Happy New Camera

It finally came! We ordered a camera the other day, and now we can take pictures!!!! It is something I have never had before, and I love it. I decided on a DSLR camera because I would always miss out with the point and shoot. The delay was just enough. So, without further ado. Here are some photos. And please keep in mind that I am no professional. It will take some time for me to understand lighting and what not, but at least there are photos.

 The Noodle actually had a chocolate blemish on his cheek and I was able to get rid of it.  That was a first.

Little Graham

This boy was puking all night last night.  I'd say he looks pretty good today.

No camera can make this girl smile for me.  Unless her chin is up and she is doing a big cheese.

This photo is for Boppy.  The Noodle just loves his Old School shirt.

As mentioned on the previous photo.  I can't get her to act or look normal.  Silly goose.

More from the sicko.  I can't believe he is smiling.

Day 3

I had every intention of sleeping in a bit this morning. The Diva is my late sleeper. Of course, the best laid plans... She was up at 6. Oh well.
We started out with a typical morning. Except Diva wanted dog food for breakfast and wouldn't stay out of it. I ran upstairs to get dressed and the next thing I know she is sitting at the table with a pile of dog food. When I took it away she just cried and cried. Then she got some oatmeal and was better.
Lots of laundry and cleaning today. So I didn't get to the bathrooms like I wanted, but I did get all the rooms clean and all the bedding washed. Woot!
We went to the library where the Diva decided she wanted a Thomas the Tank engine movie. I was so excited. I just knew she would love it and I would get to take a nap. Nope. She quit watching about 5 minutes into it. Geez.
About 1:40 she got really cranky, so I laid her down for a nap. She took one, but I couldn't get to sleep. Isn't that how it always goes. She woke up and to my surprise she had an accident. It doesn't happen much now that she is potty trained. More laundry.
We then listened to the song Naturally by Selena Gomez, over and over again. The Diva loves to dance to it. I don't dance as well as I used too. Something about a large mid section. We had a good time though.

On a fun and surprising note - The Supremo and the boys are going to be home tonight. Never though I would say this, but I think it is 100 times easier to watch three kids than it is to have just one. Just saying. All in all, we survived and had a pretty good time. Although, maybe next time I will just see if I can handle the trip and join in the fun.

Day 2

Today was not nearly as busy as yesterday.  Looking back I sort of wish it was.  The Diva kept trying to be a dare devil, and got hurt nearly every time.   Graham was driving me bonkers with his, I wanna go out, I wanna come in, I wanna go out...  You get the idea.
I guess the rough day spawns from last night.  I got a call from my handsome Supremo informing me that we were under a severe thunderstorm warning.  This was at 10.  That's late for me, but I wanted some me time.  Instead of heading up to bed and hoping the whole thing would blow over, I got the basement bed ready, and took the Diva downstairs.  (She was sleeping at the time.)  Next come the lightening, thunder, and screaming winds.  I was in and out the whole time.  Finally at 1 am it was over and I took us girls up to our rooms. A workout at 1 in the morning is never something I enjoy doing.  I was winded and it took me a long time to calm down.
Next morning (today) I was up at 6 and couldn't get back to sleep.  Shower, scripture study, breakfast, email checking.  All done by myself.  The Diva didn't wake up until 8.  Lucky.  I got her favorite breakfast of oatmeal and strawberry smoothie, and we sat there.  Just us two girls.  It was fun.  She proceeded to tell me all about the coloring she was going to do today.
No walk today.  I was so tired from all the walking yesterday.  We didn't go to the library either.  At 10 we went and picked up a sister from church so she could make a scripture journal for her hubby.  I made her one, and she wanted to do one, so we did.
That done we went to the carnival for some lunch and to see what the rides were going to be like.  We didn't ride any.  They were still getting ready.  We did enjoy a lunch of BBQ pork sandwich, potato salad, and our most favorite.  A fuzzy navel snow cone.  So tasty.
Another afternoon of me trying to nap and not succeeding.  This is when she decided to do her take at being a stunt man.  She jumped off a file box, onto the piano bench which tipped over with her getting caught in the shuffle.  That was the only one I saw.  There were numerous others that I heard the scream and knew what happened.
Right now she is enjoying her favorite show.  Princess Dangerous (Tangled).  So this is my moment to let you know what happened.  Two more days.

Day 1

The Supremo took the boys with him to Idaho for work.  He has a sister there and the boys will get to play with cousins for two days!  I was excited, and at the same time a little nervous.  Never since we have had kids has the Supremo taken them somewhere for more than a few hours.  NEVER.  I wasn't scared for him.  The boys are good travelers.  I was scared for myself.  Why?  I have never been left alone that long with just the Diva.  Also it has been over 6 years since I just had one child in the house.

Well, we survived the day.  It was quite a busy day.  It started with sending the boys off.  The Diva was quite sad that she didn't get to go in the truck.  After some breakfast we headed out for a walk.  We stopped at the park as that is one of her favorite places to go.  We were back by 8:30am and I was glad.  It was starting to get hot.  Next up we went to the library and got a movie and some books.  I will be enjoying the Count of Monte Cristo tonight!  I think we will go again tomorrow, as we read all the books, and I may want something else to watch.
We went to lunch with some friends and I was laughing so hard I had rice go down the wrong tube, and couldn't stop coughing, while at the same time I couldn't stop laughing.  Yes.  There were tears.
After that we went to the local Kmart (I know amazing!!!) and got some nail polish.  The Diva chose lime green and pink.  We proceeded home and took care of manicures and pedicures.  I had one green toenail, and three pink ones!  Stylish.
I was pooped after that, so we watched Ratatouille for the millionth time.  I tried to nap, but the Diva does not allow that often.
It was sandwiches for dinner and then off to family night for the local fair.  Lots of people couldn't get enough of the Diva's blonde curls and sunglasses.  Lots of walking, and when we headed home I was ready to get in the stroller and be pushed.

Tomorrow isn't supposed to be quite as busy which will be nice.  All in all it was fun to have a girls day. I do miss my rambunctious monsters though.  Can't wait for Friday.

Venture into Homeschooling

I mentioned in an earlier post that I was thinking about homeschooling the boys this year.  Well, the Supremo and I decided to take the plunge and do it.  I spent weeks and weeks researching online and at the library to see if it was going to work for us.  With a new baby on the way, right when school is supposed to start, I wasn't sure.  After lots of prayer and fasting we felt good about it.

The reasoning behind this decision.  First off - The Noodle-.  While he enjoyed getting to spend time playing with friends; recess was the only thing he mentioned he liked about school.  We had a few times that he came home with a fever, just to find out that he had an anxiety attack and it was gone by the time we got home.  Lots and lots of fighting over having to finish homework.  I didn't blame him on this one.  Who wants to spend 7 hours a day doing work, only to have to do more when you got home.  There was no time to be a kid.  I was also not enjoying my son.  I felt terrible.  While I missed him when he was gone, I would almost dread picking him up from school.  He was always so tired, and we just seemed to not like each other much.  There were also some other issues he had.  Which I won't mention here because I don't want him to look back on this and be mad at me.

#2 - Chief-.  He is one smart cookie.  He was placed in an advanced reading group when we first moved to this area, and then was moved up again.  Not that that is a bad thing.  Why I didn't like it...  They did it without getting my permission to do so, and when he got moved up he would come home with an hour of homework.  HE WAS IN KINDERGARTEN!!!!  It wasn't cutting and pasting or simple math equations.  It wasn't even sight words.  It was writing in complete sentences and answering questions from a book.  I slowly watching this boy who couldn't keep his hands off books to a boy that didn't want to be read to or even go to the library. We started the fighting just like his older brother.  Not fun.

#3 - B.WO.A.N- (Baby WithOut A Nickname)  Like I mentioned earlier.  We will have a new addition right about when school starts.  I know this might seem lazy, but I didn't want to have to get everyone ready to be out the door by 7:35.  It was making me feel stress and we still had another month left.

That is why we are going to homeschool this year.  Yes, I said this year.  When we are done we will evaluate and see what we think.  It may be the best thing of our lives, or we may never do it again.
This summer has been spent practicing a shortened homeschool day, and I have loved it.  The boys penmanship has come a long way, and I am actually learning a new way to do math.  So cool.  Best of all I am enjoying my kids!  I will keep updates of how things are going here on this blog.  Until the next update... Happy Schooling!

My Knight in Shining Extermination

That is the title I have been giving the Supremo the last few months.  We have had so many moths around our house, in our house, in the garage, in the house.  Needless to say, it has been gross.  One morning at about 5:30  I heard this loud smacking downstairs.  It went on for about 10 minutes.  Supremo killed like 30 moths that were living in our dining room.  That didn't count all the ones he had killed before we went to bed, or the ones that snuck into our bedroom.  I have never lived anywhere that there have been so many moths.  This started about the end of May, and has been going on since.  Lately we have only been having about 3 get into the house, so I am hoping we are on the end of this yucky trend.
Also, he took care of a couple snakes in the back yard.  I am just swooning over the protection he gives his wife!  He Really Does Love Me!!!!!  I hate snakes with a passion.  I get the willies just by looking at a picture of them.  The other day he ran one over with the lawn mower.  (Actually that was quite by accident.  He didn't see it.)  I don't feel too bad though.  One less snake for me to worry about.  The other was in a wood pile behind our fence.  Again, I don't feel bad that he got rid of it.  (I must just be a cold heartless snake.  I know, awful, but I couldn't resist.)

How very thankful I am for a hubby that takes care of me and the kids like the Supremo does.  I am so blessed!  Love you Supremo!

Fun Thing to Do!

It wasn't a super hot day here at our house, so we went outside for some fun. I was browsing blogs the other day (no I don't remember where I saw this, so I won't take credit for it's brilliance) and found a way fun recipe.
It was for sidewalk chalk paint. We had to make two batches because we had so much fun with the first one. I would show you pictures, but would you believe my camera broke. Yup. I am not destined to take photos.

Here is the recipe

1/4 c. of Corn Starch
1/4 c. of Water

Mix together. Add just a couple drops of food coloring, so you don't stain your sidewalk. Get some paint brushes and have fun. I wouldn't recommend the foam brushes because the sidewalk will tear them apart.

The kids painted the sidewalk, the pot out front, the fence, my toenails (which look fabulous) and each other. It comes right off. We will be doing this again. I loved it.