Confessional Thursday

I confess.....

1. I still watch Teen Mom. That show is a trainwreck. But I can't stop watching. I especially like to follow Tyler and Catelyn because of the adoption aspect.

2. I go back and correct Rachel's homework. Capitalize letters, make better spacing, and erasing things.

3. I hide candy or other treats I want for myself from the kids and eat it when they are in bed.

4. When a favorite song comes on in the car and I'm alone, I will sing, hand gesture, and pretend I'm in a music video.... and sometimes tear up from all the emotion.. LOL!

5. I love going through all of people's pictures on facebook. Makes me sound like a total creeper.... but I just like pictures!

6. I talk to myself in the shower and rehearse conversations I plan to have with people.

7. When i am behind on laundry I send the kids to school with mismatched socks. Often. 

8. I am already planning Rachel's party/theme, and her birthday isnt until June. I also already bought her Easter dress.

9. I get really proud of myself when I cook a decent meal. Because I hate cooking. And I'm no chef! ;)

10. I haven't made my bed all week.

11. I get jealous when people all around me seem to be announcing pregnancies. I am happy for them-- I just have baby fever really, really badly.

12. I have a hard time spending money on myself. But the kids have enough clothes to wear something different just about every day.

13. Arnold and I have very different political views this election and we argue about it a lot.

14. I will retake a picture over and over until It is "perfect" to me. 

15. I don't care how bad they are for me, I still love hotdogs. 

Weekend in Review!

Friday I went on a field trip with my college class. I am taking a class right now about long-term care, and we have been visiting nursing homes. We went on Friday to the same place my Grandfather had spent several years when he was alive. Even though I had been there, It had been awhile and I got lost on the way. I was speeding and doing all sorts of u-turns and crazy stuff to get there-- I absolutely hate being late. I am actually usually very early to things because of that. I walked into the place 3 minutes late, which wasn't too bad.. I didn't really miss anything. We took a tour and got to visit some of the areas and someone's room. I love elderly people and think they are adorable but I don't think I'd ever work with them! I still have my sights set on working at a OB office of Peds office when I graduate. We will see!

Friday night Arnold and I went to a thing at church called Fight Night. It was a marriage night put on by some drs. Les and Leslie Parrot (although she didn't come because she was sick) They go around to different places and talk about marriage the the right way to "fight" and make sure conflict stays healthy. We were able to go last minute thanks to buying some tickets from our friends who couldn't make it. It was so nice to get out after a week of feeling sick. We took the kids out to dinner at Ruby Tuesday before to spend some time with them, then dropped them off with Arnold's parents. Arnold and I enjoyed ourselves and learned a lot. The guy was funny and we learned some things we hadn't thought of before. I bought 2 of his books online and am reading more about the stuff now. 

Saturday morning caleb had his basketball awards ceremony for the season. There was a breakfast before too, but we slept too late and didn't get to make it! Poor Brooke was so upset because she was looking forward to all the pancakes and pastries, haha. Caleb wore his uniform and was given a medal and he was proud. Too bad he wasn't even looking in any of the pictures Arnold took though! 

After the awards ceremony we took the kids to lunch at Mellow Mushroom. Caleb wore his uniform and medal to lunch :) We ate some yummy pizza and enjoyed some family time. I think we kinda scared everyone with our hacking coughs though-- we are all doing better but we have lingering coughs that the dr said would take awhile to go away! After lunch we went to walmart to buy some things we needed. I ended up buying some of the Better Homes and Gardens 400-count bedsheets that so many friends had recommended to me. we have been sleeping on them this week and i have to say they are very comfortable! I wish they had more color choices for queen but I am ok with it-- not many people see our bed anyway, haha. 

Sunday morning I worked at church like usual and had a fun time with my babies. Unfortunately Sunday I found out some sad news-- that the sweet baby I have been keeping for the past several months is starting daycare (an opening came up earlier than expected) and I dont have my job anymore. I really bonded with her and she became my little buddy and sidekick, so I am going to miss her tremendously. I took it harder than I thought-- I cried a lot this past weekend. I knew this fall I'd have to give her up anyway to go to college fulltime but it came sooner than I expected and it was hard to process. I am packing up all her stuff that has taken over my house-- it was so fun to have a baby around again. So now Im just trying to figure out what I'm going to do til summer-- just work on school or try to find a job for awhile, but I know God will lead me in the right direction. 

Date night with Hubby! we had a great time. and the kids loved getting to stay up late that night.

Calebs bball team-- the Kings! wish he would have looked at us for the pictures! 

His sisters were there to cheer him on ;)

Proud of my sweet Bobo :)

Daddy and son-- they are like twins ;)

A picture with all my sweet babies :)

The girls all dressed up for church Sunday. We are dreaming of spring! 

Brooke was playing on the computer sunday afternoon and I about did a double take! between the dress she had on and her hair up, i swore i was looking at a teenager! time slow down!!!! 

Valentine's Day 2016

Unfortunately we did not have a fun Valentine's day this year. The girls started feeling bad on that friday and we didnt know then what was going on but we gave them lots of meds and fluids and they slept a lot. Our weekend was pretty low-key.. we missed going to see Caleb's last basketball game, and Rachel missed going to her friend's birthday party. They were so pitiful :( We later found out on Monday that both girls had strep and maybe bronchitis, so they were put on antibiotics and started feeling better after that. But then I started feeling bad a few nights later.. I felt cold, run down and miserable. I went in to the dr too and I had caught it from the girls! So I started taking an antibiotic also, which is pretty powerful and made me sick on my stomach but I started to feel better quickly too. Needless to say, we had a rough week!!! 

We were pretty much hanging around and watching tv and movies and reading 

Sunday night we did order the Pizza Hut vday special. heart shaped pizza and brownies. It was delicious. But gave me heartburn. I cant' seem to handle pizza anymore! 

When Rachel finally got back to school she was able to wear the shirt I had made for her, for vday. Too bad she couldn't wear it on the actual day, but it was still cute. She said the little love birds were me and Arnold ;)

Calebs class had to make their own vday holder boxes for their class party, and it became a project and they were graded on it. Of course terrible us forgot about it til almost last minute so we were going around looking for boxes and arnold ran to the store. We looked stuff up on pinterest and caleb wanted to make a minecraft box. We just used different colored duck tape and the  mouth opened to  put in cards. Pretty easy, but he liked it. 

Rachel and Charlie had fun resting together :)

The dogs kept the girls company. You can tell when Brooke is sick because she usually never stops running around unless she is really feeling bad! 

This is what our counter was looking like for quite awhile! We had medicines for everyone, drinks for everyone and were taking temps all the time. It was hard to keep everything straight! Im thankful for an awesome husband who took care of things while I was in bed. He even cleaned up my sheets when I threw up on them (gross, I know!) How did he not get sick?!?!?! 

This is how we celebrate vday since we couldnt go out! Arnold brought home takeout from Red Lobster! I put a hurting on some crab legs! haha. 

we got the kids some vday treats.. my friend erika put their names on some vases and filled them with candy and stuff and I found some cute little stuffed animals too. The kids were happy to wake up to the surprises :)

Thoughts on Thursday

We recently bought a new recliner! We had been talking about it for awhile but we happened to be in Big Lots one day after church and they had this one sitting out and it was marked down and then it was friends & family weekend so an additional 20% off! It was too good of a deal to pass up! I love it and its being affectionately called "my chair" although its not really ;) Arnold sneaks some time in it when Im gone or asleep ;) No one eats in it at ALL because I want to keep it nice! Our old one was falling apart... literally... the kids had broken the footrest and arms.. so it was about time!! 

My mom and dad recently spent a week in Arizona and they sent me this beautiful picture! I am glad they were able to get home safely, because that was when we had all that snow/ice around here. 

Arnold and I went to the school awards day to watch our cuties get their awards! Caleb got A/B honor roll again and AR reader and Brooke got AR Reader. She also brought up her math grade some and we are so proud of her trying so hard! 

 A friend of mine who used to go to our church just wrote a novel! How cool is that?! I now know 3 people who have written books. I love to write.. but I don't think I could ever write a book. It would take too much patience and dedication, and more formal style. I prefer to write just whatever comes out.. haha. But my friend is SO talented and I finished her book in just one day!! Go check it out on amazon! 

Making the girls match again.. in their kitty shirts from Childrens place! ;)

We recently got our van detailed at Honda! Arnold's sister works there and it was awesome that we were able to get the family discount! ;) It was NASTY! as a matter of fact, they called us and said they needed to keep it another day! haha! I was so impressed... they cleaned all the crumbs and cupholders and seats and floors.. there were a few stains they couldn't get out but I figured so. The van is getting pretty old! They even cleaned the outside and got rid of a "racing stripe" I had accidentally put on the van a long time ago! That was just icing on the cake! So far no one has been allowed to eat in the van and I hope to keep it that way! 

so can yall believe I have never read The Giver? I finally did the other day and I loved it! Are the other books in the series any good? Is the movie any good?? 

Picked this new shirt up for Brooke and she wanted to wear it to church the other day. I couldn't get over how much older she is looking lately! When did she turn into a teenager? haha.

The other day after church we tried out HWY 55 for lunch. we all liked it pretty well. Reminded me of Shell's. Love the 50s theme and music.. and they have the GOOD ICE!! They gave the kids a little icecream with their kids meals and it was delicious! (i snuck a bite of Rachel's ;)

I dont get my nails done often but I went to get them done the other day before we left on our anniversary getaway. I picked the pink myself at the store and took it with me! I got gel nails put on, them painted, and she even did a little design with a heart and stuff. They are my vday nails! I love them and have gotten lots of compliments on them too ;)

The other night after Brooke's ortho appt we took the kids to Bob Evans for dinner.. it was kids night. Rachel picked the kids meal called "piggy pancakes" and it came out looking like this! How adorable! No more eating like this for me for awhile though.. I am trying yet again to be better and lose some weight. I've given up so many times.... I will eventually get there though!! 

Our 10-year anniversary!

On the 21st Arnold and I celebrated our 10th anniversary! I can't believe we have been married 10 years. We have been through so much, both good and bad, in that time. There is no one else id rather spend my days with! On the night of our anniversary we went out to dinner and took the kids with us. It ended up snowing that night and we were all stuck at home together the next day, so that was kinda cool. Then the next week we went out of town for a night. My dad surprised us with a hotel and money for dinner and he and mom watched the kids AND the puppies while we went away! It was amazing and we had the best time. Just wish it wouldn't have gone by so fast! 

We went to Carrabba's for dinner. The kids all love pasta so they were happy. We went early to beat the crowds. The dinner was really expensive but it was a special occasion, so it's ok. 

All the kids took turns taking pictures of me and Arnold :) Before we left the waitress gave us a free dessert for our anniversary! I thought that was so sweet! we got to pick, and I picked the chocolate one (of course!) She gave us all spoons so we could share. It was gone in 2 seconds. It was delicious!!

My anniversary gift was this new Vera purse I had been wanting forever!! Ok so I really picked it out but its from Arnold ;) The bad weather made it take forever to get here, but its here now and I love it! 

On our way up the mountain. I had to take pictures of everything ;)

We went to dinner down the road from our hotel and I got grilled shrimp! It was yummy. And Arnold got steak. we even sat on the same side of the booth together (awww ;) 

We went to the movies after dinner. Arnold wanted to take his picture with the Deadpool sign. We went to see Dirty Grandpa with Robert Deniro and Zac Efron. It was pretty crude! I knew it would be silly but it was pretty over the top. Probably wouldn't recommend it. Although it was funny. The theater we went to was old and the room we went into had the heat out!! They warned us beforehand but they said it wouldnt be that bad! Yeah right!! I was freezing and Arnold even let me have his coat (poor Arnold ;) They didn't even give us a discount on our tickets! But we still had fun and we always seem to have a story when we go out together.

Outside our hotel. It was SUCH a nice hotel! Cozy and beautiful and they even had a fire going in the lobby. They had a game room on our floor although we didn't go play any! They had a pool and a free breakfast and everything. It was really nice. 

We got back from the movies around midnight and got into our pjs. Representing my panthers of course! ;) We had a king size bed and all the space was sooo nice. We woke up as far apart from each other as we possibly could be! ;)

We asked this nice guy in the lobby to take a picture of us in front of the fire before we left saturday morning. I was so scared to ask him but he was the nicest guy ever! Too bad you cant really see the fire any ;) 

We had to hit up the outlet stores, and of course I got lots of things for the kiddos and a few things for a friend's new baby and stuff like that... There was still lots of snow up there so Arnold took a picture to show the kids. I'm sure a few people gave him the side eye on this one ;)

Arnold wanted to go to the Mast General store downtown. We were looking for things to take back for the kids. We picked out some pretty rocks for Brooke, a book for Caleb,and a stuffed squirrel for Rachel. They all loved their gifts. We didn't buy candy although there was a lot there! 

We did pick us up some drinks for the car ride though!! Drinks taste so much better in glass bottles! 

Arnold took this when we got to the hotel. I loved the cozy, rustic vibe :)

We even stopped and got a car wash, haha. We got salt all over our van from the roads. 

I saw this most adorable rock owl family at the mast general store. I didn't get it but I sure did love it!