My Big Grocery Trip

Today was grocery day.  Why am I posting about this?  Well, I enjoy grocery day.  I'm a nerd....what can I say?  My sister always makes fun of me for going to the store.......Anyway, a lot of what we need from the store is 45 min. away.  I had been going every 2 weeks and that was fine, but for some reason the past 2 or 3 trips, I've had babysitter issues for one reason or another.  Things have just come up, weather has played a factor with Dustin having to go to work, etc. etc.  So.....I decided to try once-a-month shopping.  I'd tried before but it was overwhelming then, I guess because we were using so much formula and stuff, I don't know.   Plus with gas prices in my gas guzzler, it was just necessary.  So, today I shopped.  And shopped, and shopped.   I had a nice relaxing Red Lobster lunch, then I went to Bath & Body works, Target, Sam's Club, Kroger, Food Lion, Walmart, Little Caesars for Dustin's supper, then home.  I had a two page list and I got it all done!  Yay!   I had to stop at my father-in-law's and borrow his deep freeze because I didn't have enough space in my already overflowing deep freeze for the extra bread, milk, etc.  Yes, I freeze milk.  We like it that way.  It's icey cold and refreshing-you should try it.  Yes, I still get fresh milk, but the kids drink all that up so Dustin and I are left with store milk for now.  They are drinking less and less though, so maybe soon we can all drink fresh.  I hope anyway!  Then I had to unload at home and figure out where to put everything.  It was a job and I'm glad it's done.  The funny thing is, I didn't spend that much more than when I go for 2 weeks.  Plus, Dustin wanted steaks, AND I had to get Father's Day gifts and a June birthday gift.  Now we'll see if I calculated everything right.  I saved a bunch using coupons which was exciting.  I've been watching too much "Extreme Couponing"!!!  Hahaha!!!  Tomorrow's church & family time.  I love Sundays! 

A Two Man Demolitian Crew- a.k.a. My Twins :-)

My twins.....oh how they can tear something up in no-time flat.  They are at such a fun age, such a curious age.  It seems like they go through spells of testing the waters and seeing what they are and are not allowed to do in the house.  Sometimes I can correct or re-direct their behavior.  Other times, they are relentless and I cave.  Yesterday was one of those days I caved.  For weeks now, they've learned how to open their dresser drawers.  You can probably see where I'm going with this.  Once the drawers are opened, clothes start flying.  It's actually funny at times because they will stand there and throw the clothes over their shoulders in a frenzy.  Kind of like someone who is trying to figure out what to wear.  It's not as funny when you are the one who puts away the clothes over and over and over.  I had been trying to decide what to do and yesterday I decided to take action and see if I can outsmart two 17 month olds.  I pulled everything out of their double closet.  Everything, which was bad.  It filled the room up.  Anything I hadn't wanted them to get or that didn't have a home, used to get shoved in the closet.  Now, the dresser/changing table with Emilynn's clothes inside is on one side of the closet.  Plastic drawers with Carson's clothes, everyone's shoes, socks, etc. is on the other side.  Everything is labelled.  Organized.  I love it!  It took me till 9 last night to do it because I had to stop a million times and then there was nap.  I have outsmarted them again, for now.  By next week, we may have to have another plan!   On a side note, I feel like I spent so much time dealing with their clothes.  Somedays things fit, tomorrow they don't.  I have to go back through drawers, pull out clothes that are too small.  I have to go to my storage shed and go through totes to see what we have in the next size, then box up the small stuff.  I try to label everything so it's easy to find what I need.  It's crazy.  Anyway....
Carson managed to break the door off our entertainment center this morning.  I had to get out my tool set and repair that as best I could.  It's amazing what they can break in the blink of an eye.  If you need anything demolished.....call in my crew!!!!!!  :-) 
On another side note, I have heard many people say (mostly parents of singletons) "you should just teach them not to do ________ fill in the blank with whatever bad behavior they are doing".  That is fine and dandy....if you have a singleton.  I thought the same thing before my kids were born.  Now, I am realistic.  There are some behaviors I can correct and teach them not to do.  Like they are pretty good at not getting into the cabinets these days (knock on wood), and they don't try to climb the stove anymore (thankfully).   There are others that I just adjust our situation (like the closet, moving the trash can into the laundry room, moving the china cabinet to my bedroom :-) ).  If it compromises their safety-like the trash can and china cabinet did and they were relentlessly messing with both-I will just cave and move things around.  It's just for a season.  Or if it's causing me to spend lots of extra time on something....I cave.  Like the re-folding of laundry over and over.  Now, their room is nice and spacious because they do not have anything in it except their cribs and toybox.  The lone dresser left is empty and going to the storage shed till they are more responsible.  Because honestly, I'd rather spend time playing with them than folding clothes. 

Our Week in Review :-)

It's been another busy week in our house.....I used to look forward to the weekends to rest when I was working outside the home.  Lately, weekends are so busy, I'm relieved when Monday's here and we can get a break!  LOL. 
Last week we tried to recover from Relay, although I still have bags packed sitting around.  Maybe I'll get to them this week.  We had lunch with Amanda and our friend Joyce last Monday, that was fun and the kids were great.  It was very relaxing.  Tuesday the kids stayed with Nicole & Eric while I did some grocery shopping.  What a stir that caused!  Everyone was wondering who's kids they had walking around town I think.  Gotta love a small town! 
Wednesday we had Blake's (my step-dad) birthday party at my grandma's.  Thursday we went to my sister Abbey's last home softball game.  The kids were pretty good there, I was a bit worried about how they'd behave being confined.  For the weekend, Alyssa came to spend the night with us Friday so my Dad & step-mom could have a much-needed get-away.  She was a blast to have, she's great with the twins.  They just love having playmates around.  We went to the Homecoming in town Friday night.  We took Carson to see all the tractors, that boy is tractor crazy.  He is his happiest when he's sitting on a tractor.  He's going to be my little farm boy.  Emilynn fell on the asphault while we were there and hit her face hard and skinned both her knees.  Her face was red and her nose bled for a while.  It was one of the worst "owies" we've had to date.  Poor girl!  :-(  She was running and tripped.  Afterwards we had dinner out with my mom, Blake, Nicole, Eric, & Alyssa Friday night which was fun.  I know, we have broken our no eating-out with the twins rule.  Dustin did take them out close to the end of dinner because they were getting raunchy. 
We decided to get a Redbox movie to watch after the kids went to bed.  Alyssa and I couldn't agree on anything.  The girl's 8 going on 28, so she wanted to see PG-13 movies which I wasn't comfortable with.  I was picking animated stuff, which apparently is WAY too immature for a 2nd grader.  We compromised on........a Justin Bieber documentary.  It was PG yet she wanted to see it.  Dustin went to bed and I watched it.  I felt SO OLD!  I'm not that much younger than his mom.  (Sigh....)
Saturday we went to a birthday party for cousin Olivia.  It was a lot of fun and wore all the kids out.  They had a kiddy pool set up and Emilynn loved it.  Boys were rough-housing and wrestling and she would get water splashed all over her face and Alyssa or Shelby would grab her and she'd be fine, happy and smiling.  It made me a little nervous cause normally I'm with her the few times she's been in the big pool.  Seriously though, it wasn't much water, maybe to her knees.....I know, I'm overprotective sometimes.  You just can't be too careful when it comes to kids and water.   Carson wanted NO parts of the pool, he screamed when we sat him in there.  I think we will get something like that for the summer and I think they'll really enjoy it when it's just them playing, like in the bath tub. 
I also picked 20 pounds of strawberries last week and made 12 jars of regular jam, 5 jars of freezer jam, and froze 2 gallon bags of berries.  It was fun.  I think I may go get more to do!  I want to put enough up to last us till next berry season.  That is my goal this summer with canning and freezing.  We'll see how it goes.  I say that every year and then get sick of it and end up letting some overflow go to waste so we'll see how I hold up! 
I'm off to read......the library got in some books on loan for me...I know, I'm such a nerd.  :-)  I drug the kids in with me to pick them up, that's how bad I wanted those books!!!!  I will finish my series when I'm done with them and have to wait till June I think for the newest book to come out.  I'm hoping they have some summer programs I can start taking the kids to.  I think they MIGHT behave for that.  They are getting better with their listening and obeying.  It's just repitition and consistency.  Emilynn still says "No m'am" and shakes her head.  I guess she's heard me say that a lot, being the daredevil that she is! 
Maybe this week will be quieter than last.....our days just seem to fill up! 

Another no-nap day....need I say more?

Today was the second day in a row that my kids have not gotten a nap.  In case you're wondering, that's NOT good.  It makes for overly tired, grouchy babies.  I will say, tomorrow
we should be back on track.  I hope.  We do have to get milk and run a couple errands, and we might join Aunt Amanda for lunch.  Although I don't know about the restaurant deal.....we'll see.  I feel like we need to relax after our busy, busy weekend.
Today we got up and were running late, no shocker there.  We were supposed to go to Dustin's grandma's family reunion.  Well, it's our family too, but it's her side of the family.  You know what I mean.  I decided to pack us up for the whole day, because it didn't make sense to drive all the way back home afterwards, then back to my Dad's in just two hours to help clean up BBQ stuff. 
My sister Madison went along to help me with the twins.  I think we made Nanny's day.  She loves showing off the twins, and any of her great-grandkids.  We just happened to be the only ones there.  It was delicious food-isn't all family reunion food delicious?  I think so!  Emilynn enjoyed walking around, exploring...that's so Emmy.  Carson loves wheels.  Any type of wheel, big or small-he goes for them and touches them, looks at them, talks about them, but we don't know what he's saying.  :-)  So, he spots a wheelchair and he is fascinated because the wheelchair wheels are huge.  The wheelchair belonged to Carson's great-great-great Aunt Ruth.  She is 98 and apparently a spitfire! She is Dustin's grandma's Aunt.  Amazing!    She scooped him right up and took him for a ride.  A fast ride too!  He was just laid back and she was in heaven.  It was so precious and everyone enjoyed seeing the two of them together.  They got their picture taken for being the oldest and youngest there.  Emmy is actually 34 minutes younger, but we won't harp on that.  "Sassy" as we call Emmy was busy running around and didn't want to sit still in a chair.  She will probably point out that she was actually younger one day! 
We spent the rest of the day cleaning and recuperating from yesterday.  We played with a chicken at Meme & Poppy's.  Carson got chicken feed in his hair.  He also ate dirt and Emmy ate chalk.  Meme & Poppy got to see Carson give me a look.....I corrected him one time and he cut those little eyes at me.  It was sooooooo funny but I didn't laugh and they were about to bust with their heads down so they didn't laugh at him.  The bigger my kids grow, the bigger the attitudes can be sometimes.  Emilynn does the "stomp in place" for her fits.  Children require the patience of Job.  :-)  They are even cute when they throw fits!!!!!  :-)  At least to me they are!!! 

Relay Day!

Today was Relay For Life in our county.  It was a lot of hard work and preparation, but a lot of fun.  Our family sells homemade BBQ plates, so we have a lot of prep work before the event.  I must say, I don't do a lot of the prep work because my Dad takes a lot of pride in cooking the BBQ, then he and "the boys" chop it up.  I helped with the Survivor's Brunch this morning and it was the first time I had been to that.  It was awesome and very rewarding.  I must say, I think it was the most rewarding thing I've done at Relay.  I don't know why it's taken me 3 years to do that.  I enjoy people and it was nice talking to everyone and giving out prizes.  Our day was cut short due to weather, but you can't control mother nature.  Luckily we have another fundraiser coming up to use our leftover BBQ.  The twins had fun at Relay, they walked some laps, rode in their stroller some laps, rode in their wagon a LOT of laps.  Great-uncle "Rawhide" pulled them around and around the track.  They were content as long as they were on the move.  It is nice for them to be able to walk around and enjoy themselves since it's somewhat an enclosed space.  My sisters were a big help with them as always, along with Uncle Rawhide.  They were tired babies when I got them home, they went right to bed-if they are super-tired they will walk to their cribs and wait to be lifted in.  That is tired!  All in all, it was a fun day.  Tomorrow we have Dustin's grandma's family reunion.  I am taking the kids but Dustin is on call so he's not going.  Everyone loves to see the kids anyway-it's all about the twins when you get around grandparents!  :-) 

I've had a close friend suffer a great loss this week.  I will not go into details because I want to respect their privacy to grieve. Please pray for them anyway, God knows who they are and what they need.   I will say that if you've never suffered from infertility, please, please take some time to consider it, think about it. Speaking from experience....Honestly, so many people, sometimes complete strangers can say things to you.  They don't mean to be insensitive or hurtful, but they don't think about what they are saying.  Infertility is a painful, painful thing to go through.  I wouldn't wish it on anyone.  Having to figure out how to answer prying questions makes the pain ever more unbearable.  Please, don't ever ask someone when they are going to have a baby, or why they haven't.  You just don't know what people are going through and truly, it's a private thing. 
I'm off my soap box about that now, but please do be considerate.  I've found it's an issue that isn't talked about much, but I wish it were.  

I just happened upon this poem on a website I found just today.  I thought it was appropriate for anyone who's struggled and prayed for a baby.  I hope it isn't offending, that is not the intention.  I related to it because I didn't know if I would ever be blessed with children, so I DO find myself joyfully loving every minute of my kids' lives.  Even the not-so-fun ones.  Just last night I slept on the couch and floor with my son because he was sick and as I laid awake I was thanking God I had him.  Thanking God I wasn't getting a good night's sleep because that meant I had a baby to wake me up.    


Thoughts on Becoming a Mother
There are women who become mothers without effort,
without thought,
without patience or loss,
and though they are good mothers and love their children,
I know that I will be better.

I will be better not because of genetics or money or because I have read more books,
but because I have struggled and toiled for this child.

I have longed and waited.

I have cried and prayed.

I have endured and planned over and over again.

Like most things in life, the people who truly have appreciation are those who have struggled to attain their dreams.

I will notice everything about my child.

I will take time to watch my child sleep, explore, and discover.

I will marvel at this miracle every day for the rest of my life.

I will be happy when I wake in the middle of the night to the sound of my child, knowing that I can comfort, hold, and feed him and that I am not waking to take another temperature, pop another pill, take another shot or cry tears of a broken dream.

My dream will be crying for me.

I count myself lucky in this sense; that God has given me this insight, this special vision with which I will look upon my child.

Whether I parent a child I actually give birth to or a child that God leads me to, I will not be careless with my love.

I will be a better mother for all that I have endured.

I am a better wife, a better aunt, a better daughter, neighbor, friend, and sister because I have known pain.

I know disillusionment, as I have been betrayed by my own body. I have been tried by fire and hell that many never face, yet given time, I stood tall.

I have prevailed.

I have succeeded.

I have won.

So now, when others hurt around me, I do not run from their pain in order to save myself discomfort.

I see it, mourn it, and join them in theirs.

I listen.

And even though I cannot make it better, I can make it less lonely.

I have learned the immense power of another hand holding tight to mine, of other eyes that moisten as they learn to accept the harsh truth when life is beyond hard.

I have learned a compassion that only comes by walking in those shoes.

I have learned to appreciate life.

Yes, I will be a wonderful mother.
- Author Unknown

Our week

We've had a busy week!  It's going to be another busy week this week, as our Relay For Life is finally here on Saturday!!  There is a chance of rain, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that doesn't happen.  I will have my kids there a lot of the day, Dustin's on call, it's just going to be busy and chaotic but lots of fun.  I just don't want to fight the rain!  I don't mind it myself but it will probably affect our turn out and my kids being able to be there.   I have lots to do to prepare for Relay still, but it's all worthwhile.  It would be amazing to find a cure and find it soon!  Cancer stinks and I read more and more about children with cancer.  It's just not fair.  I know life isn't fair but still. 
What did we do this week....let's see....
We visited Dustin's grandma for a day this past week and that was lots of fun.  The twins were angels for the most part.  They sat and ate at the table like a big boy & girl.  I was looking at them like, "Who are you two?"  I think they were showing off for Nanny.  :-) 
Carson had his pediatric urologist appt this week.  He's scheduled for surgery on June 17.  I am not looking forward to it simply because it scares me.  It really scares me.   I know it's a simple procedure.  I know he'll be fine.  It's just hard to think of your baby going under general anesthesia and having to wait it out in a waiting room, not knowing what's going on with your baby.    I will worry till it's over.  I'm a mom.  It's what moms do.  We will have to wake him up to take him that morning (be there at 6:30 am) and he can't have anything to eat or drink of course....so that's gonna be hard on him too.   Poor baby.  :-( 
 After his appt. he & I ran a bunch of errands and he was a trooper.  We hit the health food grocery store, Sam's Club, Target, Michael's, Kroger, and the used bookstore and he was great.  One kid out and about is a snap.  :-)  I will continue to say this......two kids out-they feed off each other and you have a riot on your hands before you know it.  Just saying.....
For the second time I visited this little health food grocery store and got fresh ground flour.  It is so yummy in recipes and I kind of want a wheat grinder myself by they are pricey so I was thrilled to find this one you can use at the store.  But....for some reason, I always end up wearing a black t-shirt when I got there.  I've done it both times I got flour.  I end up with flour ALL over me.  It's ridiculous and funny at the same time.  I was worried I had done something wrong with the machine the first time I did it.  The cashier just looked at me when I asked her about it and said "It's fresh flour".  Okay, I guess that means it's supposed to cover you in a full body cloud of white dust......silly me for wondering......
Friday, we went to Auntie Lys' softball game and then for the rest of the weekend we did a bunch of visiting for Mother's Day weekend.  I had a great second Mother's Day.  The kids and Dustin gave me flowers and the sweetest homemade card and note.  I wouldn't have picked any other gifts, honestly.  The flowers were from our rosebush and Dustin said he knew I would like them because they were homegrown and organic-that just cracked me up.  Does he know me or what?  They are sitting on my kitchen window sill in a recycled applesauce jar with my note and I think they were the best gift I could have gotten!!!  :-)  They also got me a new book on my Kindle......actually I kinda got that for myself.  :-)   And I already read it......gotta head to the library this week to get more.  I am hooked on Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series books.  Thanks to my friend Danelle-she got me hooked.  I will read one a night.  It's crazy but they are SO good and I literally laugh out loud at them.  One character kinds of reminds me of Danelle...... :-)
My sisters Tori, Abbey, Madison, & Alyssa made a Mother's Day lunch for us which was so sweet!  It was a surprise for Meme and fun.  I LOVE surprises!  It was good chicken too-parmesean crusted.   Chicken and cheese-two of my favorite foods.    I have the best sisters and I love having five of them!  It's awesome and fun and sometimes everyones great and sometimes everyones fighting or maybe two are getting along better than others sometimes but it works and they really are my best friends.  Only someone with a sister can truly understand the bond sisters have.  I pray Emilynn has a sister one day to share that special bond with. 
I hope everyone had a great Mother's Day and if you live near us, PLEASE come to our Relay For Life event next Saturday!  A lot of people put a LOT of time into planning it and it's a lot of fun. 

We disappeared.....

Where have we been?  It's been so busy and the next few weeks are only promising to get busier and busier.  Easter weekend was great, beautiful weather, lots of good fun, fellowship, and fun!  We had our church picnic Saturday and had a lot of fun there.   My kids were late (surprise, surprise) so they didn't get to hunt eggs.  Relax, they did get to hunt eggs Sunday so it was okay.  We played games all weekend and our family is very competetive so it was a lot of fun.  I lost in the egg toss game twice.  :-(  I wasn't happy about that, but I only got egg on me once and it was just on my hand.   Nicole got egg all over her.  Hehe.  The kids didn't get a lot for Easter, just a new baby doll for Emmy and a drill for Carson, plus a few DVDs, although they never really watch much TV so I don't know what the bunny was thinking on that one.  They also got bubbles which are a huge hit right now, summer hats (we've lost Carson's already but I'm sure it will show up), and crayon holders that roll up for travel (like restaurants...I'm still hoping we get back into eating out-LOL). 
Relay For Life is only two weeks from today so things have been busy with that.  I am looking forward to the event and then a break.  Till our big horseshow fundraiser just three weeks after Relay..... It's a fun day though-I hope everyone joins us for a good time and to raise money for a great cause. 
Our building is finished.  It's huge.  It seems bigger than our house but I guess that's cause it's nice and empty!  :-)    We put the kids' handprints in the concrete the day they poured it.  It was a sight to see me and Papa trying to do that.  It turned out cute though.  I'm glad we did it. 
This week I hope to pick strawberries, yes, with the kids.  Don't know how that will go but I'm hoping to make jam.  And freeze some.  And eat a ton.  I love fresh strawberries and look forward to the season.  I already have my canning supplies, I was so excited to buy them yesterday.  I'm a nerd, what can I say.   
We are also going to Carson's first pediatric urologist appointment on Wednesday.  We'll see where that leads us.  It's shaping up to be a busy week! 
Oh, and Emmy has a new phrase- it's "No, m'am".  It's adorable.  She uses it in context most of the time and shakes her head "no" when saying it.   I must say that a lot around here.............it's funny when they just pop up with new sayings-cracks me up!