Happy Halloween!!!

We celebrated Halloween early this year. Friday night we had the church Trunk or Treat. The girls had fun....and got way too much candy! I didn't decorate my car but I had the help of Minnie Mouse (Bells) and my little pumpkin (Abs) to help pass out candy and sit there and look cute. I didn't really take any pictures. I was busy doing other things like chasing Bells!Saturday night we had the base trick or treating to go to. We ate dinner at a friend's house and then got the girls ready and we headed on over. I had a slight panic attack as I lost Bells at my friend's house just before we were about to leave. They have 3 ponds that are pretty deep in their back yard so I of course look in those to see if I see her. One of their daughters was watching out for her and on the other side of the garden. We had a great time with friends and the girls filled their bags. We were there for 1.5 hours...the girls were wanting to take a break from walking so much. Luckily my friend took some pictures of the girls...I had two cranky babies...they had just woken up from a nap before we got to their house so my mind was somewhere else.

I forgot Abs' tights that went with her costume...and so she had pink fleece pants and Bells was not in the mood to wear her ears or keep her hair up...oh well! We have to choose our battles!

We still have Monday night...I spoke to my neighbor and they get quite a few trick or treaters around here. So costumes on once more and we'll hit a couple houses but I think the girls will find passing out candy will be just as much fun.

A nephew!

Christina and Andrew had their baby boy on October 16. Easton Clyde...he's pretty cute!
Your crazy, loud cousins can't wait to meet you!!! Well, and your Aunt too!

Flash back

I use Netflix. It's my way of getting "American TV shows" since I now just have local channels here. I decided to rent the season of "My So Called Life." I've only watched the first 3 DVDS of it. I remember watching it in middle school and thinking I wish I had the guts to dye my hair red and longed for Jordan Catalano to go to my school and lean by my locker. My friends and I would talk about it...oh the mid 90s...when shows like Party of Five and Second Noah were on. Anyway...so I still love it. I still don't understand why it was cancelled...such a good show. I can't help but think about their fashion though...was it really that bad and I really hope I did not wear those tapered jeans! (Oh but I did.) I saw some pictures of my sisters in the mid 90s as well...it was a church picture and it made me laugh. All the girls were wearing these dresses with these white lace collars...and then there were my sisters...luckily they weren't exccept one of my sisters was wearing this multi colored sweater...not so cute. I then remembered we had just moved from LA and obviously Medford, OR was a little late on fashion trends and I made a mental note to thank my parents for never buying us one of those hideous dresses.

Our chats

The girls and I talk about a lot of things. I try to be as open with them as possible. I want them to feel comfortable asking me things about everything and anything rather than asking someone else and getting the wrong answer. The girls asked me about sex the other day...or rather Madison told me what it was. My mom was in the car...I think that made it a little bit more awkward for me. I avoided the "birds and the bees" talk with my parents. And so when Madison told me what she thought sex was, which was mostly right, just one of the body parts was wrong...it took so much not to want to burst out laughing. The girl part was wrong...that's all I'm going to say. I asked Madison where she learned this information and she told me in a book about bodies they have at school. She saw a picture of reproduction. Hannah snickered in the back...she was in the third row and asked if we were talking about "sexy" things. She then went on her version of what sex is...it involves a willy, legs, and kissing....and my mom looked as though she was about to die! I laughed. They dropped the conversation eventually and I think I have Hannah convinced we still have to pray to Heavenly Father to have a baby; Madison knows that is not the case.

It was about a month ago when I had just the big girls in my car...Madison was going on how I was going to be 30, which to her is "old". (I still don't get how I'm "old" and my mom is going to be 50 but she's still "young"...) Anyway...Hannah then tells me to make sure I bring my mobile with me when I die and go to heaven...she would really like to call me so I can tell her what it's like up there.

If it only it were that easy.

And Bells...well our conversations consists of one sided ones where she just gabs about something important. She has her own language.

Abs, she's a screecher...but she has to be. The poor girl is competing with 3 older sisters who are anything but quiet!

Pumpkin picking

We went along with the girls scouts to Hill Farm in Peterborough to pick some pumpkins. Madison and Hannah both wanted to join this year. It was a gorgeous day. I wish I had my nice camera...but this one works.



Abs was a trooper. Poor baby girl...she's feeling a little better.

We ended up leaving with 7 pumpkins and some strawberries that were so delicious!

33!

Not me! Dan turned 33 a couple of weeks ago....I can't believe we started dating when he was 23! Ok..so it was like a month before his 24th birthday but still! We Skyped...the girls and I sang to him. It was sad he had to work the night shift so he basically slept all day and then headed to work. My package didn't get there on time but luckily my mom is awesome and sent hers 3 weeks prior to his birthday so he had that to open. He was super excited about his "Bobbie Doll." Sounds a little kinky I'm sure but it's not what you think. My mom made the girls these dolls and Dan mentioned he would like one, but my size...so that's what my mom did along with some other things. I am so lucky to have such a great guy. Seriously. He makes me laugh...he drives me crazy...he's a great father...he works hard to provide for us so I don't have to work outside the home and I can spend time doing my favourite hobby...shopping...I'm super proud of him and am pretty thrilled I get to spend the rest of my life with him. I love him. A lot.

Mom

My mom came...it was so nice to have her here. It was kind of on a whim...Abs was getting an ultra sound on her head done...my mom came out on a plane for support. Prayers were answered and Abs does not have hydrocephalus. She will still be monitored...her head grew 30% in 2 months so we were kind of worried...okay...I was REALLY worried. And so she flew in the morning of the procedure...I picked her up...a wonderful friend let the big girls spend the night and took them to school in the morning...so I just had to the two little ones...and we headed straight to the military hospital. I took Abs in and I wasn't feeling too confident when the tech said that Abs was a little too old for this kind of scan. 6 days later we received the call from her doctor that nothing unusual had been seen and that we will just go back in for a head measurement at 12 months. If it still is growing in a crazy curve, we will have another test done. While we waited anxiously for the results my mom and I did a total clear out in my house and garage. It's funny how some things were not hard but I was hesitant to get rid of and my mom couldn't believe how easily I could throw other things away that were hard for her to. She made me pillows...we decorated my office...went to IKEA and bought a few things...and my house is ready for my pack out and so organised I have a hard time finding things! My garage is totally cleaned out and organised...my mom should hire herself out to other people...she's amazing. I'm a clean person...I just hadn't done some things I've been wanting to since single parenthood with 4 kids can be a little tiring since we have so many things going on. I just want to veg by the time they are all in bed. We really didn't site see...we went to Cambridge...but we had a lot of good laughs, good times, good food and just some really good bonding time. Bells LOVES my mom. She would go to her all the time. By the second week, she told me to "go away mom." She calls her "gam ma." Super cute! Abs cuddled plenty with my mom too...they had some long nights together. We had a great time. I love my mom. She's the best...and I love how my kids have a special bond with her. I was worried about Bells...now I know I will have no problem leaving her when I leave them at my parent's house. Yes, I plan on taking full advantage when I'm back in California....oh the trips I already have planned.

Now back to reality...it was so nice to have my mom for 3 whole weeks. We can't wait until she comes again...like to save me from flying back to the states alone with 4 girls...and 2 under 2! Okay...so maybe she won't...but I can at least hope.

Ridiculous!!!

I was turned away at the clinic today. Why...I was 5 minutes late to their last appointment of the day. My appointment was at 3:20! Seriously...must be nice to start appointments at 9 and end have the last one at 1520. I was so furious. I was told to wait and the desk lady would ask the doctor...I waited and she returned telling me he said no. I love how I'm 5 minutes late and I get no service and yet 4 weeks ago he was running 1 hour and 5 minutes behind. And my appointment was at 1030! I went out cursing under my breath. Maybe not the best I was cursing like a sailor but I had just dropped my mom at the airport, I'm tired, and this whole thing started Monday. I called Monday morning and I got the lovely (*cough) appointment lady. I told her my 8 month old had been running a low grade temp the past 3 days but has had a cough for about a week and a half with a lot of congestion and she's not getting any better since her appetite has decreased and she now has the fever and more chesty cough thing going on. She told me that she would get me a telephone consultation with the nurse (she didn't feel it was urgent enough for a sick visit) but that they wouldn't be open until 9 am? Seriously? What military doctor office isn't open and ready for 8 am appointments? Oh yeah...this one. And so I patiently waited. Wednesday morning I get a call from a nurse but I don't think it was a nurse since it was not an officer rank, and she told me that yes, I needed to bring her in but they didn't have any appointments for that day. She was able to get me in on Thursday. Then I get turned away with 4 kids in tow since I was 5 minutes late. I am filing a complaint. I can say I've been late one other time and I let them know and the nurse practitioner said it was fine. I'm always there on time and I don't come in there just because...there is usually something legit that needs antibiotics if it is a sick visit. And so I was told to call the appointment line that is open until 1600. I left the clinic at 1535...I called numerous times...go figure...nobody answered. I told Dan. Dan was mad (not at me) I didn't demand for the doctor to tell me no he wouldn't see her and then if he did talk to the CO. I love how my husband tells me things...like I could really do that. Well maybe...if this ever happens again...or like when I do get another appointment and find out my daughter has pneumonia or bronchitis. AAAGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

I saw this

I thought of the many times I wish I had Dan right here by me. I miss him. And not that I'm counting all the time but it's been over 3 months; 3 months, 1 week, 5 days.