October 3, 2005, 11:48 am

Is it October already?

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September 29, 2005, 11:15 pm

autumn is finally here...

Yesterday I was complaining... because I read on my cousin, Kendra's, blog that they had gone hiking (in Virginia) and it was a perfect fall day... weather in the 70s, leaves falling, etc., etc., etc.! It was still over 100 degrees here and we had not had one OUNCE of fall weather (and it's almost October!!!). So I was complaining about Texas weather. I was afraid I would miss out on the fall season entirely (we weren't here last fall - we moved here at Christmas so I didn't know how the weather would be).

Well... I spoke too soon. Today was gorgeous! I don't think it got above 79 degrees and it was kinda cloudy and when the kids went outside they didn't come back inside five seconds later beat red and dripping with sweat. It was awesome! I hope it stays this way for a while... although I think I heard it's supposed to warm up again. Hopefully not back up to the 100's until NEXT summer though!!! :)

So happy fall everyone... I love this season!!! :D

Also... HAPPY 7TH BIRTHDAY to TANNER today, and HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY to NATHANIEL (a.k.a. Binky) two days ago. :)

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September 29, 2005, 3:52 pm

Okay, I'm done. I'm ready to have this baby on the OUTSIDE of my body! I realize I can't be done yet, but I'm so ready. I LOVE babies and having children; I do NOT love being pregnant. Of course, this has been the most difficult pregnancy so far, so that could have something to do with it. I'm sure I'll probably have another baby at some point too, but for now, I'm done being pregnant. I have 17 weeks until my due date, although Andy and I both think I may be further along than the 'last menstrual cycle' says that I am. I felt the baby before I should have been able to, I'm measuring right where I should be and I've measured small with all my other babies, and a myriad of other reasons. I'm supposedly still in my 2nd trimester, but I've had that 3rd trimester "nesting syndrome" for the last two weeks, and have been desperately trying to get everything ready (still have a ways to go, but am nonetheless trying). Anyway...

I heard from an old friend today that I haven't talked to in 5 or 6 years. It was good to reconnect. (Hi Sara).

Andy has to work all night tonight so I'm thinking of renting a movie or something. There never seems to be anything good to rent though - maybe there's something new since I last went to the video store.

At the moment I'm trying to drudge up the energy to load all the kids in the van and hit the commissary and Wally World - it's just not coming though. I just want to lay on the couch and do nothing. All I've mustered up energy for so far today is getting schoolwork ready for the kids. Maybe I'll get a 2nd wind in a little while. I hope so. I have things to do (and we have nothing to eat so I really need to go to the stores). Looks like it may end up being a Papa John's Pizza night. :|

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September 28, 2005, 2:38 pm

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September 27, 2005, 6:26 pm

the army, friends, wild kids, contractions, and andrew...

Andy had to work for 25 hours straight yesterday (and on into this morning), then after getting home at 6:30 am had to be back at work at 12:30 pm for another 6 hours of work. He's finally home, but I'm thinking he's probably a little tired. I've decided that the Army would run more smoothly if I were in charge. Oh well.

I had a couple of friends and their kids over after the Bible Study this morning - so we had six extra boys ages 18 months to age 7, and one baby girl age 3 months. Talk about wild times! It was mucho fun though, and I think the other moms like how much of a help Brittany and Justice are (they don't have older kids so don't know what a break they'll have in a couple of years when their oldest kids really start to pitch in more - well, they probably KNOW, they just aren't experiencing that yet - it's nice). Anyway, it's nice to hang out with friends for the afternoon and let the kids run wild and forget about schoolwork and chores for a couple of hours (they homeschool too - so they are usually working just as hard as I am)!

I started having contractions when they were getting ready to go though - lots of them, close together - but once I laid down and started guzzling water, they spread further and further apart and now there is just one every now and again (for which I gave myself permission to move from the couch to the computer). So - the fact that the contractions go away when I rest and drink is a good sign - that it's just Braxton Hicks and not real labor contractions. We'll just keep praying that the baby decides to stay in there until he is fully developed (while I get frustrated by how much I have to rest :D). I think I read that he has a 15% chance of survival if he is born now - I'd like to get that up to 100% before he comes out!!!! Oh, Oh, Oh, - AND - the best news yet - I got a new doctor! I have to see my old doctor that I don't like for one more visit (next week), then I start seeing the other doctor in early November - the doctor that I've heard is really good and will actually pay attention to the needs that I have instead of herding me in and out like a piece of cattle! Thank the Lord!

Andy's birthday is tomorrow. He will be 31. We have to wait until this weekend to celebrate, but we will try to do a little something for him tomorrow (hopefully we will get to see him more than just in passing - he's been working a LOT). I'm extremely thankful that he was born. Thanks, Thor and Trish, for raising such a wonderful son that is the best husband and father that I could EVER even think to ask for! We've had our problems (who hasn't?) - but hands down - there is NO way I'd trade any of those problems if it meant being without Andrew! I think we are the happiest married couple I know (probably because of the problems we weathered). Life is good. Our marriage is great. Our family is wonderful. And I love Andy - I hope he has a happy birthday tomorrow. :D

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September 26, 2005, 5:54 pm

When our horrid neighbors moved out, they gave us their swingset. The thing is BARELY used and in almost new condition. The kids have really been enjoying playing on it (the other day half the neighborhood was in our yard playing on it). I've been wanting to get a swingset for YEARS (since Brittany was tiny), but never had the extra $300 (at least) to splurge. So, we got an EXTRA blessing - not only did the freaky neighbors move away, they gave us an awesome swingset. Yay.

Now, I want to find a free swimming pool... I'll have to scout out all the neighbors moving between now and spring. :)

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September 24, 2005, 11:42 pm

I got so much done today! And with little exertion - it was mostly just organization. I was able to organize lots of office stuff, school stuff, and almost all my scrapbook stuff (which has been PILING up in a mountain of disarray for some months now)! I'm so excited. I get downright giddy when I get organized. I know, I'm such a dork! I even found a couple of cards I had made for people and uh, never sent them? I'm just blaming THAT on the pregnancy! My friend, Shannon, sent me FIVE month photos of her son yesterday and I was like "uh, I still have your baby card and gift HERE in Texas - so maybe I'll actually get around to SENDING it?!?!". LOL It's now sitting in a NEAT stack RIGHT in the middle of my now clean scrapbooking table waiting for me to mail on Monday. :) And Tori - if you are reading this - I didn't forget your 18th birthday - I have a card for you as well - sitting on my scrapbooking table!!!!! I will be so glad when the entire house is organized (and for the first time in my life - I'm almost THERE!!!). YAY!!! It's an actual possibility that this whole place will be DONE by the time the baby comes. Keep your fingers crossed for me. :D I'm hoping to finish all the office tomorrow - I still have another small pantry to go through, a pile of things in the corner (not sure WHAT is in that!), four filing cabinet drawers, and a pile of stuff UNDER my scrapbooking table (could be some mystery finds in there as well). It's amazing how all this stuff just piles up and then one day I look up and I can barely even SEE my computer, let alone any clean surface. My goal is to have a place for absolutely everything! We'll see how it goes. :D

Oh, there was NO stormy weather today - in fact, it was an absolutely gorgeous, sunny day. Figures! :)

Time to get ready for bed - church in the a.m. and I don't want to be too sleepy. :)

my desk drawer... i guess i should have taken a 'before' photo to get the full effect, but trust me, nothing was to be found in this drawer just a few short hours ago. :) see all those paper clips? i can't tell you how many times i've SEARCHED for a paper clip in the past few months and not found one... all those were IN this drawer... who knew?

hung this old mug rack up to hold some scissors, etc. in my scrapbooking area... i think it'll work out well... may have to paint it a funky color though. :)

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September 23, 2005, 7:48 pm

Well, we are getting ready for Hurricane Rita. Not that we are on the coast, or near it, but big storms and fairly heavy winds are expected. The commissary, shoppettes, etc. are all closed tomorrow, so I sent Andy to get some bread and fill up the van with gas (who knows if gas prices will skyrocket again), and we have to get everything out of the yard tonight and put it in the shed (bikes, toys, pool, etc.) so it doesn't blow away. Texas is windy anyway, so if there's a chance for extra wind, we have to put things away.

I have relatives in Houston, so pray for their safety; as far as I know they were unable to evacuate due to traffic conditions and no gas.

I'm hoping to get my office/scrapbook area/homeschool area all organized this weekend! I've been doing a little here and there, but piles of stuff keep adding up. Now that I have more pantries, hopefully I'll be able to find a place for EVERYTHING! The kids' craft stuff that was in with my office stuff, is now going in with the homeschool stuff, so that will provide me with a little more space. Woo hoo. Now I just need a 4-drawer filing cabinet and I think I'll have all the storage space I need for this area of the house!

I've been looking up baby things online today. I'm trying to figure out all the things I will need and how much they will cost. I'll probably save on some things if I go the ebay route, but some things I'm just going to have to buy new. Tar-jay has lots of stuff I want (a bassinet, a glider chair and ottoman, a stroller/carseat combo, etc.). I think I'm going to wait for the crib since the baby will be in the bassinet for at least the first couple of months. I'm getting that "get ready" feeling; like the third trimester is coming and I'm going to be so uncomfortable and tired, that I need to get it done NOW. :) We're soon expecting a refund from the military for some of the things the movers lost when they moved us to TX, so that will help with the baby purchases (along with some purchases of things Andy needs for going to Iraq). It all adds up quick though, doesn't it? Anyone have any suggestions on what type of digital camcorder to buy? What not to buy? I'm looking for something that I can take some good, quality videos and transfer them to DVD's to send to Andy while he's in Iraq. But something that doesn't cost TOO much. So I'll take any suggestions from people that have one or know about them. :)

Time to go get the boys. They are jumping on the neighbors' trampoline and it's getting pretty dark. I'm sure they'll be thrilled that it's time to come in and clean up the dinner mess. :D

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September 22, 2005, 9:11 pm

Matt was the one that was right... my gift is exhorter. My 2nd and 3rd gifts are server and compassion. Administrator was actually the one I scored the lowest on, although Andy thought that would have been one of my highest gifts too. Maybe because I'm good at computer stuff and/or because I enjoy making lists and organizing - those attributes I assume are why I scored anything at all in the administrator category. :) I scored low on teacher and giver as well. Perceiver was above average, but not as high as the top three. I looked at the childhood characteristics too, and thinking back on myself as a child (and answering those questions as I would have scored as a youngster), I had the same three gifts, only compassion was number one, then exhorter and server (they said that children with the gift of compassion can stop using that gift if they are hurt, as they open themselves up so much, it hurts MORE when they get hurt than it does for those with other gifts... makes sense... so that's why that is my number 3 gift now instead of number 1... maybe it will come back up? I'll have to take the test every few years and see what changes are made). I didn't really think of myself as an exhorter, but going through characteristics of each of these gifts, I totally see it (and now I can try to mature in that gift). This has been SUCH an interesting study!!! I gave Andy the quizzes the other night, and he scored very high in FIVE of the gifts (I only scored that high in one, the others were a definite number two and three, etc. - he actually HAS five different gifts - administrator and perceiver being the top two, then teacher, compassion and exhorter coming very close behind). No wonder he can relate to almost everyone!!! LOL Even giver and server were above average scores for him. He didn't score really low in any of them. Can you imagine trying to live up to all of that?

I started doing the kids' quizzes today, and I think I know what they are, although we're not quite finished with all the tests - so far I'm pretty sure Brittany is a teacher/perceiver combo, Justice is an exhorter, Jarvis' gift is definitely compassion, and Darby is an exhorter (she is really HIGH in the exhorter gift; it will be interesting to see as she grows if that stays her main gift). In the children's book I have, it gives different tests for different age groups. Once you figure out your children's gifts, it gives a chapter on each of the gifts, detailing characteristics and how best to deal with a child with that gift. I'm learning a LOT. I really think this will help me to be a better mother (which I'm always trying to do). :)

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September 22, 2005, 12:24 pm

I'm feeling a little bit better today, but just in my energy level. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be back to full-function (well as full-functioning as I can BE when I'm pregnant). Ha-ha. I had a dream last night that Trish came (Andy's mom - she actually is coming to stay with me when the baby comes) - anyway, in my dream, she was here and we went to the hospital to have the baby and they told me I had to have a c-section (which scared me to death in the dream - I always have feared that if I had to have a c-section that they wouldn't numb me enough and I would FEEL them cutting me! AUGH!). So they pulled the baby out, but hadn't done the c-section yet? I had to wait in line to have the c-section and they told me that I could hold the baby, but I couldn't breastfeed him or anything yet because they hadn't actually performed the surgery to get the placenta and sac out yet. So I was holding the baby (and Timberly and Thor showed up too - Thor brought the baby a little blue baseball cap in my dream), and the baby had lots of hair (none of my kids have so far) and it was dark brown and he was 7 1/2 pounds (my other kids have been between 5 1/2 and 6 pounds). It finally dawned on me in the dream to ask the nurse HOW on earth they got the baby OUT without doing the c-section yet and she told me to be quiet and come get my surgery. She said to come breathe in some gas mask (while standing up), but right when she started to put me to sleep (while standing up), some other chick who was also getting a c-section ran right into my side and knocked me over. I woke up and the baby was kicking me in the side. LOL I would say "don't all pregnant women have bazaar dreams?", but I have dreams this bazaar even when I'm NOT pregnant. Anyway, I thought this one was particularly odd. :)

I like the guesses so far on what my spiritual gift is - only one person is correct. It's funny - when reading through this book I was like "oh my mom is this, my dad is this, Andy is definitely this, etc." I'd be curious to know what all these people I THINK I know what they would score would actually score. :) I'll wait to see if anyone else guesses and I'll let you know what I scored tonight. ;)

Well, time to prepare a quiz for Jarvis (at least I'm not stuck on the couch/bed today like I was most of the day yesterday - much easier to do schoolwork from my DESK).

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September 21, 2005, 11:33 pm

I haven't been on the computer much the last two days - I've been having a lot of contractions so have had to take it easy. The contractions tend to get worse if I overdo it - which I probably had done, with all my organizing. I just find it hard to still take it easy when I have energy!!! Oh well - when my body tells me to slow down I listen then, so I guess that's better than nothing.

Andy has 24 hour duty today so he won't be home until morning (which totally sucks but I guess I'll live). I'm going to try to send out some ofoto pictures to family and friends tomorrow - I started getting them together today, but had to go lay back down. Since I had to rest so much today and yesterday - in between checking school work - I was able to read through the rest of the Spiritual gifts book. I've figured out what my gifts are. The choices are perceiver, teacher, giver, server, exhorter, administrator, and compassion. Can anyone guess what my primary gift is? :) I scored highest in one area, and then had two others that weren't too far behind. I was surprised at what my primary spiritual gift ended up being, so I'll be surprised if others can guess it. :D

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September 19, 2005, 12:38 pm

I have been doing a Bible Study at the base chapel (with the PWOC). It is a book called Discover Your God-Given Gifts by Don & Katie Fortune. It's about discovering your spiritual motivational gifts (not to be confused with manifestation and/or ministry gifts). I have been meaning to buy this book for a while and go through the tests (like personality tests) to figure out what my spiritual gifts are (how can you use your God-given gifts for God if you do not know what they are?), so when I saw they were offering this Bible Study (and the book was FREE), I decided to take the course! If you haven't done this study before, I highly recommend that you click on the link above (or check ebay) and buy this book and go through it - if you have a spouse have them go through it as well. It will help you understand yourself (and your spouse, if you have one) much better. I'll let you guys know what my gifts are at the end of the study - if you buy the book (or if you have already done the quizzes), tell me what your gifts are. I'm very interested. :) I have been scoring higher in some areas than I thought that I would. Who knew?

Andy's mom had given me the same book - only the children's version - a couple of years ago. I started taking the quizzes for the kids to see what their gifts are (to help better understand why they do the things they do/don't do and be a better parent; and to also help develop their spiritual gifts so they can better use them for God), but I didn't read through that book thoroughly and never got finished with the tests for them (it got put on hold as things often do when you have children). The adult version that I am going through now, I decided to read through it's entirety and I'm glad I am. I'm understanding a lot better WHY this is an important thing to do, and how to use it once I'm finished. Once I finish with mine, I'm going to go through the kids' version of the book again, so that the kids and I can discover together what their gifts are. There is also a spouse's version - so you can take the test FOR your spouse (if they don't want to take the test and you'd like to better understand them).

Anyway, I hope that if you haven't done this already, that you will take the time to do it. You can borrow my book when I'm finished if you can't afford to buy one yourself - just send me an email. :)

 

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September 18, 2005, 1:46 pm

"Hello" to everyone that said hello on my comments page. :)

Yesterday I tried to go yardsaling, but I just couldn't drag myself out of bed at the crack of dawn on a Saturday. So I hit the tail end of a few, but there was nothing left. So next weekend I'm determined to get up early and see what I can find (I need baby furniture... a crib, bassinet, swing, dresser, rocking chair, etc. so yard sales are hopefully a way I can get decent stuff for CHEAP!). :) Then Andy and the kids and I all went shopping - we hit a big flea market, but it was SOOOOO hot outside - Texas is just TOOOOOO hot! We got a couple of movies there, but that's it. We finally got the two cabinets I wanted (at good ole Wally World) - one for homeschooling stuff and one to get all my sewing stuff, gift wrapping stuff, craft stuff all organized. Andy is going to put them together today for me. I love to get organized - can't wait to have a few more "messes" cleaned up (i.e. piles of stuff in corners and closets that will now have their very own shelves!). I'm really hoping to have the entire house organized before this baby gets here!!! :)

I told Brittany that I was going to give her a crash course in "how to deliver a baby" just in case something happened and she was the only one here (besides the other kids) and she needed to do it (since Andy will be in Iraq). She was like "uh, why would I need to know that". So I told her "hey in case of an emergency and the baby decides to come all of a sudden and G-ma isn't here yet and the ambulance doesn't come before the baby". So I guess she's willing to learn now, but I think she's praying hard that she doesn't have to actually USE the knowledge! :)

Oh, Andy watched the kids for me on Friday while I got out by myself (something that needs to be done from time to time). I went to see the new Reese Witherspoon movie "Just like Heaven". It was very cute - I enjoyed it. Chick flick though - not sure guys would like it. :)

Well, Andy is taking a nap, the kids are getting ready to get in the pool, and I think I'm going to get some more lesson plans done (I'm just all work and no play). ;) Oh wait, maybe I'll take a nap or read a book... hmmmm. :)

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September 15, 2005, 5:41 pm

If you read my blog, I'm curious to know who you are. I love it when people comment (makes me feel like I'm not talking to air when I update my page). So I'm making today my "say hi to petra" day. Make a comment (see link below) and let me know you are out there! :D

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September 14, 2005, 2:46 pm

As most of you know, we are homeschooling this year. We started late since Andy's leave came a week after school would have started, and also since my mom had most of our school books and we were going to see her on leave. Anyway, I have spent the last couple of days (and evenings) absolutely immersed in lesson plans! I have a newfound respect for teachers! :) For most of the kids' subjects, I'm trying to get the lesson plans done for the entire year (which is why it's taking me FOREVER - three grades worth of subjects is a lot). But I need to have them done so I don't have to mess with that part of it during late pregnancy/early baby. I have found that uh, I kind of like making lesson plans. Yes, I'm a geek. All these spreadsheets and numbers are actually FUN to me. :) I went online to try to get record keeping software and/or spreadsheets that someone else had already made, but none of them were good enough for my perfectionist self. So I'm making my own. I was thankful to mom for giving me the History lesson plans for Brittany - I used them as a guide for making the rest. Anyway, looks like we're going to have fun. I can already see that homeschooling is going to be a LOT more work for ME than for the kids, but that's okay. They're already learning more during the first week of homeschooling than they would during three months at a public school! (I'm also discovering where the public schools have failed and I need to go back and FIX some of the things they have learned). Thank goodness Brittany got her start in a private school that used a more difficult curriculum (aBeka) - once I give her the assignments she's good to go - oh, except for when she wants to argue with me because she things I'm wrong and she's right about an answer. Oh well. Darby wants to get in on the action too; she keeps coming to me with random papers going "okay, so what do you need me to do here?" She's very serious about her non-schoolwork. She'll get her fill; I just haven't had time to start her on her pre-school work yet. Well, back to it. I hope everyone else is enjoying school as much as we are. :)

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September 13, 2005, 12:14 pm

Sorry, Andrea, I didn't mean to not include you... I just wanted to save your photo for it's own blog. You are very shiny in this photo (not like oily shiny, but like angelic shiny). :D Also, not to point it out to everyone or anything, BUT, this is another testament to the UNFAIRNESS of how EVERY woman in my family has boobs except ME!!!

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September 12, 2005, 7:53 pm

our vacation, photos, and be sure to check out the new stuff in the sidebars... :D

Well, I'm a little late in getting a September page up, but better late than never, right? I even took the time to update the sidebars (which I usually do each month, but didn't really in August).

We had an awesome trip to TN, GA, and AK visiting family and friends. We spent most of our time at Andy's parents house in Nashville (eating tons of wonderful food - I would like for Trish to LIVE with me if only for the pancakes, eggs, and bacon she cooks every morning!!!). We were able to visit with both Andy's sisters and their families, with Andy's grandfather, his cousin Trey (and Adina and Madison), with our friends Robyn & Jeff and their kids, with my friend Stacey and her family, and with Andy's cousin Laura and her entire family. I was also able to meet Wendy, the owner of my favorite scrapbooking website, ScrapSupply (she was so sweet, and she was nice enough to buy me lunch!!!). :D

We went to my sister, Marci's, wedding in Atlanta (where Darby was one of the flower girls) and were able to see all of my family (except Joel & Krystyna who are in Switzerland, and Tori who wasn't there). I even saw some cousins and their families at the wedding that I hadn't seen in years and years! It was good to see everyone. We stayed with Matt & Carolyn, and the kids had a blast playing with all their cousins. I was photographer at the wedding, and while I think I got a few good shots, it would have been nice to have had a professional camera! I think that just because of that one event I need to go out and buy a Nikon D70 or something of the sort. :D

Andy and I were able to spend two nights alone in a hotel (the Union Station hotel in downtown Nashville). Robyn watched the girls and Theresa & Michael kept the boys (and the boys even got to go camping and 4-wheeling!). It was so nice to be able to get some alone time, especially since Andy is leaving for a year! Oh, and I have to add that if you are ever in Nashville, eat at Demos'! They have the most fabulous food and they aren't even that expensive (compare to Olive Garden or Chili's prices). Oh, when we were on our way out, the chick at the cash register said "oh, you are having a boy" and I was like "uh, how'd you know THAT?!" so she was like "motherly instinct" or something like that. So Andy said "yeah but can you tell how many?" and she said "3" and Andy said "nope, 5" so she said "but it's the third boy, right?" - so by then we were thoroughly freaked out and ran away from the demon woman! :D LOL

Justice turned ten while we were in Nashville (HAPPY BIRTHDAY SON!), so we had a little party for him.

On the way back to TX, we stopped and spent the night at my aunt and uncle's house in Arkansas, and were able to visit my grandmother in the nursing home - it was good to see them as well (and yum - MORE great cooking!).

Here are a couple of photos from our trip... I'll be posting more on ofoto for friends and family to see (sometime in the next couple of days... maybe even tonight). :) [oh and it is SO good to be home!] :D

all my kids with Victoria and Ali (Robyn & Jeff's oldest girls)... Victoria actually called me her mother-in-law before she left Justice's birthday party! She's in love. :)	me and my good friend, Stacey... we met up at Opry Mills and ate some dinner and let the kids play on the playground. It was so good to see her!
me and Andy acting silly (during our time 'away') :D	Robyn's adorable little baby, Isabella... she was so, so cute!!!
the top of the hotel Andy and I stayed in	Andy's grandfather and all the kids :)
Justice opening all his tenth birthday loot. G-ma (Andy's mom) made him this awesome quilt... the front is made out of pants and shirts and the back out of blue jeans... all of which belonged to someone in the family. there were toys in all the pockets (b/c some of the squares were made with the back pockets of pants). isn't that just SO creative?!?! Justice LOVES it... he also received lots of GI Joe's and several weapons (thanks to Andy he received some pocket knives and some BB guns). :)	our whole family with my grandmother in the nursing home. it was good to see her as well. when we left, i gave all the kids a baby wipe to wash their hands (have you ever BEEN in a nursing home?!), and Brittany said "so when i'm old my grandkids will be washing their hands with baby wipes after visiting me"... I was like "yep". :D
the kiddos with their cousin Madison (Trey & Adina's daughter).	Marci & Joe... obviously at their wedding :D
Darby and Taylor made the most adorable flower girls (my mom made the dresses... aren't they cute?)	me and Andy at the wedding... I actually wore the shirt that I made. I don't even think anyone noticed all the mistakes that I made (except the ones I pointed out to people). :)