September 11, 2005, 10:23 pm

We got home from our vacation last night. We had a really good trip and I can't wait to upload photos and share them. Just wanted to let those that check my blog know that we are home safe and sound! :)

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August 26, 2005, 5:10 pm

I have been packing and getting things done around here all day. I wish I was done so I could just relax, but it looks like I have a couple more hours worth of stuff to do (there is always more than I anticipate). Oh well... I figured I'd update my blog as I sat down to take a quick break. We are planning on leaving for TN at 5 in the morning so we can make it there by a decent hour (it's about a 14 hour drive). I'm counting on Andy to make sure we get up (should be no problem since he gets up at 5 every other day of the week).

My belly has grown like crazy in the last day or two (I knew I was really tired and achey for a reason). Some clothes that fit me last week don't anymore, so I just spent about an hour trying on all my clothes to be sure I brought clothes with me that actually FIT! I'm still trying to eke every little bit out of my 'skinny clothes', and some of the maternity clothes are still absolutely enormous on me (partly because I'm so short). Plus, they make me feel all frumpy. And I hate to be frumpy (even when pregnant)! I may actually wear my new pink shirt that is all uneven in the back to Marci's wedding (no one look at my back?). :D Also, (speaking of the pregnancy) the baby kicks ALL day and ALL night! He is a WILD man!!!!! I hope this isn't a sign of things to come.

Well, I won't be able to update my blog while on our vacation (unless the people we visit have the software I need on their computer - we'll see about that). Anyway, so all of you will just have to wait a couple of weeks for the September page to be put up. Oh, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO TRISH (Andy's mom) - her birthday is tomorrow, but I doubt I'll be getting on here at 4 am to say it then. :D So, if I don't see you in person on our trip, then I'll "see" you on September 12th on here. :D Have fun!

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August 25, 2005, 4:12 pm

I'm not a professional seamstress. I never claimed to be. But when people asked "can you sew?" (not that this question comes up very much 'these days'), I usually answer "yes". Uh, I think I need to change my answer! I made a maternity shirt... finished it today... I have to admit, it does not look great. I took some photos, and please excuse the quality of these photos - I set the timer on my camera without putting much thought into it at all, and I forgot to close the blinds behind me, but did not check the photos before I took the shirt off, and I just do NOT feel like going all the way back upstairs to put the shirt back on to take better photos. :) Okay, be nice... no, be honest... no, be nice... oh, just say whatever you want. And mom... I know you said that it takes practice, but uh, YOU have been sewing since you were like TWO, so don't be too judgmental on my sewing abilities. :D And maybe I just chose too complicated a pattern for my first time sewing in ten years (seems like I used to be better at this), but this is just bad... maybe you can't see all the flaws in the photos. :D Enough rambling... here it is (oh and my head is cut off because my hair is sticking out everywhere, and I have no make-up on, and I'm wearing glasses). :D

Okay, so in that "back" photo, uh, excuse how LARGE my behind has gotten (give me a break, I'm pregnant!). Oh, and yeah, it's a little lowcut in the front, but I won't have these things for very long - once this baby sucks them all away - so I'm going to enjoy them while I have them! :D ;)

Okay, so maybe you can't tell in the blurry photos that the top of the back of the shirt doesn't meet above the zipper (tried to put a hook and eye in to disguise it but that just made it worse so I took that out), and maybe you can't tell that the tie is completely uneven and different sizes where it meets in the back, and maybe you can't tell that the hem is completely uneven and the thread line is even WORSE! Ugh! This was a lot of work - I don't know if I do want to take up sewing. I'm glad I got the machine - at least I can use it for minor clothing repairs and for scrapbooking!!! I guess I'll try making the other shirt that I bought (similar pattern, but black and grey - more 'me'. I started with the pink since I'm not really a 'pink' fan and didn't know how it would turn out - actually I hate how I look in pink; I think this is now the only piece of pink clothing I own - other than pajamas and swimsuits). Maybe the next shirt will be better - I think I learned a few things... one being - don't make patterns that include zippers!!!!!!! It's harder than it looks! :| Okay so let me know if I should keep it up and try to get better, or if there is absolutely no hope and I need to just give up NOW. You won't hurt my feelings. :)

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August 23, 2005, 12:11 pm

The kids and I just got back from our first week at PWOC (Protestant Women of the Chapel). It's a prayer group on base for Army spouses, and they offer women's Bible studies. I already knew three women that were going (how I heard about it), but then I saw several people from my church too. The president of the PWOC is actually in my Sunday School class (who knew?), but I don't really know her. There were around 200 women there (they said it was twice as many as last year!), along with a million kids (free childcare), including lots of other homeschooled kids - hopefully the kids will meet some more kids their age that are homeschooling. Most of the people I knew so far that are homeschooling are Jarvis' age or younger. Anyway, it was good - this was the opening week so the classes didn't start - just a meeting with a speaker and then lunch. I signed up to take a spiritual gifts class - there was a lot to choose from but I ended up at that sign-up table. :) The Army provides the books for free, so I went ahead and got my book to start in since I'll miss the next two Tuesdays (we'll be on leave). Anyway, if you're an Army spouse and read this, find the PWOC on your base - I highly recommend it - a great way to meet other Christian military wives and take a good class in the process. :) Here's the link. :)

Now we have a couple of hours to rest and do chores, then Darby has a doctor appt. (4 year checkup and some shots we missed a while back - oops -). Andy's had some late nights this week, so hopefully he'll get home early tonight so he can have time to do more than just get his uniform ready for tomorrow! 4 more days until our vacation though, so I guess it'll be okay. :D

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August 22, 2005, 11:56 am

Five more days until we leave for TN and GA. I have a million things to do this week to get ready for our trip (including getting up to 90 items ready to ship that I posted on ebay a few days ago - mostly movies). We are totally ready to take a vacation! Andy and I get to have a couple of days to ourselves too - we were going to stay at a Bed and Breakfast, but when we went to make reservations the other day we changed our minds. :) So we reserved the Wyndham Union Station hotel in downtown Nashville (found a good deal on expedia.com). Can't wait for that! :)

I best get to work on my LONG list of things to do! If anyone wants to bid on any of the movies I have for auction, let me know and I'll send you the ebay link. :D

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August 19, 2005, 2:21 pm

HAPPY 6TH BIRTHDAY ETHAN (a day late - as usual!) :D

Answers to some questions from my comments pages...

Ali asked if bugs is what she has to look forward to (she has a two year old boy). Ali, the answer is YES, and so many other GROSS things!!! Boys are gross. That's all there is to it. :D

Trish asked if lightning actually struck the fence. No, the garbage men knocked a plank out of our wooden fence and dug a large trench with their truck (the part they use to pick up the trash cans and empty into the truck). Thanks, garbage men! We really appreciated how careful you were! :D

Andrea asked about my boobs... yes, they've grown quite a bit this pregnancy, much to my EXCITEMENT!!! :D To those who are at all curious (I'm sure that includes no one)... my boobs have gotten smaller after each child, which I think is unfair since the other women in my family get BIGGER ones after each child! I'm hoping they STAY this time. TMI??? Oh well - you'll get over it. :D

Ali asked what happened to my healthy eating... it ALL went out the window when the nausea and pregnancy cravings kicked in! I still eat fairly decent (not just a junk food diet like I have done in the past), but SOME sugar is definitely included. I have some excuses (don't we all)? The nurse TOLD me to drink chocolate milk - because I HATE milk and wasn't getting enough dairy, so she said if I like chocolate milk then to drink it, it's much better than none at all. :D So uh, yeah, I'm taking her advice. ;)

Oh, Matt... the movie, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, that I was going to let you know if I liked it. I had gotten it from the library and it didn't have an official cover on it, just the title written in marker. I put it in and it said "Tommy Lee Jones" and some chick (her name eludes me at the moment) were in it, so it was NOT the Paul Newman/Elizabeth Taylor version. So... I didn't watch it. :)

Okay, I just went back two pages in the guest book, but if you have a question for me (because I'm just full of answers) ;)... please, by all means, ask! :D

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August 17, 2005, 1:11 pm

Ah, the joys of having boys. And we have another one on the way. Why is it that boys love bugs and other little critters so much? In the last week, I have found this frog on my kitchen counter...

and this nasty, enormous bug on my DESK (in another tupperware container)...

What's the story? Do they just like to see me jump? They do tend to laugh hysterically when they see me leap across the room and scream. Oh well. I guess it'll never end... at least not until they grow up and move out of the house (and then I'll have grandsons doing the same thing!). :|

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August 15, 2005, 2:38 pm

I got my ultrasound today! Woo hoo! My due date is still January 26, 2006, and the baby looks healthy. And... much to Andy's excitement... IT'S A BOY!!! :) Here are two of the ultrasound photos - the 2nd one is on here twice to help those who have a hard time seeing what's on an ultrasound photo. :)

We are very excited. The heartbeat was 135 bpm (another indicator it's a boy), and it's probably going to be my biggest baby yet - all my other kids measured small (because they WERE so small), but this baby measures EXACTLY where it is supposed to - hopefully he's not TOO big though!!! I like giving birth to my tiny 5 1/2 to 6 pound babies. :)

edited to add:

Oh, here are two new photos of my belly (taken today - 16 weeks, 4 days pregnant)... for those who want to see how large I'm getting. :)

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August 12, 2005, 9:22 am

I haven't been posting much this week - that's because Andy has had so much time off and I don't spend near as much time on this machine when he is here. Our trip to TN is in two weeks - and we are really looking forward to it. We usually travel a little more often, but we haven't really gone anywhere since we moved here at Christmas! I've got the travel bug. :)

I haven't been taking photos lately... of anything. I usually take so many photos, so because I have taken so FEW this summer, I feel guilty about it! *LOL* When I'm not pregnant, I make an extra effort to photograph everything we do and to grab the camera when the kids do anything cute, etc., but when I'm pregnant, I just don't care! When I know I have to walk two extra feet to get the camera and it's going to take two seconds and an ounce of energy, it just seems like more trouble than its worth. But don't worry - one day I will be back in full force with my multitude of photos!!! :D I'm sure I'll take plenty on our trip. At least I hope I do - I have good intentions anyway. :)

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August 10, 2005, 12:01 pm

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MATT & CAROLYN! :D

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August 9, 2005, 3:31 pm

I didn't post yesterday, which was Timothy's birthday, so a day late...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TIMOTHY! :)

Andy has ended up having a lot of time off since he got home - yay. Yesterday, the trucks weren't here yet (for unloading) so they sent him home after just a few hours, and today he got to come home really early so, woo hoo! We've been able to spend lots of time together, which is awesome! We're making plans for our trip in a few weeks - to TN and GA. Can't wait. We are actually going to get a couple of days to ourselves (sans children). :) It's always nice to be able to get away on our own (doesn't happen very often when you have four kids!). :)

The boys are telling me lightning hit our fence (it was storming really bad most of the day), so I guess I'll go see if it actually did. :)

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August 7, 2005, 3:42 pm

Yay, it is so nice to have Andrew home! AND... he got the weekend OFF. Woo hoo! :D Darby asked him today if he had to leave again (when he mentioned he had to work in the morning). I know she won't like it when he leaves for a year (none of us will), but I'm sure the new baby(ies) will distract her! Speaking of which, I've been feeling LOTS more movement. 8 more days until my ultrasound, and I can find out what on earth is going on in there! :D

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August 5, 2005

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAROLYN!!! :D

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August 5, 2005, 12:27 pm

Well, of course, things changed again (it IS the military). Andy's plane was supposed to land at noon, so hopefully they don't make him do TOO much work before sending him home, and we'll hear from him soon! :)

My house is clean, my nails are painted, and my roots are done. Some of my favorite things to have done. :) I cannot wait until Andy gets here. Yay. The kids made welcome home signs this morning and hung them on the windows and outside on the door and fence (you'd think he'd been gone for a year, but we miss him this much after just a month!). :D I told Andy last night if I don't hear from him by 4:00, I'm heading to his work and raising some h-e-double-hockey-sticks! I'm going to demand that they give me my husband!!! :D He didn't know how well it would go over... we'll see. ;)

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August 4, 2005, 3:38 pm

Andy will be home in the morning - yay. We originally thought it would be late at night, but his plane will get in around 3 am (but he can't come home until they unload everything and who knows how long that will take). They are saying they'll probably have to work on Saturday and Sunday, which makes me angry - I mean, I understand they have to get everything unloaded, blah, blah, blah, but can't that wait until MONDAY?!?! At least I'll see him at night though - and next weekend he is supposed to get a four-day, so that'll be good!

Well, the house is almost clean, from top to bottom - just have to mop the floor downstairs (which will wait until after dinner or I may as well NOT mop it! Kids!) and a couple other little things. Darby has been destroying her room lately. I'm not sure why. I think we need to get rid of some toys!!! She loves playing Barbies, but there are so many of them, she makes SUCH a mess with them! Ugh. I think I just need to come up with a better organizational strategy in there. That'll be my project next week, I guess. Or next month (procrastination is my favorite, plus I have things higher up on the list of priorities). Anyone have tips on keeping kids' rooms clean? All my children seem to have trouble keeping things neat and organized. I mean, I don't require them to keep the lightbulbs dusted, or anything extreme at all - just PICK up after themselves and put their clothes in the hamper - is that too much to ask?!?!? They have the same problem in their bathroom - how do you get toothpaste all over the cabinet below the sink?!?! I don't understand! They'll probably all grow up to be slobs in rebellion of me being such a neat freak. :D

I'm actually in the mood to scrapbook today. Too bad I won't have time (besides finishing cleaning, I gotta color my hair and shave my legs - hubby will be here in the a.m. :D). Well, if they make him work this weekend, then maybe I'll get some scrapbooking done on Saturday. ;)

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August 3, 2005, 6:28 pm

I have nothing to say today *gasp*, so I'll just say what's going on around here...

Andy comes home on Friday so I'm very excited about that; my stomach feels like it's about to explode and I have FIVE months to go; I woke up this morning with a spider bite on my butt?!?! and it itches; I ran tons of errands today and made lots of dentist and doctor appointments (something I always procrastinate on) - sense of accomplishment, oh yeah; my vacuum cleaner overheated while I was using it so I'm on here while I wait the suggested 30 minutes before turning it back on - I also cleaned out the hose and found a bouncy ball stuck in there (the reason for the overheating) - should I just not LET the kids vacuum? Ugh; I just ate a ton of strawberries - I'm addicted to them lately (must be the pregnancy because I'm not usually a big fan); I keep wanting to scrapbook, but my scrapbooking table seems to be a collection area for things that have 'no place' - hmmm, I need to remedy that; I missed Andy's call today while I was out - I'm hoping he calls again - I really miss him; I'm still really stoked that my neighbors are moving out; turns out I did have a few things to say! ;)

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August 2, 2005, 7:05 pm

Good news... I just found out today that my neighbors (the ones we share a wall with) are for sure moving away! Woo hoo. I'm praying that the new people that move in are nice, Christians with kids the same age as my kids! I really hope they have a daughter Brittany's age that she can play with - we seem to NEVER live around anyone her age.

Okay, I've been feeling more fetal movement and I'm thinking there is more than one baby in there! Either that or the baby is going to be a gymnast. I'll find out on the 15th!!! :)

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August 1, 2005, 7:25 pm

	Microwaveable meals... they are becoming all too familiar since the onset of this pregnancy. At least they make frozen dinners that are halfway edible, although I'd RATHER have home-cooked meals every night, but unfortunately the
limited pregnancy energy is keeping me from cooking every night. Luckily, the kids like frozen pizzas and macaroni and cheese!!! :) (and hey, at least I'm drinking water and eating strawberries with my TV dinner! :D :D :D

Darby is so silly and cute. She has black magic marker on her face and hands here (because why not?). And to add to our unhealthy food topic... yes, the boys are eating McD's cheeseburgers in the background! :D We actually don't eat out very often, but we were starving on the way home from church yesterday, and we needed to go
to the grocery store... so McD's it was! (only for the kids though - I HATE McDonald's - it's not even FOOD. If I have to eat cheap fast food, I'll go to Wendy's and get a potato or chili - for those who were dying to know). ;)

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August 1, 2005, 12am

Andy might get to come home a little early - yay! He was supposed to get home between the 8th and 12th, but now it looks like it'll be between the 3rd and 9th (hey - that's two days away - the Army couldn't possibly narrow it down more than that yet! LOL). I'm excited our month is almost UP and Andy will be home with us for three months (before he has to leave again - wah - but we won't think about THAT right now). :)

I can't believe August is here already! Wow. Everyone is getting ready for school to start; Wal-Mart is already a madhouse in the school supply department! We are homeschooling this year, so we aren't starting quite as soon as the public schools. My mom has a lot of the books we are using (since she used to teach one or two of the grades we will be doing), so we will "officially" start after we see her in a few weeks, and she hands over the books. :) We have met quite a few others that live around us that are also homeschooling this year, so we already are having play dates and are planning some field trips together. The kids are trying to figure out what extracurricular activities they want to do (soccer, ballet, karate, boy scouts...). We may end up doing scouts since they have that at every military base - no matter where we get moved - would be convenient to be able to transfer. Not that we'll be moving for a while - at least until spring of 2007.

Well, happy August, everyone! I'm going to try to get some really good photos of the kids this week ("try" being the operative word!); if I get it done, I'll post some genius photography in a few days. Ha-ha! (that was a JOKE! Anyone want to buy me a new camera???) :)