Merry Christmas!

I hope you had a great Christmas. We had a wonderful time together. My house is a mess but we had fun! Mackenzie really enjoyed opening presents this year she would open one and say "oh my goodness!" it was so stinking cute! After all the presents were opened she got up and hugged me and said "thank you my kitchen and my babies!" The older two have really enjoyed their new to them DS and bikes. Hopefully I can get the house in order tomorrow! Enjoy the rest of your holiday!

Renah's 7!!

On Thanksgiving, Renah turned 7. With the busyness of the season I haven't been able to post but I wanted to write her own post. Renah has always been tall and at 16 months younger than Ainsley she is less than an inch shorter. The doctor said she is taller than the average 8 1/2 year old! She and Ainsley both are just about in my size shoe. When they get new boots, they are so excited that I can borrow them! Renah has always been into babies and I am pretty sure she will be an obstetrician when she grows up. She loves watching birth shows and can give lots of information! She is doing well with home school but gets frustrated when she doesn't get it right away. She has and continues to teach me patience! She is a little ham and even when I've reached my limit with her, I can't imagine our family without her!

These girls

These girls can make me smile, make me cry, give me the most joy and make me want to tear my hair out all within a few minute span. But I love them so much and am so grateful they have been given to me to raise.

Halloween 2011

There is a new app that lets me blog from my phone. It also let's me add my pictures from my phone which means lots more pictures! My girls had a good Halloween, Ainsley was an 80's girl, Renah was a bride, and Mackenzie was Minnie mouse. We had a trunk or treat at church Sunday night and Monday night we went to another churches fall festival. It was so cold Monday night we didn't stay long but the girls racked up on candy those nights. So I'm enjoying this app so maybe I'll blog more!

Tough days

I had been hoping to come on here and announce the impending arrival of our 4th child but earlier this week I went in to see the heartbeat and there was none. I am sad and frustrated, this is the second miscarriage this year. We didn't announce the other one because there seemed to be problems from the start, but this one I thought would be better, we even told the girls. They were so excited and little mother hens fussing over everything, it was precious. We had to tell them last night and after we lost our son (3 years ago this week ironically) I never wanted to have to give them news like that again, but I had to and it was devastating to them. However, Ainsley with her beautiful child like faith said, " can we still pray for a miracle that when you go to the doctor again everything will be ok?" I love these girls.
I hate miscarriage. It takes away the beauty of pregnancy, it makes you scared for every pregnant woman you see no matter how far along she is. It takes away so much and I am tired of them for anyone! This Saturday is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, and just like I have for the past 3 years since my first loss, I will remember my babies and all the other ones lost.

When did this little sweetie get so big? Mackenzie grace is 2 today. She has brought so much joy into our lives. She has the sweetest smile and personality. Everyone who meets her loves her. Her sisters are still smitten with her even when she gets into their stuff as she does more and more now! I cannot imagine life without this precious little bundle! Enjoy these shots of my cutie!

(These pictures are not in order as I can't get them to load right. )

Kids- you gotts love em!

I was reading Stie's blog about her daughter and her "wrinkles". It reminded me that a couple of months ago, my girls and I were walking around Bed, Bath and Beyond when Ainsley proceeds to tell me about a commercial she saw for Roc wrinkle cream. I'm half listening because I'm in B,B,and B and "oh look at these pots!" and "how have I ever cracked an egg on my own without this new egg cracker thing?" Anyway, she keeps talking and tells me that this cream is supposed to make women look 10 years younger and takes away the deep wrinkles..."like the one on your forehead." So I put off buying the egg cracker thing until my feeble hands can no longer crack eggs, but I will probably forget what eggs even are in a few days considering my well advanced age and horribly wrinkled face!
My only highlight is that I'm buying her some Roc when she turns 33!

Embracing my OCD

When my first daughter was born, I was not on a schedule at all. She ate when she was hungry, slept when she was tired, if we weren't home she did it where ever we were. It worked so well I continued it with my second daughter who was born 16 months later. My 3rd daughter was a little different. She was still laid back but put herself on a schedule pretty quickly. She knew what time was breast feeding time and she knew when it was bottle time and would let me know she knew! Her scheduling was pretty good for me, I am a list maker, very task oriented, and I love to label everything! I had also just started my Master's right before she was born so it was good for me to feel like I kind of of knew what the next hour would hold.
Fast forward almost 2 years, Mackenzie is still scheduled but we can fudge it a little if need be, I am still working on my Master's and will be starting to home school Ainsley and Renah in the next couple of weeks. Scheduling is keeping me sane. I sat down with the girls yesterday and make a chores list for them and me as well as a laundry schedule. Today I labeled my laundry baskets accordingly. I cannot tell you how good that makes me feel!
I do not want to be so rigid with my scheduling that I miss opportunities, but just feeling as though I have some kind of knowledge as to what needs to be done and when helps me from feeling overwhelmed with keeping a family fed and in (mostly) clean clothes! I just know that this stage in my life is super busy and there are always things that need to be done, I can either get them all done or nothing done! So this helps my OCD tendencies to feel that there is a plan and it has been well labeled! What helps you?

Taking the plunge!

I haven't blogged in awhile just because we have been in the middle of a decision and I knew I would talk about it before we decided. We have decided to home school our girls this year. To some at first, it sounds crazy since Wade and I are both full time students ourselves, but I'm home with online classes and the flexibility this will give us will help so much! Not to mention the moving we will soon be starting and this can give our girls stability they wouldn't have in other situations. We have many reasons, and the biggest being we feel this is best for our family at this time. I don't hate public schools, though we didn't have the best experience last year, that isn't the reason we are doing this. Home schooling is something we have considered since we signed Ainsley up for kindergarten I think we both knew at some point it was going to happen.
Otherwise in this area, school starts tomorrow. Yes, you read that correctly, August 4th! I am not alone in thinking that is crazy!!! I feel as though summer has just started and school is back in session! Yesterday, I went to inform the girls schools that they will not be there and I had such a peace, it was wonderful! So we begin the day after Labor Day for our first day, which has already been designated "PJ day!" I am excited about this new challenging chapter and pray for strength to do well. So here's to a great school year where ever you go!

Amazing gel!

I am not one to put products on my blog usually but I have come across an amazing gel that I had to share. Living here in the south, the humidity is crazy! I am letting my hair grow out and it's pretty heavy. So the heaviness of my hair along with the humidity makes for a hairstyle that usually ends up in a ponytail! I have a little curl but when I want blowdry my hair I usually have to roll it or at least curl the ends but like I said within a few minutes, the style is completely gone. Enter Garnier Survivor Gel . I put some in my hair as I was drying it Saturday night, and Sunday morning I hot rolled my hair and it stayed. Not only did it stay through church, this morning before I washed my hair, it still had some of the body from the hot rollers! It was a little hard to brush through but I'm ok with that if I can keep a hairstyle for more than a few minutes! I was a little skeptical but I am very happy with this gel! Give it a try- it is not a waste of money!

* I was not paid for this endorsment, I just really liked the product, but if Garnier would like to send me some product, I will not be offended!

My 2nd daughter

I realized after the last post, I forgot to post after Renah's birthday. She turned 6 on her last birthday. This little girl keeps us on our toes! I always say she is the little girl written about in the poem about the little girl with the curl in the middle of her forehead,"when she was good she was very good, but when she was bad she was horrid!" That is my girls, she has such a sweet heart when she wants but when she is grumpy - look out! She has such a love of babies and wants to be an obstetrician when she grows up. She watched "Baby Story" like a cartoon and can tell you all about c-sections, natural births and epidurals. She makes life fun and enjoys every minute. I don't know what we would do without her!

She's 8!

My beautiful first born turned 8 this past weekend. I know every parent says this but, where has the time gone? This little girl has such a huge heart and has so much compassion. Even though I wish I could keep her little forever, I am excited to see what God has in store for this girl. I am so thankful to be her mom!

Sum, Sum, Summertime!

Well, I have been MIA lately! These online classes are much more intense than my classes I took at the seminary, but it is a good thing. I feel as though I am learning so much. I am just adjusting to having to do some kind of school work on a daily basis with something due every week! The girls are home for the summer and I was concerned at first with what I was going to do with them all day. Our cars are both acting up and do not have air and finances are tight so I knew we couldn't be driving all over the place. Then nana and papa showed up with a pool; the heavens opened and the angels sang The Hallelujah Chorus! The girls have been having so much fun in there. They are playing outside, and sleeping great at night!
I set up the carport as a little place in the shade for me with a table and chairs, fans and lights. It is really nice even when it is sweltering out! I can get my wireless out there so I can do my homework and be with the girls. Tonight after dinner, the were all playing in the pool then I had them get out to dry off. They started catching lightning bugs. Even Mackenzie and I got in on the fun. We put them in a jar for a little while but let them go when they looked like they needed more air! Mackenzie was determined to bring one in as a pet! I finally convinced her that it needed to stay out!
This is turning out to be a great summer even though I am still in school. I know the girls love the pool, but I think I may love it more. Not only does it keep some of the fighting away, but I don't feel bad that we aren't going anywhere because we are having so much fun here! I don't think I could ever repay nana and papa for the gift of a guilt free summer!
Because of where the pool is, if Mackenzie is napping or I need to get some things done inside, I can still see the girls from the kitchen window (which is where I am 98% of the time!) But I don't do that if Mackenzie is out there - I just don't feel safe doing that. If I do need to be away from the kitchen for a few minutes I have the girls get out and take a break until I can watch them again.
Renah has lost 2 teeth in the last month and was so excited! When Ainsley lost her last tooth, Renah was sad she had yet to lose any. That night the tooth fairy left Ainsley her money and Renah a note that told her that her time was coming to lose teeth and she would visit her when it did happen. I think Renah was more excited about her note than Ainsley was about her money!
I recently bought some cake decorating things from a friend in hope to start a small business of cake decorating. Not Cake Boss or anything crazy like that, but some cute cakes for a little extra income. I have had fun practicing and have used any excuse for a cake!
I made one for the girls last day of school, for their teachers, Wade's birthday/Memorial day, a going away party, Papa's birthday... I think you get the picture. I have tried my hand at marshmallow fondant and for my first attempt it wasn't so bad, but it needs work! I am really enjoying this though!
Well, this turned out longer than I expected so if you are still hanging in there, congratulations (maybe I should make you a cake!) I hope your summer is turning out as great as ours and you are enjoying our family time as well! Have a great day!

Mother's Day

I had a great Mother's Day, we ended up staying home due to many circumstances but it was great none the less. The girls made me lunch and put the sweetest note on it saying, "I bet everyone wishes you were their mommy! Your the best" Wade took the girls to the store in the afternoon and I had the house to myself for about an hour. I just cleaned but I did it without having someone make messes behind me! Mackenzie is getting so big! She always wants to sit at the table with us at mealtime rather than her highchair because she is certain she is a big girl! She is coming up with new words and sentences on a daily basis. Mostly she loves being the center of attention and does whatever she can to get the spotlight! Friday was a Mother's Day breakfast with Ainsley in her classroom and today was a Mother's Day program with Renah. They were so sweet and I just cherish this time with them!
I am done Friday with this semester but start Monday with my summer classes, so I get a weekend off at least! This has been a tough semester getting used to being all online. When I'm studying, I know I should be cleaning and visa versa. In any given day there are at least 15-20 things that I need to be doing, some days it gets done and others not so much. But I am surviving and my family is getting a cooked dinner (most nights!) Well, I have laundry calling and the grocery store and a play date in a couple of hours so I need to get busy. Have a great day!

This may make step on some toes but I really don't mind!

I don't usually use this blog for politics mostly because politics irritate me! But as an American I cannot stand by and watch this happen without trying to get my voice heard. You may not feel as strongly as I do about this because you may not realize what some soldiers and their families go through for your protection. Yes, I am personally affected by this but so are thousands of people today. But our military affects all of us.
As an enlisted soldier, many live paycheck to paycheck. The pay is so small for some that they qualify for government aid (ironic huh?). Why aren't more two income families? Well, for one they move a lot! One can't find a decent job that is willing to pay and train for 2-3 years. Some are young and undereducated and can only get certain jobs. If stationed overseas many of the better paying jobs go to the foreign nationals and the lower paying jobs are open to the soldier spouses. And some choose not to so to keep some kind of stability within their families when the soldier is gone for a year or more. Or to be able to spend time together as a family when they are home. Imagine not seeing your spouse for a year or more at a time, he's home for not quite that long and is gone again. There is no wonder the divorce rates are high.
What happens to that family who does live off post? If they aren't paid neither is their rent, they no longer have a place to live. There is not enough on post housing for the families. Or what about transportation when their car is repossessed? The soldier will be punished for not showing up to no pay work!
Put yourself in their position, no matter how much you love your job, unless you are independently wealthy, you couldn't do it for free of half what they pay you. You would quit. But our military has a contract and can't quit, they have to stay and accept what the government gives them. We have to do what we can to help these brave men and women who live at the whims of our fickle government.
Please do your part, contact your state reps, your Congressman, and beyond. Let them know we are still a democracy and our voice must be heard! Copy this blog and post it to yours. We need to get this out there. It isn't fair to our military to not stand behind them regardless of how you feel politically. We take stands for animals and the trees, please please take a stand for a soldier and their rights!
Christina Hinson

Spring has sprung?

The last 3 weeks one of us has been on spring break around here. I wish it could have been together but one day we will be able to use the girls spring break as a little family time. Last week the girls were home so I did all my work for the week at the beginning of the week so I could spend time with them. It helped that it was my first week in a new session so the work load was not crazy! Mackenzie and I got sick and I didn't sleep for 2 nights so Thursday and Friday I was a little out of it, but the girls were so helpful and played with her so I could rest a little. I really enjoyed having them home and made me very ready for summer!
Friday night before bed, Ainsley started crying and saying she was feeling fat and like she had gained "40 pounds in the last few weeks!" It broke my heart and we talked and I sent her to bed. I didn't feel like I made much progress so I called her back to me and we talked more. It turned out that lately her clothes had become tight and it made her feel fat. I explained that she had just hit a growth spurt - most of her clothes were a 6 and she is nearly 8! Then I told her we would go get some new pants tomorrow. I was so glad I called her back to talk more. Poor girl was miserable and carrying that around for awhile.
The next day we went to get her some new clothes and I had her try things on. The look on her face when she was putting the clothes on was so precious. Later on she told me she felt pretty in her new clothes. I do teach my girls that true beauty is on the inside and not what you look like or what you wear, but as a girl myself, I feel better when I look good on the outside.
I am definitely missing my 2 big girls today, yes they fought and had to be called down some but they are my babies and they are growing so fast. I want them to always be my babies and enjoy being with me as much as I enjoy being with them. So hug your babies today, they will be grown tomorrow!

Out of the loop

I took an unexpected computer break over the last week. I finished my papers on Thursday night and didn't open a computer until 10 days later with the exception of checking my grades once. I stayed on Facebook thanks to my glorious iphone but that was it. It was nice to take a break, but I feel as though I missed so much - babies being born by a couple of bloggers I follow, vacation pics, etc! But that's okay, I got my house clean and my laundry done! The girls are on spring break this week and Wade and I took them to the park today. We had a birthday party tonight and brought home a couple of extra girls for a sleepover when it was over. They are still going strong! Classes are back on this week but I only have one this session and I am really grateful for that! Well, I am going to attempt to get these girls ready for bed so I can go to sleep as well. Goodnight!

Trying for inspiration

So tonight my blog is my guinea pig. I am trying to get over my writer' block for a paper and I almost always have nothing to talk about! I finished a paper yesterday and have another due by Friday (although my self imposed deadline is tomorrow so i can have Friday off and begin my break a little early). Anyway I cannot get anything to come out in this paper. It is a paper on marriage and family counseling which I have done so many times before but this time the only way I could think of starting it was with the line from Princess Bride, "Mawwiage is what bwings us together today"

So that's what I did. I got a little after that but I think I am going to leave it alone tonight and start first thing in the morning. It's so frustrating!! So I recently switched school and am know an online student. I have to say i am really learning a lot but the work load is crazy! I have no time for anything right now. Thankfully the sessions are only 8 weeks long but oh my goodness and I busy. I took 2 classes the first 8 weeks and will be taking only 1 class the next 8. Hopefully I will be able to stay on top of things a little better in the next session.

I feel like my house has been a wreck since January. I have tried to take about one day a week to clean but that doesn't always happen. Oh well, this is season. I feel like I should get that tattooed on me I say it so much!

We had some really nice days the past few weeks but then it got cold again. Why is it I always forget we get a fake spring every year? It just comes out to tease us and when it gets cold again, it's worse because then it's usually rainy and cold. My 2 weather dislikes!

Well, I don't feel inspired yet so I guess the paper will still be there waiting on me tomorrow. I guess I'll watch some TV right now. The only problem is I am really comfy in the recliner and the remotes are on the couch. Ah the problems of a first world nation ;) Have a great evening friends!

Still here

Yes, I'm still alive just trying to keep up with kids, papers, laundry and everything else at the moment. Be back soon!

The way I see it

So I imagine God sitting at the family dinner table at night with all the saints that have gone before regaling them with stories of His kids that day. "You will not believe what they did today!" Unlike when earthly parents talk about their kids and say "who did they get that from?" God knows and He doesn't make mistakes; He doesn't lie awake at night crying, " Where did I go wrong?!" But I do believe He shakes His head at us and chuckles sometimes.
I don't believe He is a God ready to strike us down at when we do dumb things, but I do think He lets us go through things to teach us. It's amazing to me how when we go through certain things and we are on the other side we say to ourselves, "Wow, I can't believe I did that!" Then later on another trial comes to make the first one seem like a piece of cake and we would rather be on that trial again!
When Wade was in Iraq the first time and missed the birth of our first child, I thought their could be few things worse. When he left 2 years later again, leaving me with 2 toddlers, giving birth seemed like a breeze! When we lost our son, none of that compared. Looking back over our marriage, we have had difficult times financially. Now that we are both full time students, the little paychecks we received while in the Army look like a fortune to us now!
I've said this before and I will say it again, God has been faithful on this journey. He has provided our needs and many times the wants we have especially to do fun little things with our girls. However, God and I have these talks and I know He loves me to put up with me at times. But these conversations go something like this:
"God, thank you for this unexpected blessing that came in at the last minute, I really am grateful. But you know I would also be grateful if I didn't have to wait until the 11th hour and be stressed about this. If you wanted to say give us what we need for 6 months at a time you could put your time into things like oh I don't know world hunger, our president, etc. I would be okay with that! And at about 5 months 15 days provide again?" This is the time He shakes His head and says, "Oh yeah this is why I make newborns so cute, so I can remember that time and not kill them later on!" Then goes on to tell me again why I need to trust Him daily for my needs and that He is big enough to take care of all of the above mentioned including our financial needs.
And I know I will look back on this time and my faith will have grown leaps and bounds and I will be amazed and strong enough to take on the next thing He has for me. In the meantime I'm sure the family dinner table gets lots of good conversations about me.
Disclaimer: My theology may not sell books but it gets me through the day. You can disagree if you choose and that's fine by me just don't argue with me! ;)

Snow Week 2011

We woke up Monday morning to 7-8 inches of snow. For our Northern neighbors, this is a joke I know, but for those of us in the south - this is HUGE! Sunday afternoon we got the call that there would be no school Monday. Monday morning I knew there would be no school Tuesday either and in a few hours I was proved correct. Tuesday we found out there would be no church Wednesday night. Wednesday we got the call for no school Thursday and later that day the Superintendant called again to say no school Friday either. And my husband lovingly reminded me that Monday is a holiday so no school until Tuesday!
Wednesday morning, the girls got in a big fight and slammed the bathroom door, which caused two frames to come off the wall and shatter. That was a fun day! I have been trying to come up with creative things to keep them occupied. Mackenzie has enjoyed her time with her sisiters and is learning way too many things from them ... "Mine!" Crossing her arms and saying "Humph!" Thank you Renah! And Renah has come up with a new nickname for Mackenzie - "Evil midgit" Ainsley loves going out in the snow and playing. I usually have to make her come in because it's too cold. They have enjoyed themselves a lot this week and I have enjoyed having them here but am really ready for them to go back to school! I had such big plans to get ao much done over Christmas break but I think I only got about 4 days when the girls weren't here! My classes start Monday so there goes break! Oh well, I have to go look at my work load for classes now. Have a great weekend!