Trip preparation

We are finally taking our anniversary trip.  We celebrated our 12th anniversary at the end of August, had a trip planned for the same weekend.  Everything booked, plans laid out.  All was changed due to circumstances with the military and it's activities.  Nick was restricted to the area and had to report within an hour of getting called, if called.  The hotel we had booked was kind enough to re-reserve our room for Sep 28-30.  Well, we decided to ask for another kind switch for 25-28.  They did it so we are on schedule for tomorrow's departure.  

We are heading to Kansas City, which is about 3 hours from here.  Xander will go to school as scheduled.  Sterling is staying home, but only because she has been sick.  I'm really hoping she'll be better in the morning because it'd be nice for her to be gone to so we can finish planning and packing for the trip.  She's never had a fever, just really bad runny nose.  Nick says I shouldn't send her.  We'll see.  

Homework to do.  Clothes to pack.  Lawn to mow.  Dog to board.  Snacks to gather.  Laundry to finish.  Tidy up the house.  Garbage to take out.  Car to pack.  Kid to pick up.  On the road we shall go.  It's going to be a fun weekend.  We're all looking forward to it.

Have a great week!

Random thought

As I was cleaning out some bins, I came across our calender from 2011.  I had everything written in it.  It was neat to look back and see what happened.  I decided to look at what March had for us.

On March 17th, 2011 our sons birth mother had chosen us to be his parents.  Guess what happened on March 17th, 2012?  Sterling was born!  Simply amazing.  All God right there!

Have a great rest of your day!

Life lately

Life may be a bit crazy right now, but I wouldn't trade it for anything!

We may be loud having fun or being upset...

We make silly poses for the camera...

We play dress up...

We throw fits...

But at the end of the day, we still love each other!

Our days may have been rough for the past few days...or maybe weeks...but I believe this is a phase and the phase will pass.  The kids will get older and understand how they are supposed to act.  It may be a phase that I'm not a fan of, but we will survive.  I may hit the bed earlier and hit it hard!  But each day is a new day and I just pray that each day will go better than the last.

I really shouldn't complain because we are so blessed to have these two in our lives.  We love them dearly.  But, this is honestly how our life is going right now.  Rough!

Oh, and now I should get to reading my chapter on analyzing the external environment of the firm.

Have a great day!

Projects

I've been working on both of these projects for about 3 weeks.  The pants intimidated me so I just stared at them wondering if I'd ever be able to complete them.  Ha!  Yesterday I finally gathered up my courage and completed them.  Funny thing is they only took like a half hour to finish once i started.  The wreath?  Well, I was just lazy and put it off.  It is finally hanging on the front door though.  I have a billion of fall sewing projects up my sleeve though.  Nick thinks the pants are silly, but I think they are simply adorable!  I plan to make at least 4 pairs for fall, ha!  He likes the kids in jeans.  Once he sees her running around in them I'm sure he'll fall in love with how adorable she is in them.  I love boutique style clothing for Sterling.  I'm trying to convince Nick that I need a bigger applique machine.  My machine, the Brother SE400 takes up to a 4x4 hoop.  I want a bigger hoop for bigger designs.  I'd still use my SE400 because this machine also have the sewing capability.

UPDATE:  I was able to convince him, I'll have the bigger machine tomorrow!  I can't wait!!!!

Do you watch The Walking Dead on AMC?  We love it.  So, I'm making the kids some walking dead premiere t-shirts!  I'm so excited for this project.  I may just do those next.

run-a-round approved

Papa visit

My dad was in the region from Baltimore so after the kids got out of school on Friday we drove the 3 hours to see him.  The kids did great on the drive!  We arrived at grandma's farm where dad was staying mid afternoon.  The kids loved running around all the open space.  Grandma even caught Xander running across the road.  Naughty boy!  We spent a few hours at grandmas, ate dinner with her and then headed up to Sioux Falls to stay with my aunt and uncle.  Saturday morning my uncle, dad, and us all headed to breakfast at Crackle Barrel before taking Papa to the airport.

Xander couldn't wait to get on the lawn tractor

Papa was ready to give him his ride

and he LOVED it!

Sterling was terrified of it so she sat on the swing next to great grandma

I love this of him.  He was checking great grandma out.

Another favorite of Xander's.  Taking a ride from great grandma on her push walker.

Ha!  This kills me.  These kids are so nosey!  Waiting for Papa to come out of the bathroom.

I don't have any pictures of Sterling with Papa.  She was extra clingy during our trip and would not go to him when I had the cameras out.  Sorry dad!  Next time!

We had a great visit with my dad and I'm glad we were able to work out a time to get up and see him.  It would have been a shame if he came all this way and was only 3 hours and we couldn't make it.  

Have a great day!

Fluke?

After waking up today, I put Xander on the potty and surprisingly he went, both #1 and #2! I'm beginning to think though that he thinks the toilet is the place to poop.  He doesn't realize when he's peeing and he only pees when he's trying to poop.  He's hilarious though.  He's always talking about how big or little it is...before it even comes out.  Who's he in competition with?  Ha!  He loves flushing and using toilet paper so right now those are his motivation to go.  We haven't felt the need to do any reward system yet since we're not in this full force.  Well, I guess his reward is to flush and use toilet paper?

We're not going to push it.  He seems interested, so we're letting him lead the way on this one. We have a few trips over the next 6 weeks, so I'm not rushing it.  I'll encourage it, yes, but not get crazy about it.

Great job big boy!

Have a great day!

Another Xander post

Tonight little man surprised us.  For the past 2 weeks we've been sitting him on the potty before putting his pajamas on.  For the past week he's been interested in flushing the toilet.  I kept telling him that if he uses the potty he can flush it.  Tonight was his night!  He peed and pooped!  He wasn't scared.  He just did it.  Nick grabbed a video of it, but of course out of respect of him, we'll keep that for his viewing, not the public's.  I'm not sure if this will turn into a nightly thing or a one time deal.  But, it's a step in the right direction!  We're hoping for the real deal.  And he got to flush the toilet after HE used the toilet.

Now for the drama...

We are having struggles with nighttime again.  We can't win.  I've lost hope.  We're both getting frustrated.  Xander's upset.  Sterling's being woken up.  Again, we can't win.  Things went well for about a week, then everything back downhill.  Did he realize that we want him to sleep alone in his own room?  Rebelling?  But what from?  What is his problem?  Does he get enough sleep in a 24 hour period?  He gets roughly 10 hours.  If he takes a nap, maybe 12 hours.  

He's learned to open doors, bust off those child door knob covers, and climb the baby gate.  He demands for his and our doors to be open. If we close the doors, he screams, "door oken", and acts like he's being attacked.  If we open his door but put the gate up (so he can't roam the house in the middle of the night), he still screams, "door oken".  Still a screaming kid.  Right now I have the gate down, door open, Bubble Guppies on, and he's as quiet as quiet can be.  After he falls asleep and before I go to bed, I'll go close his door so he's not downstairs at 230 in the morning.  Well that causes him to freak out when he wakes up in the middle of the night and we're starting all over.

I'm getting annoyed with his nighttime disturbances.  He's waking Sterling up in the middle of the night and now she's starting to not want to be in her bed.  We're not giving into her though, because we're trying to get them BOTH to sleep in their own rooms.  Sterling has been our great sleeping.  Much like her daddy.  They like their sleep and are willingly ready to get in bed anytime you say the word.

My vent...

I don't know what to do anymore.  It gives me a headache and puts me in a bad mood.  I need my coffee as soon as I wake up.  I'm tired.  It's exhausting telling him to get back in bed 50 million times a night.  It's exhausting him screaming when we close his door or put the gate up.  Why in the world is he so terrified to go to bed alone?  Is there a reason or is he just being a momma's boy?  Whatever the reason, I really hope and pray that it ceases soon!

Vent over :)

Have a great night!

Xander's birth Nana

Just want to update for our record:

Xander's birth Nana emailed last week.  She told me his birth mom (L) had another son on Father's Day and that L is rough but hopefully will straighten out.  She emailed again today saying that Xander's birth brother (J) said he wanted to move in with her.  She'd love to take the kids in, but L needs to figure things out without leaning on her mom for everything.

We knew L had the baby because I saw it on Facebook.  We're not friends, but I randomly like to check and see how Xander's birth family is doing since we don't hear from her.  She's young.  So she has a young mind.  We'll leave it at that.  

I'm glad that Nana officially told us though, but we're still hoping for an email from L sometime.  I like that Nana keeps in contact with us and when we email, I know I'll get a response quickly from her.

Have a great night!

Weekend recap

We had a pretty good weekend.

Friday we made burgers for dinner then we all headed to the basement to play.  Nick and I went into my craft area while the kids were out making a mess playing.  I was able to get much of it organized and ready to do projects.  Nick likes the area and says it's comfy just to come and break away, lol.  It really is.  We can still see the kids from inside, so I can see many many days "hiding out", or maybe really getting some work done.

Saturday we went shopping.  The kids both needed some fall/warmer clothing.  We went to Carters (thanks Stacy for the coupons!) and Scheels.  We got them set for the most part.  About a month ago I went to Children's Place and get them 3 complete outfits each, so I think we really are set.  At Scheels we got them the most adorable outdoor wear!  We tried Sterling's on her last night and she loved it!  She didn't want to take it off.  Oh, and her hat is a Junior's.  Yeah, her head is large.  But full of smartness, so that's okay!  

We also got fleeces to go underneath the coats when they will be outside longer than a few minutes.  These jackets are the thinner version.  I wanted the thinner ones because when they are in their car seats, it's safer to have the thin one.  The big jackets just add to much bulk then I don't feel they are secure because the straps have to be so far away from contact on them.  My opinion though.  

We had peanut butter sandwiches and apples for dinner.  Nothing special.  But we had Kona Grill for lunch.  We all headed back to the basement.  This time while the kids played, Nick and I worked on homework.  In my class the homework is demanding.  Every week I will have a case study to present (anywhere from 3-6 pages each), have to answer the discussion questions, respond to 5 other post on each discussion question, then read 30 responses from each discussion question.  That's a lot!  I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed, but I think I just have to prioritize life and I can succeed.

Sunday, fun day?  Not so much.  I of course had to run around and get groceries for the week.  Nick had a paper to write and quiz to do so he was working on that.  I also worked on laundry, homework, making dinner, putting away clothes, and keeping the kids in line.  Nick also brought it to my attention that men can only handle one thing at a time and women often are doing a bunch.  He had to point it out while he was making his breakfast and then all throughout the day too.  Annoying!  But, he's so right.  He was having eggs, bacon and coffee for breakfast.  He's only made breakfast about a handful of times before, so he's not the quickest.  He takes about a minute to crack the egg.  I told him he needed to hurry or the oil will turn brown from being heated without the egg in there.  It did, but anyway.  After he had all 3 eggs in the pan, I told him he should start his bacon and pour his coffee.  That way when his eggs are done, he'll be ready to eat.  And right there, I got the lecture of how men can only do one thing when women are found doing too much at once.  HA!  Man, if I only did one thing, my day would never end!  I'd always be doing something from another task.  Not my idea of getting things done!

After the kids went to bed, we went and watch Dark Skies.  It was good. I kept getting the goose bumps because I spooked easily that night.  

I finished my 2 questions, 10 replies, and 60 response reads.  Nick finished his work.  Xander screamed his head off.  He's now going through this phase where he wants our door "oken" too.  Um, yeah, that's not going to happen all night.  Sorry bud!  All fell alseep around 10 and then around 345 he was back up screaming.  Ugh!  No break.  Do I have a newborn again?  I sure feels like it some days.  Oh and to top all that, he thinks he needs a paci!  Um, kid, you have not had a paci since you were like 6 months old!  I don't encourage that mess.  Nick, well, we'll just say that he ends up with his paci.  Hopefully just a phase and he'll forget about that darn thing.  Maybe we need to break the paci queen of hers, then Xander will not want one too?  

And that was our weekend.  Nothing special, but it was ours.

Have a great day!

School

The kids completed their second day of school today

Sterling was a paci kid today.  I was told she wasn't too happy so they gave her the paci (which I put in her backpack, just in case) and then she was content.  When I picked them up, I peaked in on them and they were both playing so nicely.  Sterling was around a bunch of other girls and Xander was off playing by himself.  Sterling was playing with Little People and Xander was playing with a big truck.  As soon as Sterling saw me, she jumped up and ran over to me.  That's nothing new though, she does that at the YMCA also.

I also started school this semester.  It was a surprise though because when I tried registering in July all the classes were full and I was put on a wait list for 3 classes.  I guess one of the classes opened up.  However, I wasn't told this so I had no clue.  The outreach team that put me on the wait list forgot, but I should have followed up too.  Good thing I was looking online last night to see when I can register for next semester because I saw I was enrolled in this one class and the class started YESTERDAY! No book.  Class is started.  I now need to put a rush on my VA benefits to get my tuition paid.  Not good!  Oh well.  I rushed my book, should be here tomorrow.  I called the VA this morning while the kids were at school.  Had to fill out forms, scan, email a million times back and forth.  Now I just wait for my certificate of eligibility.  Hopefully soon!  

What a hectic morning!  And I thought I could just sit back and relax this morning while the kids were away.  ha!  I'm excited to be back in school though.  I'm not excited about the 11 case studies, 2 exams, 12 discussions with 5 replies each week!  Maybe I'm just ready to be done and have the degree?  Just not all the work involved, ha!  

Nick is in classes now too.  His semester started last month and he has papers due every week.

Looks like we will be busy with school work.

Let the fun begin!

Have a great day!

Oy Veh!

My head hurts!

This was our day today.  1 crabby toddler, making for 1 crabby momma.  Not fun!  Hoping tomorrow will go better.

I cancelled our plans this morning to go to the MOPS meeting/playgroup because little man was irritable.  I felt bad because I feel like I've been backing out of a lot that my sister in law has been inviting us to.  I don't intend to, but it's not enjoyable going out with an irritable little man!

I'm in a dinner planning/prepping/making rut.  It's pretty miserable right now.  I don't know what I'm ever hungry for.  Nick has no input because he don't know what he wants.  We're doomed right now.  We'll get over it.  Hopefully soon!

Oy Veh!

Have a great night!

1st Day of PDO

The kids have started an awesome program I found through our local church.  Parents Day Out (PDO) is a program that offers care and learning for your children so you can have a break to get things done, or maybe just to relax.  Xander calls it 'kool'.  And he thinks he gets to ride a 'kool' bus.  I had to break it to him that mommy is driving him but he can pretend he's in a school bus.  

I've been looking for something to get them engaged socially and academically.  This program is perfect for us.  On Wednesdays they go a full day, 9-2:30; Fridays they will go from 9-11:45.  Today was their 1st day.  Our morning started great, but then came 8:15 and they still weren't dressed so we were rushing.  Pictures were important though so we may have been a little late on our first day, ha!

P/B cutouts, apple juice, sliced apples, gold fish, and fruit snacks.

Xander ate: everything but sliced apples and most of his goldfish

Sterling ate only her fruit snacks, a few goldfish, and drank her juice box.

Xander is brilliant!  I'm mostly excited for this program for him.  He thrives to learn.  He wants more, more, more!  I love that he wants to know everything.  Yes, sometimes it can get frustrating describing every little thing, but it's paying off!  

Sterling is quickly learning and keeping up with the big kids.  Because Sterling will be 18 months in 2 weeks, we have her in with the 2 year olds.  Her teacher, Ms Kelly, said that she's advanced for 18 months and is keeping up with the others pretty well.  She was amazed at how well she did today.  Me too.  Way to go Sis!

She's started talking so much in the last week.  I hope she thrives and takes off with this program!

Love these two to the moon and back!

While the kids were at school today, I had big plans to work on appliques and monogram tops for fall.  When I arrived home, the garage didn't open.  So when I get in the house, because I thought the battery was dead, I get to the kitchen and notice the power is out.  Nuts!  My plans were ruined!  There was an outage, for 2 hours!, so I was stuck doing other stuff.  It actually worked out though because I got stuff done that needed to get done and I kept putting it off.  It was nice to work without getting interrupted every 5 seconds.  But I have to admit, I missed them so much that I went a half hour early to get them.  I'm a sucker!  I don't think I'll go early on Friday though.  I'm planning Friday's to be my grocery shopping day.  Wednesday's will be all about me and what I want to do.  Perfect!

Tomorrow we are going to a Moms of Preschoolers (MOPS) group to check out.  My sister-in-law invited us, so as long as everyone wakes up healthy, we're going!

My babies are no longer babies.  Toddlers learn, play, and sleep hard.  Gotta love our new schedule :)

I'm caught up!  Now, I just have to stay caught up!

Goodnight blog world!  Morning comes early in this house.  Have a great night!

Pictures talk

Are you ready for totally random Wednesday?  All of these are iPhone pics so the quality is not the best, but I just love these pictures of my family.

Obesssion #1 and #3:  Paci and hard hat...gotta love this girl!

Xander has been so fun to take pictures of lately.  He's actually smiling for the camera...

and being his funny self!

Sis likes to give Hawkeye some morning love

I just love this girl...

and boy so SO much!

They make an awesome sibling team and make their mommy and daddy proud!

I've been finding time to sew lately.  This was my first attempt at a pillowcase dress.  I loved it!  That is until I washed it.  We'll just say that I need to practice working on the seams and making sure they don't unravel, lol.  

I'm not a quiter, I keep practicing!  This is another, far from perfect, made with love by mom, dress for Sis.  I don't love this one as much.  It's a different pattern.  Easier to make.  But I think next time I'll make the top longer and the bottom shorter.  Then I think i'll like it more.  Oh, and make the armpit holes bigger, lol.  Keep practicing!

I'm going to start doing monograms and appliques soon!  I'm excited and prepping all the details.

On Sunday we walked the Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge in downtown Omaha.  We loved it!

We walked around to a huge open field and let the kids run around...

Xander finding some new skills...AKA catching a fall...

testing the stupid phone camera.  I'm still new to this phone, iPhone 5, and it's driving me crazy at times.  I wish there was a simple way to share more than one photo at a time.  I don't want to send an email 50 times just to get my photos.  I've tried plugging the phone to the computer and taking them off, but that didn't work.  I'll figure it out!  I'm determined!

this is the BEST picture!  Xander, oh Xander!  Falls asleep peaking through the bottom of the door.  We're STILL having issues of putting him to bed.  The door has to be open.  2 nightlights or light on.  It's ridiculous.  So, what do we do?  We're bad parents.  We went and bought him a TV/DVD combo.  It's actually been working much better.  I really believe that he has a horrible time going to sleep because until he was 10 months old, he always slept with us.  He don't want to be alone.  The TV has helped and he's usually sleeping before the timer turns the TV off.  If he's not, he knows that it's night night time and no more TV.  He'll have to lay there and fall asleep without any noise/distractions.  He don't go to bed screaming anymore.  It's big around here.  We normally would hear him screaming/fussing for 2 hours sometimes.

And there you have 2 weeks of randomness!