1st and 2nd Thanksgiving

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
I have a very extended family.....very.
This Thanksgiving was spent with my father and his fiance and her kids and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. My brother also came. It was amazing to see how everyone has grown and changed. I haven't  seen everyone in years. All the kids diapers I used to change and now they are having babies of their own (and yes, I got in there and changed them too!) I just love babies!

So my niece Amanda found a tape from 1991 and 1992. It was a couple of the grandchildren's birthdays. Their 1st and 2nd birthdays. So I was eager to watch...not to mention my kids being able to see mommy as a kid herself (10 to 12 yrs old at this point).  Funny thing though, every time you saw me, I had a baby in my arms. Or I was playing with the kiddos. (At one point there wasn't any babies to hold so I held the dog...a pug mix).  It was very surreal to see those videos and go back. I was joking with the now 19 yr old Taylor (AKA: Bug), that all I wanted to be was a mommy when I grew up and that's why I just loved holding the babies. But that's not all; I insisted on changing diapers and feeding them too. I was really gung-ho about taking care of the kiddos back then.

All the while we are watching the videos of Amanda's first birthday, I was cradling her newborn baby girl. How strange time is and what a funny feeling to have come full circle. That was our 1st Thanksgiving of this year.

So now I have just come home from our 2nd Thanksgiving, of this year, with my father-in-law and his girlfriend and my brother-in-law and his wife, and I realize that nothing has changed in the short 7yrs I have been in this family. We talk about the first time we all met, what we really thought of each other and how everyone had doubts about Jeff's and mine whirlwind romance into marriage.  Its quite the insight to see what everyone first thought about when we first got together, but look at us now! No one really thought it would last, but here we are 9 years later (8 years married) and we aren't going anywhere.

So thankful for both of my families and so thankful for such a brave, wonderful, smart and hardworking husband. I wouldn't change anything for the world. So this year, I am once again reminded that my life is awesome, my kids rock (they aren't perfect, but they totally rock!) and I love my husband with all my heart!
God is so good!!

Full Day

Ever have one of those surreal days that seems to go by too quickly, but then when you get to bed and recall the day you cant seem to believe that it ALL happened on that same day? Yup. That's today.

It started out fine. Kids up, fed, out the door to school. My friend Melissa then drives me directly to my doctor's appointment....for my knee. I was all proud because I dont need my crutches anymore (its only been about 2 weeks since the ACL surgery) and so I go strutting in, give my name, wait my turn. When I am called back and the doctor comes to check on things, he takes my leg and says "bend it". Um, ok. See, that part I haven't gotten so good at yet. So it wont bend past 90 degree angle...well, without me passing out that is.    
So then he looks at me and says, "That's not good". WHY???? Its only been 2 weeks! Apparently, what I was not told was that scar tissue forms and inhibits movement. (I don't wanna hear a single "duh" from any of you! You wouldn't have known if I had not just educated you, so phhhttttt)  Anyway....so I have some more work to do on my leg. *sigh*

THEN: Off to deliver Girl Scout cookies!  I had to go to Rochester General Hospital (I tried to hit every doctors office, that I went to for my surgeries, to get orders!) And while parking, I accidentally rubbed my side view mirror against the vehicle next to me. Go fig. So I got out, cleaned off the rub and after much debate, left a note with contact information. And prayed......and prayed some more.  I was really worried.
Well, after about 4 hrs, the lady called me back and left a message saying that she didn't see any damage and  not to worry about it, and to have a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Well, I just broke down and cried. My prayers had been answered.

THEN: Off to another doctors office with more cookies....no incident there, but I did have some italian wedding soup. Very good!

THEN: Squeeze in a quick run to BJ's to get more supplies for the kids lunches.

THEN: Met my bro-in-law at my house to grab a few things, kids came home, went through their stuff, had Brenden make pancakes for dinner, I made eggs and banana bread muffins and we ate!

THEN: Off to their school for Bingo and Books (family bingo night and book fair going on). Was fun! Then a quick stop to Walmart to get a couple of things, including a new filter for the furnace and Christmas cards.

When we finally got home and I changed the furnace filter while the kids took out the garbage to the road, Jeff texted me that he was available to Skype. So upstairs I "flew".....more like flopped...and booted my computer as fast as a 3yr old computer can boot. An hr and a half later, I am writing my blog.

Personally, I am exhausted just reading this.....I did alot today! And this isn't unusual for me. Guess I better get to sleep...got plans with the sis-in-law tomorrow for Christmas shopping! Good Night!!

No One Ever Told Me

As I sit here and contemplate life (and how long it will take for the pain meds to kick in and knock me out) I start to ponder about what I know now that no one ever told me....

When I married a military man, I knew he might have to go.....but not when.

No one ever told me that the first year of our marriage would be spent apart. Or that the 2 weeks you got together between military schools was all it took to get you pregnant (surprise!).

No one ever told me that the closer we got, the further he would go and longer he would be away.

No one ever told me that I would do ALL the housework sometimes and most of it the rest of the time.

No one ever told me that I would feel incredibly lonely some nights and not be able to talk to him.

No one ever told me that the hardest part during deployment would be comforting my kids.

No one ever told me that the hardest part after deployment was reintegrating him back into the mix.

No one ever told me that when I needed him most, I wasn't allowed to have him.

No one ever told me what it would take to survive a deployment, let alone two.

No one ever told me that one day I would miss him dearly and the next I would resent him for not being there.

No one ever told me I would need a heart of gold, nerves of steel, quick thinking and common sense to get through another week/month/year of being alone with the kids again. (Forget the sanity....)

No one ever told me that the greatest gifts would come from people who barely know you, but want to help you because they actually are proud of your husband they never met.

Being a military wife and a mother of 4 has got to be the hardest job I have ever had....or plan on having.
I am so proud of my wonderful husband for all he does, but sometimes I just want to lock him away and keep him for myself. I'm sure you understand.

Truth be told....I am glad no one ever told me. Otherwise, I might not have had the guts to try....

Perhaps, if I got the chance to meet a newlywed military wife....I might not tell her either.

So tired

Can I just say that doing this whole "single-parent" thing is extremely draining? Even with the kids gone for most of the day for school, I am finding that I am growing more and more tired every day.
We are half way through our deployment period. However, its not getting easier. It seems as if it is actually getting harder. Between a couple of my babes having trouble in school and my injury that needed surgery and being tired all the time....its just a struggle every day.

Is it wrong that I just wanna go spend a day to myself at a spa or some secluded island? Is it wrong that I am  hoarding all the chocolate that comes into the house?

Anyway, seems I have some house work to try to do. (Cant do much b/c I am still healing from my ACL surgery, but I can definitely try!)  Then nap time. For everyone. :)

Has It Been That Long??

Has it really been 8 months since my last blog? Wow. Fail. Ok, so apparently my life has gotten a bit busy. A few changes, along with a couple surgeries. Surely I could be forgiven for not blogging, right?  
So let me relay that which is currently my life....
May: Husband deploys, leaving me with all the babes and alone...oh boy.

July: Travel to Michigan with mother-in-law (who flew in from Texas) and meet husbands side of the family. Then travel down to Texas. Yes, we drove with all 4 children.  And apparently the border guards aren't so bad....Brenden took a picture of the border patrol guy on the Canadian side (both thumbs up nonetheless!) And when the border patrol guy asked Dean if he could have an apple (from a bag of them on the floor), Dean looks at the guy and says "No." I about died from embarrassment and then from laughing after we went through. Kids are a riot...
Spent approx 2 wks in Texas at sis-in-laws and mom-in-laws. Got to see hubby for 4 days. Whoo hoo!

August: Celebrate 32nd birthday. Then 3 days later tore my ACL playing football at VBS. Ambulance ride! Oy. So I spend the next 2 mths in PT working the other muscles so my recovery from surgery is faster and easier.

October: Large lump appears on wrist. What?? Squeezed in for wrist surgery to remove what appears to be a ganglian cyst. Turns out to be an irritated fat bubble....go fig. Surgery goes well. Heals fast. No problems. (Was really concerned because ACL surgery was coming and I couldn't put pressure on my wrist and thats not good if you're on crutches.)

November: Surgery on ACL. Healing very well. Kids are trying to help...but its a struggle. Thank God for friends who come over and clean and help with kids! And thank God for the wonderful ladies who are bringing me dinners until I can make them on my own again!  

So now you are caught up. Such a wonderfully busy summer. Not everything happened the way I hoped they would, but its all good! God's got this. 

Hopefully it wont be 8mths until I blog again.....lol

Lil Socialites

So here's the deal...If you know me, you absolutely know my son Brenden.  He does NOT let an opportunity, to meet someone, go by.  Which I suppose is a great trait in a person.  My problem is that I usually turn about 4 shades of red because of my son being so "personable".  I am not one to just say "hi" unless it is a choice I have made to be extra likeable that day.  So when my son just goes about smiling to everyone and waving and saying "HI", I just want to spontaneously combust and disappear.

However, I do realize that this is a very rare trait in todays society- an honest and sincere "Hello".  And I admire my son for being so absolutely sunshiney.  But I will choose to admire him from under the table in the other room while I wait for said stranger to be FAR away before I come out again. :)  

*On another note, my daughter Alexis used to be extremely trusting. She would ask to hold strangers hands, to which I would just about have a heart attack and snatch her up and ask her NEVER to do that again. But what does a 2yr old know? She liked to hold hands....

Like Pulling Teeth

Cassandra Jane Lentz is just growing up too fast! Two nights ago we had a tooth-pulling incident. I had been keeping my eye on her tooth, which was loose for a few nights, but on wednesday, it was ready to come out. So her father and I tried really hard to convince her to have one of us pull it. "NO!" she would yell and start screaming if it seemed as if we would go for her tooth.

Kinda funny...but then daddy started to encourage her to do it herself. He told her to wiggle it and to twist it as far as it would go.  So Cassie started doing that. She would stop and let out a little squeal if it hurt too much but she kept going (I was so proud of her to keep trying like that!).

Half an hour later, she finally pryed the tooth loose! We all squealed, and hugged. It was a torturous half-hour! lol.  She showed daddy and we took a pic and sent it via cell phone to family and then posted it on Facebook.

Now she just looks so precious! lol. I love her so much....she is just growing TOO fast!  In  the next couple of years, Dean will be losing his first tooth. Didnt he just get his??  Oy.  And so it goes...time flies when you have kids!

Small Tribute to a Friend. RIP Matt Story.

It's been 3 days since I learned my long time friend, Matt Story, passed away on Friday February 1oth 2012.  It has been a struggle to believe this has happened...
Wednesday is the funeral and I just know it will be the reality check I am dreading.

I sit here trying to recall some of the memories I have of Matt. Its been 20 years since I met him. I had just moved to Kendall (7th grade) and he just struck me as odd. He seemed very muscular and sure of himself, but had a very "bookish" nature. Always reading, quoting and joking in ways only a literary genius can.  Granted, I didnt get all his jokes (I never did read as much as he did!), and sometimes we just got on each others nerves, but I really liked who he was.  Oh, and we hardly ever agreed on things, but that didnt stop us from being friends. He is the kind of person that just doesnt let different opinions come in the way of friendship. Ya know? A rare breed.

I do remember a stint in 7th or 8th grade where a group of us had to recreate a scene from Lord of the Flies. And we did, in Matt's backyard. I was piggy and we were staging his death. (a little macabre) I know, but true. We "killed off" piggy (as I rolled down the mound of dirt in the backyard) and then as a comic relief we tried to "cook" bacon over the fire with sticks. Anyone who knows about campfires, knows you CANNOT "cook" bacon over the fire with a stick. The partially frozen bacon kept falling into the fire and we finally gave up (when all the bacon was gone) :) 
We had such fun that night. But to tell the truth, most of its a blur. 20 yrs is a long time to try to remember so many details. I dont really even remember who else was there, but I do remember it was Matt's house and his mom was so kind to us (for letting us "cook" her bacon) and for feeding me spaghettio's. lol... yes, that I remember (probably because I was dressed as "piggy" and I ate 2 cans of spaghettio's all by myself.) 


*sigh* memories.    I believe the last time I actually SAW Matt was about 8 years ago. I saw him in the mall parking lot. He was bald as a cue ball but still had his facial hair. Not who I remembered seeing in HS but unmistakeabley it was him.  We said "hi" and took a min to catch up, but that was it.  Then I caught him on facebook and kept well enough in touch. Or so I thought. Now I wish I had made time to see him again and chat or something. Regrets.

So, once again I say: Matt, I will miss you. I already do. Thank you for being you and making my days brighter.
(Since Matt liked quotes, I thought I would write one for him):
"There is no cure for birth or death, save to enjoy the interval" -George Santayana

Fragile Life

Decided to go sledding today at Northampton Park.  Took Alexis' friend with us and played for about an hour. During that time, a friend called. Not really expecting a call...but who knows, right? I try to grab my phone out of my coat pocket (dang gloves dont wanna cooperate)....finally get my phone, miss the call and call my friend back. 

Sadly, it was bad news: My friend from HS, a classmate and good person, just died of a heart attack. He was only 31 years old.

When you hear something like this, its unreal. You think "no, this cant be...I just chatted with him on facebook a cpl days ago". But the reality is, it is real. Shockingly real.

Anything can happen to anyone in just a moment. Make sure you hug the ones you love and let them know how much you love them. Even if they are just going down to the store or out for the mail. It might be the very last time you get to tell them.

Live everyday as if it were your last.

*Love you all my friends* *Love you too my impossible family*

Kid Tossing

WHEEEE....Bang......whaaaa!  Yup, that's the order that kid tossing happens. Wasn't me tho! I swear!  Apparently my oldest boy decided it would be fun to grab up his little brother and toss him onto the chair.  (When is this ever really a good idea? I would love to know!) 
As soon as Dean hit the chair, his head caught the arm of the chair (which isn't as padded as it was about 30yrs ago when the chair was made...) and that was the end of that. 

I know my kiddos are bored. They are just bouncing off the walls (literally).  Their playroom has been invaded by lumber we are using for making the new room off the playroom and now the kids really have no place to play.  Not a good situation.  If it stays snowy tomorrow, we might just go sledding after church. Now that would be fun :)

So, now everyone has calmed down and it's quiet....for now. Maybe I should just move some of the more breakable things and let the kids bounce off the furniture. I might just join them ;)

Start to Finish

My downstairs seems to be missing something....oh, wait! Its missing the bathroom....
That's right, no more bathroom-for now. We are building a small bedroom in the playroom so that my brother could sleep in more comfort than where he is sleeping now: the basement. 

So what makes more sense then knocking down all the wall and then knocking down all the bathroom walls and redoing it ALL?  Sure, I see the sense....its here somewhere....maybe not.

Anyway, so I figured that 2 days of nonstop work and we would at least have the walls back up to the bathroom. Boy did I have some high hopes.... oy.  So no walls, no potty, no shower and since the bathroom wall backs up to the basement, my brother now has no privacy. I am not so very happy.

Watching hubby do some work I am realizing alot of nitty-gritty things go into this. Did you realize that wiring has to go thru studs? I see our underlayer from our aluminum siding is cheaper than particle board (didnt know there was a cheaper item than particle board to use!)  AND, apparently, everything has to be measured appropriately and placed in exactly the right spot or you dont get the right results. Whoda thunk it?  Ok, so some of it makes sense, but does it have to take so gosh darn long???

I can hear hubby talking right now to his father. No work going on, just talking. So I yell down if they put up a wall yet....grumble...silence....back to talking to each other. This isnt going well, or fast. Maybe I need to get some girlfriends here and start some serious supervising...heehee....

Privacy invaded

What could be more upsetting than someone telling you that your kids are misbehaved? How about them calling CPS on you. This isn't the end of the world, but I definitely feel violated. 

After picking up Conner and Hunter from school, and stopping at Wegmans, I get a call. It's some lady named Cely (sounds like Sully) and she tells me she is CPS and wants to know when I will be home. How does she have my cell #? Anyway, so I tell her I will be there soon. *sigh* First thought: What did I do??  Next thought: WHO called??   Thats 2 thoughts too many for me. I'm a simple kinda gal and thinking this much could hurt someone....so I settle.   I meet her and we talk. I show her the food in my house, the kids rooms and explain that I homeschool. (Which is a strange idea to her because she just keeps asking questions about how and why and who do I contact about their schooling...oy). 

So the accusations are as follows: 
1) Beats children daily with a wooden spoon excessively.
2) Screams in their faces on a consistant basis
3) Puts bar soap in their mouths.

Um, what??!!

Yes, I use a wooden spoon. No, not excessively and its been almost a year since I have HAD to use it. My hands are for loving so I would rather use a spoon (once) to send the message. I dont want my kids cringing when I go to hug them because they see my hands coming at them....But apparently, CPS tells me to use my hands. (??)

I dont scream in their face. I did it once (a year or 2 ago) and I felt like such an absolute a** after I did that I just broke down and cried and asked for my kids to forgive me.

And last but certainly not least: WE DONT OWN BAR SOAP.
So I put that one to rest really quickly.  I even told her to look thru our bathrooms and in the kitchen to verify.

So next, she needs to interview the children. Seperately and privately. Um, ok.
I just told my babes to tell the truth and answer as best as they could.
Jeff comes home mid-interview with one of the kiddos and I fill him in. He's not happy. Now he has to be interviewed.  She was asking him about alcohol abuse in the home....oy. Probably because there is a giant 48 case of beer out on the floor, from Christmas, still half full.

She said she has to interview my brother because he lives with me, call the pediatrician to get health information and because my kids dont go to school, I needed to give her a reference.

*Deep Breath*   Ok. She leaves and Jeff and I go vent for a few minutes. We have come to the conclusion that there isnt any credible evidence- and they didnt remove the kids from our home on the spot. I think we will be ok.  BUT STILL....irritating...

Wont know the outcome for up to 60 days. God is good and He knows my heart, my life, my kids and the lies that were told AND who told them. Lets see where we go from here.

I would appreciate prayers for a quick close. Thanks :)

 

One of those days....

Ever wake up and just feel like a big BLAH? Well, thats me today. A big grumpy BLAH.

This wouldnt be such an issue if I didnt homeschool or have a house to take care of, but I do. 
So I start the day not wanting to get out of bed. 9am rolls around and I can hear the kids up and I know if I dont get down there, someone will get hurt or something broken. So.....I sloooooowly drag myself out of bed and dress and get down stairs to remind the kids they need breakfast (if it were up to them, they would watch TV all day w/o eating.).  THEN, I slowly realize my children are looking at me. Stop looking at me, its annoying (I dont actually say this, I just FEEL it). Oh, wait, your done eating...time for school.  So I get the kids set up with some math work so I can grab a cup of coffee and grab my 'puter so I can type up their second quarter reports. God forbid I am not teaching my children the essentials. I dont even think the school system reads the reports, they are just happy they got one and send a letter of reciept and acceptance of your lesson the next day.

There goes a dvd flying by me....oy. Apparently, Dean didnt like that disc. Not cool. Not today.
And right this minute I am listening to my oldest son belt out a jibberish song while he is supposed to be doing his math work (yes, he is STILL working on it- must be a slow day for him too).

Maybe I should go easy today....

Company is coming!

Kids get excited over some of the smallest things. Its great really. Makes me wonder why I am not smooshing my face against the window to watch the garbage guys pick up trash. 
However, when it comes to having company over, that's when it gets BEYOND crazy.
My repeat guests have come to expect the overwhelming welcome they receive. 
Here's how to enter my house:

1.  Turn off the engine and lights and glide into my driveway, lest you give your presence away and my children come storming out of the house to attack you.
2.  Never ring the bell. My kids don't bark at it, but they do go barreling toward the door not giving the unsuspecting visitor a chance to even realize what is coming at them.
3.  Knock and come in as quickly as possible lest you get pushed back out the door by kids barreling toward you.
4. Open arms wide so you can embrace the screaming love coming straight at you.

My children are so excited that you feel truly loved: for the first 5 minutes. After that, the thrill has worn off and they go back to whatever they were doing.  Occasionally though, they return for the rare hug or question.

Laundry-Mania

Yes, I truly believe that my laundry multiplies when I am not looking. Mounds of crazy amounts of laundry. Today alone I am on load 5.  I just folded 3 loads that I have been putting off for about a week, or 2....yeah, dont give me that look.   So the best part about NOT putting clothes away?? My kids constantly complaining that they have no clothes! (Yes, the dresser is empty, but have you checked that giant hill of clothes in your room?) Ok, ok, I will totally admit that I am not one to do laundry every day. If I can sneak by the clothes pile without it falling down, I will try to put it off for just one more day. 
Now I know what it sounds like, and its not true. I actually LIKE to do laundry. It always smells so good and clean! Dishes, however, thats another story. I never did like doing dishes, but I do them everyday; sometimes twice a day! Funny how that works out....

Oh! Puzzle time! My children love puzzles, but dont let them work on one together. Too many Chiefs, not enough indians (as my hubby would say). Not everyone can run the show.

Fun Fact: Apparently, gumballs are an excellent bribe for potty training. :)  I'm just sayin...

Furniture Jumping

KABOOM...ok, what was that?? Oh, so you decided to jump off the couch again; onto your brother. Great...   Do I wanna jump? No thanks. I might break the floor.

Yes, this is my day. My typical day. Late start to my morning and then rushing to catch up and all the while my beautiful children are enjoying every piece of furniture I own. Just not as intended.
I suppose if I was at that age again, I would love to jump that high from the couch....and land safely.

Then we have the build-a-bear nightmare. A bear we made with a lovely lullabye that gets stuck and will sing for an eternity, or until I have had my last nerve worked and I unstick the button. Unfortunately, this has happed at 3am. Yes, I have awoken to the continuous sound of brahms lullabye and just HAD to stop it. Thankfully I havent had to rid the bear of the annoying song button-yet.

So now that I have started a blog and I seem to have no idea (truly I dont) on how to manage, advance, or put this together, I am gonna wing it (like I do with so many other things in life) :)

My name is Joann and you are welcomed into my crazy, loud world as often as you like.

ENJOY! (1-31-12)