It's a New Day

  I can't believe how long it's been since I visited my own blog!  Considering how many other blogs I spend hours on, it's rather shocking.  I couldn't bring myself to write after that last post 2plus years ago, I didn't want to turn my blog into a weep fest or complain-o-rama.  Let's face it, I was hurt and it has taken a while to move on.  However, now that I am in a better place, why not fresh start and start blogging again?
  I can't believe how little my monkeys look in these pictures!  I think it's time for an update, so here you go...

Yes, they are adorable and growing and amazing!  Blessed beyond measure by these three amazing creations!

  So, in the coming weeks I hope to start blogging again more frequently!  Sharing some teaching ideas (yes, I am teaching again), some yummy recipes (quick and easy, of course), and the occasional blog bragging about my awesome family.  Hope you find your way back and find something interesting!

Lasts

This has been a painful week of lasts. Last time helping in KJ's class at CCA, last home group, last awana, last jr. high/high school nights for Matt, last tearful playdates with Santa Barbara friends. It has been emotionally exhausting, and combined with packing up I am surprised I can still open my eyes. I am ready for some firsts. They sound a little more promising. First morning at the new church, first day of a new school (the kids are dreading that one), first night in the new house. It's coming, and I am praying it will be good. For now we have one more "last" to get through tomorrow. Last morning at Community Covenant. Already crying thinking about it. I knew I should have bought stock in kleenex a month ago.

I can't believe I am blogging about deodorant...

About a year ago I kept smelling random whiffs of stench around my house. First I blamed the hubby's feet, then I found myself constantly checking to see if my deodorant was working. I eventually found the culprit, my darling sweet little children. Who knew my little darlings could smell so ripe at such a young age? We quickly had the hygiene talk and purchased deodorant for both the older kiddos, and followed it up with almost daily reminders to actually use the product. I think they have finally gotten the hang of it. Unfortunately, my oldest dropped his and it crumbled into a million pieces this week, which meant I had the task of actually remembering to replenish it at the grocery store. Three trips later, I finally remembered it. Unfortunately, it took me forever to find it, I sat in the grocery store aisle (okay, not literally, that's just gross) staring at rows of men's deodorant trying desperately to find an unscented one. I am sorry, I do not want my nine year old smelling like a rotting pine forest or an old man who has been sitting at a black jack table all day. Who makes these scents? Not a mom, I will tell you that. Girls/women have so many options for scents, from fruity to flowery, powdery to plain, but men apparently all need to have deodorant that you can smell from a mile away. You would think some brilliant corporate mind would realize this and market to the millions of stinky young boys in this country. Lego scented deodorant, playdough for your pits, crayola's not just for coloring anymore. Most of the brands don't even offer an unscented option. I actually thought about just buying a girl one but didn't want to completely scar my son for life. I finally found one, on the bottom shelf, and it is a brand that I didn't recognize that was on sale for 99 cents so who knows what it is going to do to my sons armpits. I might be better off if I just pasted a couple of bars of soap under there.

Pictures

Here are a few recent pics. Yes, I know it is December and Halloween was a while ago but I just downloaded all my camera pics. The first one is from the American Girl Fashion show, Kendall was in a bitty baby outfit and posed with her friends who were Kit and Julie:
This one is from Halloween. Bennett was a Jawa (his helmet even had the red eye lights), KJ was Jessie and Camden was a green alien from Toy Story. Very fun!

I should be...

I should be packing right now. I should be packing, planning, cleaning, doing something productive. I should be helping kids with homework, playing games with Camden, wrapping Christmas presents, anything else besides sitting here completely mindlessly searching through blogs for crafts I will probably never make and lurking on facebook about people I could just as easily call to catch up with. Frustrated.
I tend to get this way when I have way too much going on. I don't know where to start, so I just don't do anything. Last week I broke my toe and was so angry that I was practically immobile and couldn't do anything I wanted to. Now that I am doing better, I can't get through this mental block. I think I need help. Or a HUGE margarita. Just kidding, I promise :)
I did finish my Christmas cards today, so I can say I did one productive thing. Now I just have to wait for the right time to mail it so my friends aren't annoyed with me. Christmas cards are a tricky business. You have to write enough to get out pertinent information, but not too much or you just seem braggy and annoying. Okay, I am just babbling now so I best get on to my projects. Or do some more online Christmas wish list making. Sigh.

Change

Wow, we were sick for awhile. Hoping things are on the mend now, although there are a couple in our family that have yet to come down with anything. I am guessing maybe Christmas Eve we will start another round, such an optimistic thought right?
So, the cat was officially out of the bag last week about our move and I have yet to blog about it because I have been so sick. And by the way, does anyone know where that phrase came from? It sounds like our news is going to pounce on you and scratch your eyes out. Can you tell I don't like cats? Anyway, we are officially packing up AGAIN and moving AGAIN but this time it is the biggest change we have ever made. It is so weird to think I am moving somewhere where I will have no friends, Matt will have no normal routine for a while, and we will basically just have each other. In some ways I am really excited about it, in other ways completely terrified. I just keep thinking to myself, what if this doesn't work out? Where will we go then? This will be our 7th move since we were married, I am hoping it lasts longer than 3 years. Hoping, praying, begging God. Our house is full of empty boxes right now, and I keep looking at them hoping that they will fill themselves. I feel like for every two boxes I pack I am also throwing away at least one bag of stuff, and I must admit I love that. My kids aren't so happy since it's mostly their stuff I am getting rid of, but I am feeling cleansed of clutter.
If you think about it, pray for my kiddos. They are anxious about this, as are we, and since I haven't ever really moved away from family and friends before it is hard to know how to comfort them. And if you live in the area and want to come pack a box feel free! We have three weeks until the big move and about 400 boxes to load up!

Sickies

I know I should be thankful that it is November and so far this school year my kids have been pretty healthy. I know I should remember than in the big picture I have amazingly healthy kids and am thankful for them each day. I know I should remember that God has always been faithful to provide for us in the past, and I need to trust that he will continue to do so in the future. These are things that I should know, but they are super hard to remember at 2:00 in the morning when my oldest walks in my bedroom door and can barely breathe. And it is depressing and scary that one of my first thoughts as I watch him struggling and realize we need to take him to the emergency room is "How on earth are we going to pay for this?"
This is not the way I wanted to start my week. Bennett is doing okay now, he has asthmatic bronchitis and a cool inhaler to use for the next couple of days. Which means, now that he is on the mend, I can start worrying about hospital bills. I just finished telling Matt that we got another bill from my surgery in June which we thought we had finally paid off, and now we get to add this ER visit to our debt tab. Do you ever feel like everything decides to crash in on you at the same time? Trying to keep a thankful heart, would appreciate your prayers.