Abs

My four girls...I love all of them...and I just couldn't see my life without any of them. I love what each one brings to the family. I love how they all look so much alike...well especially to others...I see all their little differences. This little girl is trying with all her might to crawl. She succeeds to a degree...she can go backwards. This frustrates her...she screeches and one of us come to help her out. She tends to get stuck under the book case. She is loud. You wouldn't think it, she's so little...well not in size but in age, but she can sure let you know she's in the room...or even better...in the building. Abs laughs a lot...she loves playing peek-a-boo. I think she enjoys the her and me time we get twice a week. We talk...she gives me lots of loves and kisses. I love how she just grabs my face and plants a wet kiss on it. She is such a sweet girl...despite the fact she lives on two cat naps a day and STILL doesn't sleep through the night. I sometimes get irritated...but then she grabs my finger and smiles and my heart instantly melts and I am no longer bugged she woke me up...again...for the third time. Every night in my prayers I thank Him for my four beautiful daughters...I like naming them...I ask for a little help with knowing what I need to do for them and how I can be a better mom for their needs. I know they are going through a lot. I'm going through a lot and sometimes we just are all in a bad mood. Oh goodness...I just had a flash forward to when they are teens...scary!!! No, not really. Dan and I talk about it...we look forward to it. Each stage is so different...I wish I had spent more time relishing in the baby stages with the two older ones. It's not that I didn't...it's just I was so young, and life was just crazy. I have since learned what really matters most...and it's not the floors being clean, or laundry all done and put away in a specific order...I enjoy just sitting down and playing with my girls. Letting them get messy...(like the ice cream with Bells at the estate gardens...it took me a moment to just relax and not worry she looked like a homeless, rugrat...she looked like a HAPPY, homeless, rugrat)...it does come clean and if it doesn't...oh well.
It's been a rough couple of days. I have been sick and with no sleep and it just being me, the only adult in this house...it's been a challenge at times. I'm not complaining...it's just been a little tough. The other day I was feeling a little down and so I decided to eat something sweet...I'm usually pretty good...but I was having a moment and remembered there was Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls in the fridge. I thought about baking them, but I decided it would just take too long and so I just ate the dough....3 of them. And then I regretted that decision soon after. Oh well...it tasted good while I was eating it.

We are going through another little rough patch. I'm trying to not think about it...it's hard though...I'm a mom. You want things to be perfect...your kids to be safe from anything and everything. I have a feeling they are...but I still worry they may not. And so we play the waiting game. I hate this game. But it's life...and with prayer, occasional melt downs and lots of cuddles with my girls, I'll try to patiently wait. I'll try not to google too much. Luckily, I have a lot keeping me busy...days go fast, answers will soon come. And then life will be just great once again...not that it isn't now...it will just be super great...especially if my two little ones start sleeping through the night! I do really miss Dan right now...I wish he was here to tell me not to worry...and even though I would go on about how can I NOT worry, he would still be here...to hold my hand and give it a squeeze or just give me a hug and it would help. And it's tough to be so far away from my family right now....to have a Father's blessing for comfort and strength...to be able to just have the support of my mom...she has always been there for the tough times...and my sisters and brother...just to talk....or better yet...get a killer back/head massage. I do look forward to next year...having my husband again under the same roof, being just a day drive away from my parents and siblings...it will be nice.

And the 2 big ones

I can't believe Madison is in Year 4 and Hannah, Year 2! I remember 4th grade...I remember 2nd grade....how can I have children old enough for these grades?! I was a terrible mother and didn't take a "first day of school" picture. It was a crazy morning...I was just happy we got to school on time.

Both the girls have new teachers. Madison wasn't too excited about hers since she was known to be strict but after the first day, she changed her mind and decided her teacher wasn't that bad. Hannah was a little sad she didn't get the teacher Madison had when she was in Year 2, she just had a baby, but she's doing fine with her 2 teachers. She's been doing so well with her reading lately. She is fantastic at math...she hates reading. I bought her some horse books the other day and she's really liking those so reading hasn't been so boring!

Madison has started gymnastics. Hannah would have liked to but they are only doing it for Key Stage 2 at their school. They both have started Judo and LOVE it. I love it since it's done at the school and I don't have to pick them up until 1630. Madison and Hannah did "Own a Pony" day twice over the summer holiday and they liked it so much they have started riding lessons. I was able to watch them and I was in total shock that they were just riding them without anyone holding them and steering them and getting them to stop all by themselves. Madison was even riding the pony that was being moody with the other horses and she kept him at a distance from the other ponies just like the lady told her to. I don't look forward to taking them when it starts raining...oh what a muddy mess....oh and it's so expensive! But they love it...and I like that it's not cowboy style.

I just felt I should post on the older girls. They have been doing so well. They miss Dan but it really hasn't affected them. I am so glad I decided to stay in England instead of moving. I strongly believe it then would have totally torn their world upside down not having their dad and losing all their friends. They are excited to go back to the states eventually...they told me I can leave to visit their dad anytime. I know their plan...they just want to stay at my parent's!

Bells first day of school

Bells started at the Montessori school. It's the same one Hannah went to. I was so excited that they took 2 year olds. And so Bells had her first day on the 5th. She was excited at first and then as soon as I was about to leave she started crying. She was over it as soon as she didn't see me anymore. She's funny like that. She only goes 2 days a week. Just enough. She is really enjoying it now. She doesn't really cry when I drop her off anymore. She does have her Minnie Mouse slippers to wear after all. She is a tornado there too. I do have to mention that on her first day when I went to go pick her up, I was a little early so I jetted across the glass windows so she wouldn't see me while they were doing story time. I then hear a tap on the window and it's one of her teachers telling me to come over and have a look inside. There are all the kids listening to the story sitting oh so nicely on the floor and then there is Bells, rocking away on the rocking chair not even caring that story time is going on. She does her own thing
obviously. We talk about what she did when we're in the car...she does her talking...with occasional words I can make out but usually she passes out mid sentence. It's been really good for her. She is more social with people so that's been nice. She was even saying "bye" to some of the parents when we were leaving. I think she's enjoying it so much that she's going to be upped to 3 days a week next term...okay...so I'm enjoying my time with just Abs. With the big girls back in school, I don't know why I ever complained with 2 kids! Seriously...just with 2 of them gone....life it easy. Oh, I have to include this little message from one of her teachers:

"Hello. A Bells update. She loves it. She settled well today, very well!! We caught her with 10 cookies in her hands...With the biggest smile on her face. (I had to laugh) She loves to get the scissors and just spends ages snipping. She rang the bell today, (the one we use to get the children's attention,) I think she realised she shouldn't have rang it, as she then covered her eyes, and tried to hide, but sadly she walked into the cupboard, as she couldn't see where she was going. She loves to be outside, and looks very sweet wearing the fireman's hat. "

I just love my little tornado. She's pretty cute...and very sweet. Like Wednesday when we went to the Commissary...she was so well behaved. She walked right by me the whole time...except after we went down the bread aisle and she saw the refrigerators. She went running to the coffee creamer section and opened the door and grabbed the creamer Dan uses and said, "Daddy this." I got a little teary eyed. And she put it right back when I told her we didn't need that right now since Daddy is working far away. She is my little love bug.

The Wizard of Oz

Madison, Hannah and I went down to London to see The Wizard of Oz at the Palladium. We actually went on a bus...they were selling tickets on base...I find it so much easier taking the girls that way rather than the train. They are exhausted by the time the show is over and trying to catch the tube and then train would have been a nightmare! We LOVED it! The set was amazing...the show was amazing...they had amazing voices....it was just amazing! And I was surprised that they had "American accents!"

Madison was not in the mood to take a picture....so we have Hannah and Madison holding the book.

Such a great time walking around Oxford Street and Piccadilly Circus with my girls. We spent a good portion of our time in Hamley's Toy Shop. I think my girls could have spent forever in there. I loved seeing their faces light up....with the toys...and then watching the show. It was a great night...and I was so happy to spend it with my Madison and Hannah.

Sesame Street

And so we went on base today to return a movie. We skipped church...I was BEYOND tired. It was a rough night...Abs hasn't been feeling to hot lately and I've been a single mom for over 2 months and dealing with the no sleeping thing my two youngest kids have been doing for pretty much the whole time Dan has been gone...I can take a day off. I ran into someone...and they asked if we were going to see Sesame Street. I was totally not planning on it...but Madison mentioned how she thought Bells would really enjoy it since I had just taken them to see The Wizard of Oz (I got to post on that) and so we should take Bells to see it. The girls and I went to the park to kill time and then headed to the Youth Center to wait in line. We were one of the first people there and so we were sitting in the front. I was concerned with Bells and how she was going to be...okay...I was really worried she was going to be running all over the place but she didn't. I wish I had my camera...I wasn't planning on going remember...and so I missed capturing her face when Elmo came out...and Cookie Monster. So, so, so cute! She's turn around to see me, mouth wide open and say, "Mom! Look!" It was so sweet. She doesn't even watch the show and she was excited. She clapped and would turn around to make sure I was clapping after they were done singing a song. I HAVE to take her to see Disney on Ice if it's here again. The other girls were good. Abs sat on my lap and gave me kisses pretty much throughout the whole show, and Madison and Hannah held on to their awesome light spinning thing we got for free! We had a great time. I was just thrilled to be there and see my Bells so happy. And it was super sweet seeing her older sisters excited for her. I just love my family...I love my girls. I'm so blessed.

I did get some pictures of the girls at the park....

Why...

Today while we were eating lunch on base today at Subway, I had to do laundry there since my dryer has decided to die, Hannah and I had a conversation like this:

"Mum, why did you ask God for so many kids?"
(I told them that's how you have a baby....still a little young for the sex talk."

"Because what would I do without any of you. I love the chaotic, fun and craziness they goes on in our house. Don't you?"

"No. I think you should have asked Him for just one kid. Just me."

My sister reminded me of how we use to wish it was just the 2 of us. It was all about having our own rooms. Now I am happy I had to share. I love my sisters and brother. It's so nice when we all get together...it's been awhile but when I'm back in the states it will be easier...it's chaos and just feels like my other "home" when were all gathered at my parent's house. I hope that will be the same for Dan and my girls. Even though my siblings and I don't always talk, well one of them I do but if I don't my nephew notices, we know we will always be there for eachother...even if we don't agree.

Audley End House

It was such a gorgeous day last Friday, the girls and I went and explored. We didn't go into the house...me with 4 kids alone walking around just didn't seem like a great idea. It's not bad with the older ones I just didn't want to chance it with the 2 younger ones. And so we walked around the gardens. It was so nice to feed the ducks, pet the horses and just sit and watch the girls run around on the grass. They had ice cream....Bells enjoyed it....

I love this picture of these 2. Hannah can be such a sweet and caring older sister.

And then my camera ran out of battery.

Oh well...we had a lovely day...and the sun was out the whole day!

Bells is 2!

I'm a little behind on blogging. I haven't had my computer set up since Dan has left and I can't stand blogging on my iPod...it just takes too long!

Bells turned the terrific age of 2 on the 28th of August. We had a quiet, little celebration with some friends. We ate spaghetti and meatballs...one of her favourites! She loved all her gifts...but she was pretty ecstatic about anything Mickey Mouse. She gets soooo excited when she sees anything Mickey Mouse. She opened up my sister and brother in law's present early and plays with the Mickey Mouse set they got her every day! She now has the stuffed animal set that she takes everywhere and has to sleep with.

She opened a few presents at a time so she had something new all day. She ate some cake...and enjoyed jumping on the trampoline with our friends. We missed Dan of course...but she still had a fabulous day!

I can't believe she's 2! She tries to be such a big girl. She is a ball full of energy...she's always going. I love that about her. She also has this contagious big belly laugh. It makes me smile just thinking about it. Bells likes things that are "pretty." She loves flowers and loves wearing dresses. We were school shopping and she was walking around by me and saw a dress she wanted...she grabbed it off the hook and then said, "Mom! Ooooooh, pretty!" How could I not buy it for her after that?!

She tends to sneak in my bed in the middle of the night, Mickey gang, pillow and her big stuffed dog in hand. I'm woken up by a, "Mom! Up!" My bed is kind of high. And so I reach over and grab her hands to pull her up. She's thrown all her things already on the bed, and she snuggles right next to me. I love that girl! She is something else.