First off, Happy Halloween and Happy Birthday to me! This weekend was absolutely wonderful and today has been fantastic so far. I will start with today because it is my birthday and I want too! This morning the kids got up and told me "Happy Birthday" with hugs and kisses. J got them dressed and took them to school so I could sleep. Then he brought me breakfast in bed, so thoughtful. I also opened all my birthday cards I have gotten in the mail. I got up and J, Red and I went grocery shopping. We picked the kids up from school and went to Olive Garden for my birthday lunch, yummy. I have been so blessed today, when we got home GG and Monkey brought me the card they had made last night. It was so cute. On the front it said Happy Birthday Mommy! From: Your Snuggle Puppies. I opened it up and on the inside was a picture of J and all 3 kids in their pj's. It was super sweet. In about an hour we are going to get the kids dressed up and start trick or treating! Now to back track...Friday J bought me my birthday present and made me open it right away. It was a new CD of Casting Crowns, a new wallet (since the other one got destroyed) and a 2 pound bag of Twizzlers. That night we carved pumpkins...Monkey didn't like the goop. That was a good time. Saturday morning we got up early and picked up our babysitter, took GG and Monkey to g&g A's house, then we headed to our wedding. About the reception: It was the oddest experience for me in a long time. I saw a girl who lived on my floor freshmen year of college there. Also a girl I went to school with at my dad's when I was in 6th and 7th grade. Another thing that happened is one of J's co-workers got hammered he came up to us and put his arm around J and me then proceeded to tell J how *hot* I was, especially since I have already had 3 kids, he told us how we are going to have the last laugh because we had kids young and we did it the right way. (He was about 34 when his twins were born.) He told us to stick together and we would be alright and that we would have ups and downs. Then he told us we need to keep *banging* (J laughed so hard when he used that word, I think more out of shock that he said bang!) and that J should try and get me pregnant that night. It was very funny. He was so wasted. I was afraid to let go of him for the fear he might fall down. But he kept telling us the same stuff mentioned above over and over for about 20 minutes. This guy is normally a really great guy and he never drinks alcohol or caffeine unless at a wedding. Anyways, it was nice to be at the reception kid free so that J and I could dance. Red only needed me 2 times during the reception so I missed about 40 minutes total, not bad. I love going to weddings it just reminds me how much I love my husband and I am so glad to be married to him. He's my ONE & ONLY.

Today was the big "Apple Day" at school, it was so much fun. We played games, made a apple tree snack, had gym time and then ate a real big snack of all types of apple snacks. We had apple muffins, sliced apples and caramel dip, apple juice, apple chips, and applesauce...YUMMY. J took care of Red for most of the morning then brought him to school just in time for the big snack so J got to have some too! Oh yeah, J got the kids costumes done and they look pretty good. Last night GG and Monkey wore them to Cubbies, they were so excited about that. We also bought pumpkins yesterday and when J gets home from subbing we are going to be carving them. Then we are going to go outside rack leaves and play in this nice fall weather. Tomorrow is going to be crazy. We are getting up early and picking up our babysitter, taking the kids (GG and Monkey) to J's parents for the day and then they are spending the night, we have a wedding at 2pm the reception at 6pm and we are spending the night in the hotel. Sunday we are coming back and my dad offered to watch the kids so J and I could go out by ourselves for my birthday. I haven't had a chance to talk to J to see what he has planned for my birthday. Then Monday is trick or treating!!!! Fun times.

It is 1pm and it is the quietest around here. GG is doing homework and the boys are sleeping. On the topic of school the other day I gave GG 3 green beans to eat for dinner. I didn't know that J had already given her 4, she looks at me and says, "If I eat those I will have eaten 7 green beans." I told her, "I only gave you 3." She says, "But daddy gave me 4 to begin with." So I asked J and sure enough he had given her 4, I just couldn't believe how fast she knew what 3 + 4 was! I had to laugh right now she is doing her homework and this is what you would hear if you were here! "So you can stay and play" or "Come again another day." The right ones can stay and the wrong answer come again :) And that is *the girl*. Now you would have to know J to understand this but he is a nut. He got an email with a "car commercial" in it. At the beginning it tells you while they filmed the commercial the saw a ghost by the car and that you can hear the camera guy talking about it if you turn the speakers way up. At the end of the commercial this lady jumps out and screams. J shows the kids as they are sitting on my lap, I know what is going to happen and so does J but they don't. It was hilarious...they both jumped and GG started shacking. J played the video back for them slowly and showed them that it was a lady dressed up in makeup. Then he shows them a screen that has black and white checkers and a ball in the middle that is also checkered. You are suppose to stare at the checkers for 20 seconds then you will see something special. Well it is a big fat nake butt farting. The kids laughed and laughed at that one. Monkey aka *the boy* loves those types of things and has asked to see more, he really does have his dad's sense of humor!!! Red has learned that he has hair :) He has always loved feeling my hair and GG's but the last couple of days he has figured out that he has hair on top of his head. It is funny to see him open and close his hand so he can feel his hair. He is such a gently baby. He is also getting very close to rolling...my world is about to change. And that is it for *the baby* . I have a sad note to add: I don't think the kids are going to get to be m&m's because J hasn't been able to get the customs done. I am hoping that maybe in the next couple of days he might be able to do them. Tonight I think we might go get some pumpkins to carve, that is if J isn't too tired. If not today then tomorrow for sure.

Well the weekend is over. J informed me today that he has training on Tuesday and Wednesday, which is good because he will get to be home with us at night. Plus, Thursday starts his days off and on top of that he took Sunday off because Saturday we are going to a wedding where we are staying in a hotel because it is a few hours from where we live. To make it even better he took Monday off because it is my birthday and to take the kids trick or treating. It is going to be great having him home all those days I have a feeling I am not going to want him to go back to work. But the bad part about all of this is that I am going to be home in the morning by myself getting the kids ready for school and then taking them. It is nice having J home in the morning because he usually gets the kids ready and takes them to school or gets them ready and I take them to school. Just so I can get a little more sleep. Anyways, I have a little more time before I need to make dinner. The kids are occupied, Red is sleeping and the two older ones are coloring, they just got done painting. So I don't know why but J and I started looking for a bigger house, not that we *need* a bigger house. We found a house in the same town that has one more bedroom and a basement in our price range. I just don't think I want to try selling this house yet or pack up and move. I really like our neighborhood (location close to school), neighbors and house. I don't think we are going to peruse the house we saw. Most of my day has been housework and extra cleaning I don't normally have the chance to get too. The only reason for that is that we are having company over, and I'm really not one to clean just for company but it was a great motivator today. I am really excited about Friday, GG is having a special day at school "Apple Day" and I am going to be helping!!!

AWE, Fridays. I love Fridays because we get to sleep in tomorrow. At least I hope we do. J is getting up early and going to help his dad with some cement. I am all for him helping his dad on their house, because hopefully he will learn some home improvement type stuff. It is so much cheaper to fix/remodel things yourself then pay someone else to do it. Today was interesting, I took 3 kids to school to pick up Market Day! A nice young boy helped me bring it out to the van. I really like their food. Oh and J informed me earlier today that Red said his first word on Wednesday when I went to go pick up Jess. It was Mama! I thought he was kidding because Red has been doing this new thing were he goes, "Mmmmm...Mmmm." Then he spits bubbles. When he does that I usually say, "Mama" and he laughs at me. But J said that he said Mama as clear as day, but only once. Red is also getting close to rolling, he is so goofy. He seriously looks like he wants to fly when he is on his stomach. He puts his legs up in the air and his arms behind him so that the only thing on the ground is his big old tummy. I am secretly glad he isn't moving even though J really wants him to start rolling so he can crawl and so on. Well that is it for now...

Now that it is a day later, I will finish my post I had to go to school to bring J's his lunch that he had forgot to bring, he was subbing. So I grabbed food for the kids too and we ate at school with him. Then last night J and I went out on a date. Jess came over to watch the kids, they really like her too. We went to see Flight Plan and then out to eat. Ok if you are thinking, wow they must of spent a ton of money, we didn't. I got a free movie ticket and concession card at the end of last year from one of my students = free movie, popcorn, and drink. We went to eat at Chipotle and J had a coupon for a free burrito there that we used. We got home and J took Jess home and I gave the kids baths. When J got home the kids were in bed and so he started wrestling with me. My nose hurts today. He threw me on the bed and started tickling me and when I went to get up his head hit my nose. Then we both started laughing as tears ran down my face, I couldn't help it. I laid back down on the bed and Red then kicked me in the nose. He thought it was funny too and his little arms and legs were going as fast as they could. It was funny but my nose hurts today! This morning we all got up and got ready. J went on GG's field trip to the (I forgot the name) Nature Center. And I took Red to his 5 month check up. He is 26 inches and 17 lbs 7 oz, what a big boy. He didn't get a shot today because she thought he might be coming down with something from looking in his nose. He does sound a little congested. But other than that he looks happy and healthy. We don't have to go back until he is 8 months old. Later today the kids have Cubbies and we need to go grocery shopping. J has been debating weather or not he is going to attend a batcheral party. That word doesn't look right but I don't want to look it up. He goes between going and staying home to make the kids Halloween customs. I don't think I mentioned this yet but the kids are going to be M & M's this year. GG is going to be a yellow mega m&m, Monkey a green normal m&m, and Red a red mini m&m. They are going to look super cute in their customs. I'm going to make sure to take pictures this year. Last year with being pregnant I had a brain spasm and I don't have any pictures of them in their customs. Ok my family is home I want to hear all about GG's field trip so later!

Yesterday was J's first day off. Red and I went to playgroup like we always do on Tuesday mornings. Then we picked the kids up from school and went out to eat at Photo's, Yummy. Came home and had the boys take naps, because we got our family picture taken. Boy I'm glad we only have to do that once a year! I'll just say that Red posed the best. When we got home it was really nice out so J and GG went fishing and the boys and I played outside until dinner time. After we ate J was on the computer with Red in his lap and I was cleaning up the kitchen. The next thing I knew J had Red in the sling and he was vacuuming the kitchen floor for me. ***Warning TMI!!!*** J looked so HOT wearing Red and helping clean the kitchen. The best part is I didn't even ask him to help. I had a LLL meeting last night but I ended up not going. I didn't feel the greatest and I wanted to spend time with J, so we snuggled on the couch and watched television. I need to go I'll update more later.

I slept so hard last night I couldn't believe it was morning when the alarm went off at 7:15am. I took the kids to school and I met one of the moms whose daughter sits next to GG. When she figured out I was GG's mom she said, "I am so grateful for GG. She has been such a blessing to Olivia." That was so sweet to hear. Now Olivia has had a hard time getting used to school and her mom works at the school. When she has a bad day GG cheers her up and basically has befriended her and helped her enjoy being at school. That's my little girl. Today was her "boyfriends" birthday and they went to McDonalds for lunch and invited us to go too. After the kids got done eating we let them play. All the boys played together and GG went off and made some new friends. We were already there with *her* friends! Then we came home and Monkey and Red took naps and GG did her homework and played. When the boys woke up we went outside. It was absolutely gorgeous out. Our neighbors had a ton of leaves in their yard so I asked if I could rack them in a pile for the kids to play in, of course they said YES! They played in those leaves for almost 2 hours with an occasional bike ride up and down the block. Leaves are so fun and they are free entertainment :) Then we came inside so I could make dinner and eat. After dinner it was bath time and then bedtime. When I got Red ready for bed there was a leaf in his diaper. Now that I think about it I am wondering how it got there. He had on a sleeper and the only leaves that got near him were ones that were falling from the tree. Hmmm...interesting! I must say I got some really cute pictures of the kids playing outside though.

What a nightmare that J and I went through last night. J came home to the diaper bag in the middle of the garage where his car is suppose to be. Red's door was open in the van and the garage smelled of lighter fluid. Then he looks a little closer and sees that the glove box was open in the van and things are thrown all over the place. He comes in the house to tell me what happened and to find out what was in the van. The kids and I went to my dad's and gas was 10 cents cheaper there so I filled my van up. I had thrown my wallet on the passenger side and when we left my dad's we had three new blanket that I had thrown on top of my wallet. Well they looked under the blankets and had found my wallet and it was gone, along with a can of lighter fluid J uses for grilling. The fluid was in the garage not the van by the way. So we called the police and made a report. I started calling and canceling credit cards and debit cards. Then J called a few places to put my info on alert in case someone tried to use my info it protects against identity theft. I did not sleep well at all last night. Someone had gone in our garage and our van I felt and still feel very violated. Then this morning the phone rang and it was J's work, someone had found my wallet and saw his business card in it and called. So I have my wallet back and absolutely everything in it. Well except for some change totaling about 75 cents. I went around and talked to the neighbors today to let them know what happened and to see if they saw anything. Most of them were completely shocked and most of them said they leave their garage doors unlocked and same with their cars so it really could of happened to anyone of us. My one neighbors leave their keys in the car with the door unlocked well not anymore and they have been doing that for 40 years. I am just grateful for the person who found my wallet and turned it in.

Well today has been kind of a long day since I didn't get much sleep last night. GG woke up last night crying and when I went to check on her she was obviously sleeping, "I can't make the letter w. I can't make the letter w. Why can't I make it?" I told her it was ok because I have seen her make the letter w and I knew she was having a bad dream. And she laid back down. Then about 10 minutes later she was up again whimpering. So I went in to see if maybe she needed to go potty and she said no. So again I went back to bed long enough to put the covers on when I hear her "mommy I need to go potty." I got up yet again to help her and I was so tired at this point I grabbed her pillow and blanket and put it in my bed. When she was done going to the bathroom I told her to get in my bed and I am so glad I did. It was 2am when all was said and done. Then at 4:15 she jumped up and started screaming. I was right next to her to reassure her she was ok and she went back to sleep. Then Monkey came into to my room a little while after that, I told him to go back to bed because daddy was sleeping in the bed with him. But NO he wanted me!!! He ignored me and ended up sleeping on my bedroom floor. Oh yeah I forgot to mention that this morning J and Monkey left at 5:30am to go fishing. So it was 5 something in the morning and J was looking for a missing little Monkey. We found him on my bedroom floor freezing because he didn't have a blanket. What kids will do to be close to their mothers! GG, Red and I got up early this morning too because GG had a birthday party at Chuck E Cheese. This was the first time she had ever been there and did she have fun. They gave her a cup of tokens and she got to dance with the Chuck E Cheese mouse. Then after all that she got to pick out a prize with the tickets she had won. It was a great time for her but now she wants her party there! J told her that maybe we would go there as a family. We got home to J and Monkey sleeping, they were tired from the extremely early morning. J's work called to see if he could come in early and he did. So I packed up the kids and headed to my dad's house for the afternoon. I took the two older kids to the park while Red was sleeping in my dad's arms. I can't wait til Red can join in on the fun with the his big brother and sister. We are just about to eat dinner so I thought I would update while the two older kids were occupied and the baby Tanner is sleeping. Ok I just realized that all I wrote about Red was he slept. But he did pass some gas today when he was laughing and giggling historically. That word doesn't look right but I'm to lazy to check the right spelling! Sorry.

Remember that goofy about GG and butt wipes? Well apparently it is all over the school. And I wish I had a penny for every time someone tells me how much fun their child had when J subbed. The kids love him. This morning J got in his uniform and went to school to speak to Monkey's class, since he was going to school and in uniform he also went to GG's class for her show and tell. She did a great job explaining what J did and what things were that the teacher gave her another pink card. That makes 3 pink cards in one week. That is pretty great. While everyone was gone Red and I took a bath together, he is getting so big and really good at sitting up. As I gave him a bath I thought about how much I love the baby stage. Then I thought about how there really hasn't been a stage/age I haven't enjoyed. Being mom is so fun. I can't believe my almost 5 month old is 18 pounds and 27 inches. He is definitely a BIG boy :) Our plans for this afternoon is for the kids to take naps/rests and then play outside until the volleyball game. It is yet another beautiful day out. I am thinking about ordering pizza for dinner, it is payday!

This morning was SOOO much fun. J and I went Christmas shopping! We bought our niece and nephew their gifts and we started the long process of getting the kids theirs. We ran out of time before we could completely get all we really wanted to buy. I guess that means we will have to go again!!! I am so excited about what we have gotten so far they are going to love them. I can't believe how different it is to shop for 3 instead of 2, but I love buying things I *know* they will love to play with. It almost makes me want to give them the presents now. Stay tuned...I just got interrupted to help GG make a fort in her room for quiet time! I love the kids imaginations. I told them after Monkey took his nap we would go outside and play it is in the 70's and beautiful out. Tonight the kids have Cubbies so I will be able to sneak in the presents without them knowing :) Well that is it for now.

Goofy story of the day: I picked the kids up from school today and I got GG first. As we were leaving Mrs. Lord who has subbed twice for GG's class comes up to me and asks if I have heard about GG's butt wipe story. I said, "no" as I was thinking...Oh great GG went poop at school and had a hard time wiping her butt. Well it had nothing to do with going potty. So she proceeds to tell me this story about how she got out the *wet* wipes for the kids to clean their hands on before snack. As GG got up to get her wipe she says, "butt wipe." Which, of course, shocks the teacher and the conversation between GG and the teacher goes like this...
Teacher: No, I said wet wipe.
GG: You said butt wipe
Teacher: They are wet wipes
GG: But you said butt wipe
Teacher: I never said that
GG: Yes you did, you said butt wipe (because she has to get the words butt wipe in there)
The teacher said she had the whole class believing that she (the teacher) had called them butt wipes. I was laughing so hard at this point. Then she tells me that she told my mother in law about it and Sue was laughing and says, "Yep, that sounds like my granddaughter." So GG, Red and I go get Monkey from preschool and Chris, who's daughter Alina is in GG class, was there and I asked her if Alina told her about the butt wipe thing. Of course, she did, she came home talking about using a butt wipe at school and Chris said "WHAT?!?!" then Alina said GG called them butt wipes. So she explained to Alina why GG called them that, because that is what we use them for at our house...wiping Red's butt!!! Honestly kids are so goofy sometimes.

Before I started updating I asked J what he wanted for dinner. I suggested spaghetti and GG says, "How about cinnamon rolls?" I don't know where that one came from! Today was so much fun. We had a blast shopping today...I haven't laughed that hard in a couple of days. You'd have to know J to know I am always laughing:) That is why I have major laugh lines...hehehe. Anyways, J subbed at school today so the kids eat lunch at school and stayed for the after care portion. They had fun, maybe too much fun! I got home about 2 minutes before the crew came home. GG was so excited about getting a pink card today that was the first thing she did was show me. On the card it said "For knowing the answer to 'what land did Columbus discover?'" so I asked her the question and she beams, "AMERICA!" Well I need to go make dinner I've got a meeting tonight.

So today is Sunday and J's first day off of work. We went to church where we were told that GG should really take piano lessons. She was sitting at the piano in children's church and the two teachers said it sounded like she was really playing a song. J and I talked and I think we are going to sign her up for lessons and maybe even get her a keyboard...if grandma doesn't have hers anymore. She never stops amazing us! She's a real quick learner, too. It only took her 10 minutes to learn how to tie her shoes. There are 1st and 2nd graders that don't know how to do that:) Ok enough about that. After church we went to the video store and the kids each got to pick out a movie and J picked one out it was his turn. He got Hitched and I am really looking forward to seeing it. It was one I would've chosen. When we checked out J got some poprocks candy. Now if you have never had those before they pop in your mouth. The kids have never had them before so they got to try them. It was really funny watching their faces. It is the little things that make us laugh/smile. We like giving the kids new experiences and we try to let them do something new each week but sometimes that doesn't happen but sometimes they get to try 2 or 3 new things in a week. Life is learning!!! I am excited about tomorrow. Red and I are meeting my mom and grandma in Rockford for a day of shopping. I am going to try and get J's Christmas presents. I hope I will have success but we'll see. If nothing else I will have gotten to spend the day with two pretty amazing women and one handsome little boy!

Well I must say that the "practicing" has worked really well. Yesterday GG was on her bike (without training wheels) and Monkey on his bike (with training wheels) and we took a walk around the block. It is funny to watch those two on their bikes because they look like they could be twins. Anyways, we went around the block and he didn't need any help and he was almost able to keep up with GG. She has started a new thing on her bike as well...she now can stand up and peddle. Sometimes I think that girl is too coordinated for her own good and coupled with the fact that she has no fear it is scary. She was cracking me up when she was doing her homework. They have to cross out the words that didn't start with O and circle the ones that did. She would circle and say, "You can play today" then when it wasn't an O word she crossed it out and said, "come again another day" it was really pretty cute. Not to mention she sticks her tongue out while doing her homework. This morning she was coming down from her bed and I picked her up and carried her down and I couldn't believe how big she has gotten. The time has really flown by me. I just can't believe in a few short months she will be 5 years old. Tonight the kids have Cubbies and they are so excited they really love going there and I really love that they go there and learn more about the Bible. And it is always fun for Red and I get some quiet at night time!!! Speaking of Red we have a new game. He will be laying down and I will startle him by saying Boo. And he just laughs. Then we do it again. He watches me very closely trying to figure out when his funny mommy will say it again. We can play this game for at least an hour and not get bored. He is such a fun little guy and SOOO happy. Well my smallest blessing just pooped so I need to go change him...later.

Warning this may or may not be funny to you! But it was to us :) J and I were eating Walnuts and Monkey asked, "what are you guys eating?" J said, "Walnuts" Monkey then said, "Why are you nuts?" Ok maybe you had to be there but the way he said it was hilarious. This morning Red and I went to playgroup and two of our members were sick but we had fun anyways. This afternoon we are going to go outside so Monkey can "practice" riding his big boy bike. Last night he got it out and was able to peddle up and down the street. Before he would get stuck half way down the block and need help not anymore. He was so happy with himself so I told him we could "practice" some more today.

It is Monday, I really have mixed feelings about Mondays...my favorite show is on Monday but I hate getting up early to start the school week. Today was great because my wonderful husband got up and got the kids ready and took them to school so I could sleep. It was a difference between getting up at 7:15 and 9am. I feel very well rested. J and I recorded Red while the kids were at school and also went to the store. Then I went by myself to get the kids from school. I picked GG up first and she got another pink card. I was so happy. Everyday the teacher sends home either a blue card= they were bad, a yellow card= they had a good day or a pink card= the had an exceptionally great day. On Friday she got a pink card for sharing her show and tell toy with her classmates. Then today she got another pink one for helping a friend who was sad. J signed up for GG's first field trip she is going to be tickled to death to have him there. She loves being with him...we all do :) Now it is only Monday and GG has already chosen her show and tell for Friday, I think she likes show and tell! Well Monkey and Red are napping and GG is watching a movie so I really should be doing some productive things. We have a volleyball game to watch at 4:30...