Watch out world!

And here is to a new hobby of mine - So we live down on the border, and when the boys and I go hiking we see signs that say.. "Caution Illegal Immigrants or Smuggling" Nice, just what I want to run into. We have been safe every time we go hiking but I thought it was about time to get a gun. Yes ladies (and gentlemen) I'm getting a gun. My friend Brandon took me out shooting his hand gun and I did REALLY good!

It took some getting use to but I stay pretty central, and I hit the box every time. But check out this next picture.

Can you see that BULLS EYE?!!! I was so excited! So I'm looking around and getting ready to shoot some more, and different types of guns. I want to get a real good feel for what I'm shooting before I buy one. It's a rush to shoot a hand gun and brings such a sense of power. Steve's gun is to heavy for me to use so it wouldn't do me any good. so getting a smaller one is the plan. Arizona is an open carry state, which means that any one can carry a gun at any time (minus going into a school, church hospital, or bar) as long as it is showing. Eventually I'ld like to get my concealed weapon's permit. I'll have a safe to put it in so no worries about coming to my house. So I think this will be my new hobby....

{Dirty Little Secret}

So, the husband has been in Afghanistan for almost a month, and well I couldn't wait. I'm letting you all know now so if you happen to pop in you won't be surprised. I'm having an affair. There I said it! Now you all know "my dirty little secret". And... well.... I'm sure many of you know these two, yes I said two..{wonderful} men as well.... Don't deny it, you know it's true. Let me introduce you to BEN & JERRY. So after I put the boys to bed I settle down into the couch and watch my TV shows or turn a movie on, and bring on the Ben & Jerry's. And boy - oh boy, they have been wonderful!

"Americone Dream"

'Imagine Whirled Peace" {two very appropriately named ice cream while the husband is over seas}
And who is the genius behind this??!! These smaller serving sizes are perfect!! And when all the dishes are dirty, they even come with there own little spoon.

I'm sure Ben & Jerry have made the rounds with the women... and they have won my heart. Sorry Sweetheart, I found a love while you are gone.

{Edited....The husband is now at home and safe. Ben and Jerry still frequent the house, just not as often. }

{Edited again.... I broke this post into two so some of the comments may not make sense if you want to read what many people in the comments are talking about... go here My new hobby}

Tim is TWO!!!

Can you believe that my baby is 2!! I can't. Time really does fly when you're having fun. Tim decided that he would be up with a Bang this morning... literally. He was bugging James when he got up to go to the bathroom (at 5:00AM), next thing I heard was James push Tim and him falling to the floor (the bang) and then the cry. So why not be awake at 5:00, Tim and I hung out this morning while the sun came up. He got a great call from Dad, to wish him a Happy Birthday.

Two years ago Tim decided that he was done cooking 10 weeks early, and made his way into this world. He was so small at 3lbs 7 oz. The heart rate cuff that they put on him was to small for Steve's thumb!

Before he left the NICU he got down to 2 lbs 12 oz! But we were greatly blessed in that other than just being early, and small (which he wasn't small for being 30 weeks) he was a healthy baby. We were prepared for the possibility of surgeries and stuff but he didn't' need any.

And today we have a happy, healthy, mischievous, destructive, wonderful two year old. He has a strong will and fights for what he wants. There is no distracting here. He is focused enough to keep coming back to the same activity every time he is pulled away. He keeps me on my toes. He is willing to do everything that his brothers are doing, and sometimes more. Which is nice because he's not afraid of a challenge. Tim, I love you and you make me so happy!

As per James and Tommy, we are having round chocolate cake with purple and orange frosting. The older boys helped with the cake and wrapping presents. All the while talking about who's birthday it is... "who gets to blow out the candles?" "who gets to open the presents, and play with the toys first?"

So we had Mac'n'Cheese for dinner and then cake. Purple was actually a good choice because it is the only color that Tim can say.

Tim didn't get a full nap today so on the one side you see his irritated look and then I finally got him to smile. The poor thing ran into a book shelf and the bookshelf won and left a mark on his face.

Picking at the cake....

I guess it was good. He couldn't get it in fast enough. I guess it was good.

He loved this car. It's a Lighting McQueen, that you shake and it goes by itself. It ended u going to bed with him lucky you can turn it off)

This was a game that I found that looked like fun for all the boys, "Elefun" It was so fun, and the boys had a really fun time. You put the little 'butterflies' in the trunk of the elephant and turn it on and the butterflies fly up and you try to catch it in the nets. Tim liked watching them fly up but then pick them off the ground. James and Tommy ran around trying to catch them in their nets. It was a fun time with the 4 of us.

(as a side note.... I opened all the presents and took them out of the boxes and put in batteries and stuff that way at least the tears won't be because I'm taking to long to get it out of the box I'm totally doing that for Christmas. Do it all ahead of time.)

Happy Birthday Tim we all love you!!

{Steve is in Afghanistan now and is safe}

Hazardeth to your Health!

So I was running Friday morning... going along my merry way and BAM a huge (ok, not so huge, but for the sake of my ego we are going to say huge,but not big enough to see, do you have the rock pictured?)... A huge rock came out from no where and tripped me! I know, I was just as shocked as you are. So I have come to the conclusion that running is hazardeth to you health. (and yet I'm still doing it). I came home bloody and scraped, but ok, and in one piece. So Saturday I ran again....

I did 6 miles on Saturday (yeah I'm pretty proud of myself) This whole marathon thing is a crazy idea, but I just might make it through... Anyway, after I got home I decided that the boys and I would go for a hike. They have been asking to have a picnic in the mountains, and Saturday was as good a day as any. So we packed up and went. Now when I say "hike" it's more like a jont through the woods. James and Tommy are collecting rocks to throw in the stream, we might or might not see. And I have to add that James likes to collect small rocks... 5 of them, and Tommy will find the biggest rock that he can carry. I finally talked him in to putting it down and coming back for it later. Tim is tagging on behind having to stop at every thing he sees and goes out of his way to smoosh the caterpillars that he finds. Lunch is fun, and we always have great conversations. Like James asking "Mom, if you where a bug would you eat flys?" And Tommy's wondering if the stick would grow into a tree. Tim is happy with his fruit snacks. But we also have serious conversations, and after talking about missions I have been informed that James will be serving a mission in New Zealand {like daddy}, and Tommy wants to go to Michigan{??} Our meal times are always interesting... No matter where we are.
People can clearly tell that James is my child, even Tommy looks enough like me to tell that he is mine. But this picture of Tim... this is totally Steve.

We went for a walk after lunch and James and Tommy ran up ahead. When I took this picture of Tim little did I know he had a secret waiting for me.... A really bad diaper! Totally up the back, and we are in the wilderness for goodness sakes!!!
I wish Steve was here but I'm happy that I get to be here and have these moments with the boys. Dirty faces, poopy diapers, wet boys and all.

Was it worth the Price?

So I got a couple emails that really made me think, and rather than forwarding them I thought I would post them. I want you women to think about voting... do you do it or are you to busy with kids to get to the polls? Is it a right that we take for granted, a privilege we have forgotten about? And our freedom...something we just deserve because we were born here, or a privilege that we have to defend? This is kind of long but I think it was worth it so take a moment to read through this and watch the short clip at the end.

This the story of our Grandmothers and Great-grandmothers; they lived only 90 years ago.

Remember, it was not until 1920 that women were granted the right to go to the polls and vote.The women were innocent and defenseless, but they were jailed nonetheless for picketing the White House, carrying signs asking for the vote.
(Lucy Burns)

And by the end of the night, they were barely alive. Forty prison guards wielding clubs and their warden's blessing went on a rampage against the 33 women wrongly convicted of 'obstructing sidewalk traffic.' They beat Lucy Burns, chained her hands to the cell bars above her head and left her hanging for the night, bleeding and gasping for air.
(Dora Lewis)

They hurled Dora Lewis into a dark cell, smashed her head against an iron bed and knocked her out cold. Her cell mate, Alice Cosu, thought Lewis was dead and suffered a heart attack. Additional affidavits describe the guards grabbing, dragging, beating, choking, slamming, pinching, twisting and kicking the women.

Thus unfolded the 'Night of Terror' on Nov. 15, 1917, when the warden at the Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia ordered his guards to teach a lesson to the suffragists imprisoned there because they dared to picket Woodrow Wilson's White House for the right to vote. For weeks, the women's only water came from an open pail. Their food--all of it colorless slop--was infested with worms.

(Alice Paul)

When one of the leaders, Alice Paul, embarked on a hunger strike, they tied her to a chair, forced a tube down her throat and poured liquid into her until she vomited. She was tortured like this for weeks until word was smuggled out to the press. (you can read about it here)

So, refresh my memory. Some women won't vote this year because- -why, exactly? We have carpool duties? We have to get to work? Our vote doesn't matter? It's raining?

HBO has a movie 'Iron Jawed Angels.' It is a graphic depiction of the battle these women waged so that I could pull the curtain at the polling booth and have my say.

As I read this post and thought about it, something kept coming back to me,'What would those women think of the way I use, or don't use, my right to vote?'

It's interesting to to know that Alice Paul was called insane so that she could be permanently institutionalized. And it is inspiring to know that the doctor refuse. Alice Paul was strong, he said, and brave. That didn't make her crazy. The doctor admonished the men: 'Courage in women is often mistaken for insanity.' We need to get out and vote and use this right that was fought so hard for by these very courageous women. Whether you vote democratic, republican or independent party - remember to vote. History is being made.

Made you think -huh-

Now this next is a clip from a soldier who returned from war. He did it to endorse John McCain, I want you to forget about that and just listen to what he has to his message. Now I couldn't get it to upload so click HERE and it will take you to the clip. (It's less than 2 minutes) Keep watching this man as he walks away....

I love living in this great country, and I have so much respect for the lives that were lost for the right I have to vote, for the right I have to enjoy the freedoms that I do. Please take the time to get to know the canadets, what they stand for, your vote counts!

No Need to worry about me

Well Steve is currently in Kuwait waiting to go to Afghanistan. So that leaves me with three boys and a dog. But no need to worry, I have something that you don't have.....

TWO SUPER HEROES!!

Unfortunately, James and Tommy were no where to be found and missed the meeting of the Super heroes.

And not to be left out, here is Tim who discovered the usefulness of chairs... no, not for sitting, oh no, for standing. He has found the joy of turning on and off the lights, and using a chair make it easier for him to do this. He has also found that if he scoots the chair over to the counter then he can reach all the "off limits" things.... I guess he gets props for problem solving.

A thought on today, 9/11.

I can't believe that it has been 7 years. I was thinking about that day and what followed for us. I got to work and was wondering why the radio station wasn't playing any music. After listening for a bit I realized what was going on. I got to the office and called Steve to tell him to turn on the TV. At the office I was working for we were watching TV and I saw the towers fall. It felt like the wind got knocked out of me. I mean I lived in America, things like that just don't happen. Steve came home that day and we talked about him joining the Army. He felt it was his duty. That day changed our life. I'm so thankful for the men and women who chose to join the military to protect our country. I am thankful, and honor the bravery of the fire fighters that went in to the buildings knowing that they may not make it, but hoping to get just one more person to safety. I hope to live me life as they did, willing to sacrifice.

I'm back...

Well I really didn't go anywhere, just been so busy! I've been working on a project for the surveyor that I'm working for. It's a big project and has been in the works for the past 6 months, and FINALLY it looks like it's going to go forward. I do all the drafting for that, and fortunately I get to work from home. It's really nice, so I put the kids to bed and get to work.

On to funner news..... September 2nd was Tommy's first day of preschool! I was kinda nervous for him. He gets kind of scared in new places and new situations. But he did so good! The only thing that we had to worry about was him finding his name. On all the name signs and stuff it had "Thomas" well Tommy insisted that that wasn't his name. So everything was changed to "Tommy" and he is much happier, and can find his name - no problem.

Last week we had a power outage. Now most are thinking 'No big deal'. But it wasn't just our neighborhood, it was ALL Sierra Vista and all cities around us. It actually was kind of scary because the gas stations were closed, AND the we couldn't get radio stations! So here is what I learned, and I'm hoping this will make you all think as well......

Here is our new Emergency box. What if we had to leave? So you have everything in order? So in our box is.... paper towel, toilet paper, baby wipes, flashlights, batteries, tooth brushes/paste, matches, multi-purpose tool, can opener, water tablets, scriptures, paper plates, plastic utensils, important documents, cash. A word with the important papers... you will want to have COPIES of birth certificates, social security cards, marriage license, a list of any important medical information (diabetic) immunization records, don't forget papers for your pets as well. And a good idea is to laminate these as well. Think... if the power is out no body will take credit cards, so make sure you have cash on hand! On this day if we were asked to leave I didn't even have enough gas to get me to the freeway, so always keep your tank half full, just in case. I post all of this because I know we all have this stuff laying around, but we need to have it all in one spot, to grab it and go. Would you really remember to grab all the important papers? or the can opener? In a state of panic we forget a lot of things. If it's all in one spot, it's just one last thing to think about. Fortunately after the power being on and off all night, and coming back on after being off for only 2 hours, every thing was on and was fine. Like I said, it was scary because it was a really large area, even the base was with out power!

On to better things... Picking apples!

We went to an Apple Orchard, and picked apples one afternoon. This picture really was one of the first taken. It was really hot and they were red and tired even before we started.

Here is James showing off the apples that he picked.

Thankfully we grabber two buckets! On the left we have the good apples off the trees, and on the right we have the apples that Tim "picked" off the ground! We left those out there and took almost 15 pound home with us. (I made a GREAT apple pie) Tim has been loving having apples around to munch on.

Here is Tommy waiting for lunch. He was so tired!

This is the last picture that we took before heading home. It was a great day, but they were ready to go. We'll defiantly do it again!

While Tim is asleep...

So there are some things that we I do with the boys after Tim is down for a nap. And putting the puzzle together is one of them (Tim would rather take the pieces and run away). The puzzle is 150 pieces and I get them started and then they do it them self. It's a puzzle of the USA. Now this is my blog... so I'm totally going to brag about my kids.... James (4) and Tommy (3), know all 50 states, where they are and if I point to it they'll tell me what state it is. I'll say what state is next to 'New York' and they know!(with out looking at a map!!) They also know most of the flags for each state and the state birds. And if you get they started they can name them in alphabetical order. (yes, I am a proud mom) They are starting to want to know where different countries are now. This all started after ready a book called "The Scrambled States of America" by Laura Keller.

Good job boys!!!! (I know some are thinking yeah right.... I can give you references to people who have quizzed the boys on there states)

Another random thing that the boys have taken too..... Chess?!!!

So I've been trying to teach chess to the boys. James is picking it up really quickly, but Tommy is needing a lot of help. The funny thing is they keep asking to play CHEST. I have to keep reminding them that it's CHESS. it just sounds funny to hear them ask to play chest.

And here is a really cute question that James asked this past week....

James: "Mom, do stars grow up to be moons?"

Labor Day, Hiking, Biking, and Going Comando

So what did you do for Labor Day? We went hiking and then hung out with friends by the pool. It was a beautiful day and the boys really loved the water. The boys really love goggles, and James earned a pair of goggles for himself by finishing and passing his first class of swim lessons. I was really proud of James, he did so well and I'll be putting him back into the next class soon.Tommy looked so funny these goggles, he tried on a lot of pairs and finally settled on these. Tommy tried jumping in without floaties (twice) and just sunk to the bottom. At least he's not afraid of the water.Tim was so happy in the pool especially we I let him wade around without the floaty. After we ate dinner he screamed when I tried to put him back in it, so I finally gave in and just stood next to him on the step while he played in the water.

This morning we got up and went for a hike. It was beautiful up in the mountains.... Yes people, we actually have trees and streams down here. It was a really nice hike...ok walk. The boys got to climb on the rocks.

We found some tree trunks and talked about the rings on the inside.

And of course playing in the water. I mean really, what fun is it if you can't play in it and get all muddy?!

Here is a cute picture of Tim. I love that he just pops out of the picture against the back ground.

Tommy decided that he wanted a walking stick. So he must have picked the biggest one he could find. I finally made him put it down after he knocked Tim over twice, bopped James once, and poke me once. He put it in a "special" spot so he can find it again.

Unfortunately, out hike ended on a bad note, with Tommy getting stung three time and James once by some wasps. I was worried about Tommy, wondering if he was allergic to the stings... he's not, and he was a trooper with it.

One evening we went for a walk, I put Tim in the wagon and Tommy and James road their bikes. Well for what ever reason Tommy doesn't put his feet on the peddles. He just walks himself along. It's so funny looking, and in this picture he had his shoes on the wrong feet so it looks really funny watching him. And it take so long for him to a short way. I wonder if a two wheel bike would force him to peddle?

And now the part that you were waiting for....

There really is so long that you can take advantage of the cute butts of babies. James and Tommy are too old (how ever their butts are still cute) but I can still take pictures of Tim. When we are out side it's just easier to let him go rather than worry about swim diapers. And I think he loves the freedom and natural feel.

I love the innocent look on his face.
Here is the other funny thing that happen this week. We were upstairs and I was helping the boys get dressed. I look over at Tommy as he is getting ready to put some shorts on. He takes off his jammie bottoms and well... there is butt out in the open. He wasn't wearing any underwear!!!!! This is not the first time he has gone commando..... I often have to remind him to put some underwear on. I guess we all have out preferences.