh air, allergies, running around or the melatonin I slipped into her milk, but she passed out on the floor at 7:40 PM this evening. I was overjoyed, it was the most wonderful feeling in the world, well almost.

Wether all these things will continue to work remains to be seen, but for now, I'm so excited. And what you ask will I be doing with my free time tonight? Why I'm going to bed, because my allergies have kicked in and I'm exhausted and have a sinus headache.

So goodnight to all, and happy dreams. And one final, Hallelujah, she's asleep.

Sleep, Daughter, Sleep

Okay folks, I am at my whits end with Crazy Daughter, it's 10:20 PM here, and my daughter is still not asleep. She went down at 8 PM, it's been two hours of her getting up with every request under the sun, countless changes of clothes, wanting her flip flops. I've taken away her privledges of watching Tom and Jerry cartoons (they are her absolute favorite) for tomorrow, and this last time I've threatened to take away the entire day of TV, and I'm so ready to do that.

I woke her up at 7:30 AM this morning, and yes that is early for her and no she's not a morning person. But what else can I do???? I can understand her being excited about her daddy coming home really soon but this is utterly rediculous and I am quickly loosing my patience.

Any suggestions? I mean, what else can I do?

Green Grass

The grass is starting to get green. This is a picture of my backyard, well ok, not my backyard, it's the side yard. My backyard is mud, pure churned up mud thanks to my dog runing and barking at the neighborhood kids.

I am looking forward towards spring, I am sick of all the colds and windy blustery days. I want spring.

Well that was one bright sunny spot on my day. Last night was a bit tiring, whatever headway we had made on the bedtime routein, was pretty much gone last night. Crazy Daughter was up countless times with every excuse you could think of, changed her clothes twice, lost her TV privledges for today with the exception of a two hour Tom and Jerry break. She didnt' go to bed until 11 PM, I believe I was frustrated beyond anything.

And despite headway in the not sleeping with mama, I got both the kids in with me about 3 AM. My alarm went off at 6, took my shower and then dried my hair, not really being careful about being quiet. And it worked, woke both the kids up, early for them, but gosh darn it, they are going to be tired for bed tonight.

Happy day to me

Today is my 7th wedding aniversary, so I thought I would enjoy looking at some photos of my wedding. I really can't believe it's been 7 years already.

Friends, Dragonfly is in the yellow
ok, let me say, we look so young
The girls. My sister is in the other yellow dress 7 months pregnant with her daughter.

And so despite it being St. Patrick's Day and my anniversary, it's really just a regular day for us here on the windy plain's of Kansas. Big Guy is still gone, but due back in a couple of week or so. So really nothing special today.

But on a positive note, Little Man slept in his own bed last night, all night long. Can you bleieve it!!!! The first time since December. Woo hoo.

It's Huge

Okay, my newest crazy, spurr of the moment craft project is making a quilt for Crazy Daughter for when she gets her new Big Girl bed. She is currently in the futon right now but when we move to Texas (I dread thinking about that move) this summer we are going to get her a real bed. I looked at comforters in the store and they were crazy expensive and cheesy if you ask me. So why not, I've made one before, no big deal.

BTW, the one I made before was a lap quilt, my Mom and I took an Amish Quilt class and everything was done by hand as the Amish would do.

So I found a pattern that said it was super easy, all you needed to get for the front of the quilt was 20 1/4 yard blocks. I found some remnant fabric cheap so yeah, goody I'm on my way. Let me tell you all, I should have looked at the measurements before deciding on the "Twin" quilt.

It fits my bed, well a bit shorter than I would like and I'd be fighting for the covers if my husband were home. But it's huge. This was supposed to be for a twin bed, not anything bigger. Holy cow, now I've got the front part done, but I'm going to get material for the backing so I can start quilting. I guess this can be an heirloom she keeps forever right. lol

Me and my big ideas.
I know this picture doesn't do it justice, but it's hard to get the size and the detail of the fabric. Nothing really coordinates, but I like the crazy quilt style.

Silence

Perfection... Honestly what could be better to find in your living room couch.

We are finally starting to feel human, it's been a long week of sickness, coughing and going through at least two Kleenex boxes and counting. Crazy Daughter has been staying in her own bed the past couple of nights, but Little Man, we are still working on it.

I had an epiphany this week, I've started putting the kids to bed at the same time. What took me so long really, I don't know. But since Little Man is now in a toddler bed, it just seemed easier than waiting for him to sleep and then putting Crazy Daughter down.

Our routine, Pj's, TV off, reading books, brushing teeth, Potty (and Little Man has been using it sooo much more lately!!!!), collecting assorted blankets and stuffed animals and getting rooms ready for night time. Kids give each other hugs and kisses, Crazy Daughter in her bed, and then I sit in the rocker in Little Man's room with the door open and wait for the quiet.

I really don't know why I haven't done this sooner, but it's really working, even when Crazy Daughter gets up, Little Man doesn't pitch a fit and start crying, he knows I'll be back.

So I'm breathing a sigh of relief, bedtime is becoming a routine, as it should be. I just hope it stays this way when Big Guy gets home.

Not Yet Dead

Not Yet Dead is the way I'm feeling right about now. And yes I've been singing this song in my head all morning. This cold is really kicking our rear ends this week. Since Tuesday we've not been out of the house but once to get some more cold medicine. And the house looks like it too, the living room is full of toys that haven't been picked up, the dishes are piling up and the laundry, *sigh*, the laundry is becoming ridiculous there is so much to do.

Crazy Daughter has had a fever on and off, off right now, but now she's got a wicked cough and runny nose. Little Mister has been so congested he's been fussy at night. And for the past week, they've both climbed into bed with me and hacked all night long.

And I've been hit the hardest I think, my throat feels so raw, my nose is red from blowing, and I'm almost out of the cold medicine. Not to mention the sinus headache that has been plaguing me this week.

OK, enough of me complaining. This too shall pass, sooner rather than later I hope.

I'm not sure if March is dragging by or moving quickly, but we're expecting Big Guy home the beginning of April. Crazy Daughter has started a list of what she wants her daddy to do when he gets home, take a walk on the trails, get her dolly that's behind the entertainment center, fix a mired of things. It's cute really.

And I have something I'd like to say, if you all could keep Dragonfly in your prayers. She's going through a lot right now, being sick and preparing for The Sgt's deployment soon. It doesn't seem to matter what number deployment it is, it's always difficult each and every time.

And so here's to hoping we can make it to church tomorrow morning, not only do we have to contend with getting ready and out of bed, but the time changes tomorrow too. at least it will be lighter later in the day.

Sickness

Well, whatever has been going around, we finally got hit with today. Little Man has had a fever on and off, but I just associated it with teething, he has molars coming in. But Crazy Daughter woke up this morning with a burning fever. All day she laid on the couch, and as some of you may have guessed, that is just not normal for her. Any time she's not moving, it's not normal. And I've managed to slip some liquid pain meds into her juice, it's easier than fighting with her to open her mouth. And I've been hit with digestive issues, constantly running to the bathroom (we'll leave it at that).

Big Guy, despite him being across the pond, has been hit with health issues, he has an ulcer in the eye. Sounds gross doesn't it? Basically it's just a hole in the cornea from where something irritated it. At first they told him he was going to have surgery, but now they've given him drops and it's already improved 50%. So for the rest of March till they leave for Kuwait, he'll be sitting his room at the FOB (forward operating base), being bored out of his mind because he's already shipped back everything.

Tuesday is one of our busy days, and instead we just all laid about watching Tom and Jerry cartoons, drinking lots of liquids and sleeping when the need hit.

On the upside, I've switched the rooms around, I've taken the suggestion of putting Little Man into a toddler bed. And currently he's asleep in it, progress, but we'll see once 1 or 2 AM hits. And though he won't go to bed by himself, yet, all I have to do it sit in the rocking chair with my Ipod on and eventually he goes out.

And though I would love to stay up and think of more things to talk about, my headache just won't let me. We'll see how tomorrow goes, we do need to get out, we're out of Tylenol.