Sugarland

Here is Alexis's map project for her social studies class.  It has peanut butter mountains that she made out of peanut butter playdough, Reese's cup gems, lollipop trees, licorice stems, candy leaf piles, and sucker bushes.  I only helped by showing her how to paint the board and figuring out how to make everything stick to it.  I did brainstorm a little with her as well, but this is all her creation...all her ideas.

Don't fly Delta through Atlanta!

The girls and I went to pick Ryan up from the Airport on Saturday evening. Let me tell you...it was a chore getting them to stop playing outside so they could come in a get all cleaned up. They just have too much fun playing with their buddies! But we left at about 5 after 6 and Ryan's flight was due in at 6:15. I thought for sure we were going to get a call from him while we were driving to the airport and he'd have to wait on us. But we made it to the cell phone lot and proceeded to wait half an hour. Turns out that Atlanta lost his luggage again (they lost it on his trip over as well). There must be something about Delta in Atlanta because that's the same company/airport that lost Mom and Dad's luggage when we went to Florida this year.

Let me tell you how nice it has been having Ryan home. It's been so nice that today was the first day I actually let him out of my sight. It was pretty funny really...I was following him around like the dogs do to me. At least it didn't annoy him (that I know of) like the dogs do me at times. We got all caught up on our football games...two Notre Dame games and one Colts' game. I like watching two Colts' games in one day! And guess what? The TV must have missed Ryan too, because I plugged it in and turned it on today and, VOILA, it magically came on and has been working fine all morning! yay! That saved us about $500 I would say.

Anyway....I should have some fun pictures to post this week. Alexis has a map project for school and it is going to be really cool! I'm not going to give it away...you'll just have to check back and see what she does. Until then my friends....

So ready...

I'm ready to have my helper back. I think we are all beginning to feel it...even the dogs. I have a great appreciation and awe for single parents and military families. Doing it alone is not easy...and I've only been on my own for a week and a half. Even though we're holding it together pretty well, you can tell a difference. And you can just feel things beginning to unhinge. Here are some examples of what I'm talking about:
We've been having some out of character behavior issues with both girls. Kaylee is grumpy and Alexis is weepy (a couple of little dwarves). Luckily (as far as I know) they've only been exhibiting these symptoms at home. The dogs have been super antsy this week; jumping at the slightest sound; begging to be fed WAY before it's time; making 'messes' on the carpet; and prancing like it's time to get up at 3 in the morning. Used to be, whenever Ryan would go out of town, one of the girls would 'toss their cookies' at some point...well we had that happen this time. And of course things always seem to break...this time it's our 61" TV...our main TV. Apparently the lamp went out. But I have a new one coming and hopefully I'll be able to figure out how to change it. To top it off...my allergies are just horrific today. I couldn't stay asleep last night because my throat was terribly raw from drainage. It was so bad that it hurt when I tried to talk this morning. So I felt like just being a lump on the couch today, but because I am flying solo and the TV is broken and the girls have school and I have to feed people and pooches...it just wasn't happening. So I'm thinking I'll turn in when the girls do. At least the TV in the bedroom works...and I'll hope that nothing else goes awry over night. Man, I dislike complaining...is it Saturday yet?

A picture story

I try to post often when Ryan is away. That way he can see and read what we have been up to and maybe he won't feel like he's missing out on so much:) Anyway, the girls and I went to Terre Haute and did lots of fun things. We went to the pork chop supper at my old high school, celebrated Mom, Val and Brian's birthdays, had a sleep over at Uncle Roger and Aunt Brooke's, ate breakfast at Cracker Barrel, went to Midstates marching band contest at ISU and were the first ones to swim in Mom and Dad's newly renovated pool! Anyway, here are the pictures from our fun weekend:

Yeah...apparently Abby likes to swing...so much so that she even lets the girls pet her while they swing together!

He really is your pal!

I just wanted to take a minute to write about our wonderful principal. I think every time I've been to the building, he's been out greeting parents and students. And I think Mom and Dad said that he was out greeting when they visited Alexis at school. This morning, I took Alexis to school instead of putting her on the bus because she had some extra items to take in for her science project (she's trying to find out if coffee grounds are good for fertilizing). Anyway, he was standing in front of the school down by the curb greeting every individual student as they were dropped off. I saw him giving high fives and big smiles and waving to parents as they drove away. When I left, he and Alexis were still chatting away! I remember when he first came to the school, he made a point to learn every single kid's name! And he still remembers all the kids when he sees them out and about. Our school is very blessed to have him as the principal!

Windows

Alexis finally got her new glasses today! She was talking to Ryan on the phone and I overheard her say, "They're like magic windows for your eyes!" That's my girl!

A girl and her bike (and some other kids)

I just thought I would post a picture and video of Alexis riding her 'big' bike. She finally decided she would rather ride it than have her knees up in her armpits on her little bike!

Fun pictures!

We got to spend some time with Maggie Wednesday morning. She's such a good girl...and so much fun!  Anyway, here are some pictures from our visit:

I think she liked that Big Bird book!  It was a favorite of Kaylee and Jenna's too.  It's been slobbered on plenty!

Kaylee has been working on her math skills on a cool math website called Kid Port.  I just thought this looked really cute:

She's so stinking smart...it's pretty scary.  She can add 4+5 at age 4!!! 

Yesterday, I decided to be the "cleaning fairy" and clean up the playroom and the girls' rooms.  They love it when the cleaning fairy visits!  Anyway, I was cleaning up all the books on Kaylee's bed and this is what I found under her pillow:

Too funny right?  She's like a little pack rat hoarding away her "treasures".  So, so funny!

Thankful

I am so very thankful! 
I'm thankful for the husband I have
I'm thankful for the parents I have
I'm thankful for the parents that Ryan has
I'm thankful for the children I was blessed with
I'm thankful for the church I belong to and my church family
I'm thankful for the best friend who has been around forever
I'm thankful for where I live
I'm thankful for my brother
I'm thankful for my sister
I'm thankful for my siblings-in-law
I'm thankful for my neighbors
I'm thankful for my past
I'm thankful for my present
I'm thankful for my home
I'm thankful for my health
Most of all, I'm thankful for my God!
Without Him, I would have nothing to be thankful for
It all comes from Him
Praise God from Whom ALL blessings flow!
Whatever comes my way...I can make it through ONLY with God's help

Love those long weekends!

We had an awesome weekend.  First of all, Ryan was home from his week long trip to Miami.  We had kids running in and out of the house pretty much all weekend (I love that!).  We had our neighborhood block party on Sunday, which is always a good time.  And we had a nice family gathering for lunch on Monday afternoon. 
The girls headed over the block party before us and while Ryan and I were eating our dinner, he found this:

Kaylee had her first day of Nursery school today.  She really enjoyed playing with all the toys and seeing all her friends from last year.  And of course Sam caught her attention for a little while.  Here's my big girl:

Things are breaking

I would really love to complain, but I'd much rather have things breaking than have sick girls like I used to whenever Ryan travelled in the past.  So, what's broken? 
First is my van's tires.  I have a handy tire pressure monitor on my fancy new van that tells me when the tire pressure is off on my tires.  Nice right?  Yeah!  Well, before Ryan left the light came on.  We figured it was due to a change in outdoor temperatures.  But the light was still on when I took Kaylee to the zoo on Tuesday, so I figured I better use my manual pressure gauge and check them.  They were all low; the front two being the lowest.  So yesterday I pumped them up with our handy-dandy air pump.  All was well...so I thought.  This morning when Kaylee and I headed out the light was still on.  I have yet to check the tire pressure manually...I'm waiting for the tires to cool, but they look low to me.  Oh well.  I'm due for an oil change anyway, so we'll just have our mechanic check the tires out too. 
Second is the washing machine.  It's not a major, must buy new machine, problem.  Actually when I write what it is you might say, "Is that it?"  One of the selector knobs broke on the washing machine.  Unfortunately, it is one that once it is broken, the washing machine will not turn on.  So I hunted around and found a new knob.  I really dislike it when shipping costs more than the object you are buying...so this $4 knob is costing me $12.  But, that's a lot cheaper than a new washing machine...which I'm sure is only a few years down the road since this set is 10 years old. 
Third and last is the toaster.  It was a wedding present.  This morning, Kaylee was cooking her breakfast (a boston creme pie toaster strudel...yeah, I know!) and the toaster burst into flames!  I had a feeling it was on it's way out since it was getting more smoky than usual and I cleaned the tray out and that didn't solve the issue.  But the house smells, Kaylee's yummy strudel is black, the bottom of the cabinet has soot all over it, and Abby had a major fit!  These Vizsla's do NOT like the smell of anything smoky.  She runs and hides whenever Ryan grills.  So, she is our living smoke detector.  But she was not happy at all this morning.  And even though I've had the windows open for a couple of hours now...she is still bothered by the smell.  I can't smell it anymore, but she can.  Poor doggy!  So, Kaylee and I went out and bought a new toaster this morning. 
But yes, like I said, I am not writing this to complain...I'd much rather have things breaking than have to clean up sick girl messes.  I do wonder though....what's going to happen when Ryan spends two weeks in Spain...hmmmm....

Kaylee's breakfast: