More pictures..

The kids and I had some fun taking pictures. I LOVE the picture of my father, brother and myself lying on the floor side by side and so I wanted to recreate it with my kiddos. I love to see how their sizes differ... it's amazing that in 8 years, Colt could be as big as Randy and he's that small right now! And of course, I can't take pictures of anything without Brodie wanting to have her picture taken too. She is going to be a heartbreaker with those eyes!! She hasn't met a camera that doesn't like her! And I finally managed to get in a picture myself! It's amazing!!!

Colt is 6 weeks! **sigh**

The many faces of our little man. He's 6 weeks today. Where has the time gone???

#23

I love(d) the Monkees!!!

Much to my parents dismay, I fell in love with The Monkees when I was in Middle School. I would listen to them ALL the time, watch their show like my life depended on it, talked about it to anyone who would listen, and soome times even when they wouldn't listen! I had EVERY show they ever released on VCR (remember those?), every CD they had, as many books as I could find, as well as odds and ends I could find still in stores. (I was born WAY too late for as fascinated as I was with them!) I even made a pillowcase with the names of their songs on one side and the infamous "monkee" guitar on the other. Yeah, I was a bit obsessive about them. Good thing I grew out of it! However, everynow and then I get the urge to listen to them and pull out my handy iPod and get my fix. If I ever see the box set for the TV shows in a store, someone will have to pull me away!!

zwei und zwanzig

I LOVES me Johnny Depp.

Yes, that there be my weakness. Arghhh.

I've always been a fan of Johnny Depp, both actor and father. From his first very brief appearance in "A Nightmare on Elmstreet" in 1984, to his role in "21 Jumpstreet" and of course his awesome performance as Captain Jack Sparrow in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" trilogy, I've been hooked!! There have been a couple of movies, "The Libertine" for one, that made me say "what were you thinking Johnny??" But for the most part, he's had good roles and not so bad on the eyes, too! I just hope he continues to grace the screen with his image... I'll pay whatever to watch him! I really like the fact that even at 45, he doesn't have a nanny for his 8 and 6 year olds, that he and his now wife take care of them theirselves! (He could have been the father of MY boys...where was I????) Every girl is allowed one weakness, right???

XXI

I admit, I LOVE Friends!

This is one of those shows that can make me laugh no matter the mood I am in. I love it! Although I've never really experienced friendship like this, I have always longed for it!

I'm a sucker for Friends marathons!! I haven't allowed myself to buy any of the seasons on DVD... I think all I would do would be to sit and watch! Maybe I'll ask Santa this year for one!

twenty!!!

I love music!

Whether playing or listening to it, I love it! I played trombone for 7 years and even marched with the Texas Tech Goin' Band! I have to admit, that was one FUN semester, huh Elaine???

I love to listen to music whenever I can and am usually singing, humming or whistling when I'm not listening. My first love is Country music, but lately I seem to listen to more kid-related music. I just wish I had a better singing voice, and I bet my kids would second that! However, I don't really care if I can't sing in front of a stadium full of people, my kids love my singing and that's what's important! I hope at least ONE of my kids follows my footsteps and enjoys music!

We have smiles!!!

I haven't been able to get a picture yet, but Colt has been smiling today!!! He's been cooing for several days now, but today was the first he really smiled like he meant it! He has been wide awake and very active, especially tonight! Of course, as soon as I get the camera to take a picture, he starts to fuss! Hopefully I'll have a picture soon!!! So until then, I've drawn what it looks like! This will have to suffice till I get him with the camera!

19... are we there yet?

I'm a red belt in Tae Kwon Do.

That's the level right below Black, which is the highest (white,yellow, orange, green, blue, purple, brown, red, and finally black--of which there are 9 levels in itself!) I participated for 2 years while I lived in Korea and LOVED it! I never tested for Black because the next time the test was available was after we were due to leave the country and come home... so at Red I stay. Granted, I was only 10 and 11 when I did it, but I remember it well! I hope to get one of my kids involved eventually. It's great for the mind as well as the body. Teaches discipline and control. I was even the "Karate Kid" for Halloween in Korea! Talk about a cheap costume!

18

18. I'm a Texan.

Tried and True.

Born and Bred.

Proud and Pure.

Fact #17

17. My favorite dessert is Texas Sheet Cake!

I LOVE this cake!!! I've had it many times, and each time I love it even more. I'm not sure what it is about this cake, (the name probably helps!) but it is yummy!!! You pour the icing on when the cake is still warm, so it kinda soaks into the cake. My mouth is watering just thinking of it! I made one for our plebes coming tomorrow, but as you can tell, I couldn't wait and HAD to have a piece tonight!!! For those that haven't ever had it, I'm including the recipe so if you want, you can see what the fuss (and drool) is all about!!!

This one happens to be from my Pampered Chef "Delightful Desserts."

Texas Sheet Cake

Cake

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups sugar

1 cup water

1/2 cup vegetable oil spread

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2 eggs

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp salt

Frosting

5 TBSP milk

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2 TBSP vegetable oil spread

3 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 350. Spray 11x7 roll pan (with lip) with nonstick cooking spray. For cake, combine flour and sugar in small bowl; set aside. In medium (3-qt) saucepan, heat water, vegetable oil spread and cocoa powder over medium heat; bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Using whisk, stir in flour mixture. Add eggs, buttermilk, baking soda, vanilla and salt. Mix well. Pour into pan.

2. Bake 22-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before frosting.

3. While cake is cooling, pour milk, cocoa powder and vegetable oil spread in large bowl. Microwave on high 45 seconds or until spread is melted; whisk until smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla; whisk until smooth. Spread over warm cake. Cool completely. Cut into squares. Store in tightly covered container in refrigerator.

Colt's first snow!

Can you tell he's really not impressed??? As I was getting the other kids dressed, I realized poor Colt didn't have a snow suit. Just this fuzzy little duck thing that looks warm, but it's not a true "snow suit" so I didn't want him freezing his cute little tush off! He loved being all bundled up, though, as you can see! I actually found a hat that fit his little head, (Thanks Christina!!!) and we managed to take a few pictures. The snow was falling on his precious face and getting caught in his eye lashes. It was definately a "Kodak" moment... even thought I used my Sony camera! So.. he has officially been "christened" by the snow! Hopefully next time I'll have a true snow suit to bundle him up in!

We're up to 16!

16. I love snow days from school!

Ok, so not as much as I did when I was a kid, but I love living vicariously though my kids as they experience these fun times! Yes, by the end of the day I'm ready to go to school, but in the end, I like having them around. I know what they are doing, the trouble they are causing, and I'm the one that gets to see the smiles on their faces! Today was no exception! We had at least 3 inches by morning and now we aer more than likely up to 5, if not more. It's a good snow, not too cold, not the best packing snow, but it's still good!

Fact #15

15. I love to make my own gifts.

I know this kind of goes along with #14, so I thought I would put it today. I LOVE giving gifts, but even better, I LOVE to make them! I try to come up with something original, but since I make them each, I know I put my own twist on everything I do. I love being able to make them with the person in mind, so I can add something personal to each. Here in NY, I'm a little limited to my supplies, but I've able to make do so far! I miss HOBBY LOBBY!!!

14 and counting...

14. I'm a Stamp-a-holic!

I LOVE making my own cards and will make a card for just about any occasion! I used to just buy off the shelf but then got introduced to Stampin' Up and fell in love! I was a demonstrator for several years, but now I'm just doing it for the fun of it! Maybe some day when the kiddos are all in school I'll start doing it again, but for now, I just play! I recently bought cards at the store and was reminded why I started to make them! I can't beleive I used to spend THAT much on cards!!!

Fact 13

13. I love working with Special Ed kids.

It's been a while and I really miss it. My mom teaches Special Needs children and I loved going in when I was old enough and working with her. I also loved babysitting for her students. We take so much for granted. I am SO fortunate that I have 4 healthly children. I know He has given me the patience, understanding and love for these special children of his.

Fact #12

12. I LOVE to bake!!

And decorate, too! Any excuse to make a special cake, I will take!

This is Brodie's 2nd Birthday cake. (The only one I had saved on this computer.) This was so much fun to do, but really hard for me to cut and eat!!

Fact Eleven

11. I can use chopsticks.. the right way! :-)

2 years of living in Korea helped me learn how to perfect the technique, and helped me learn to LOVE Korean food! I have trouble finding good places to eat, but every now and then find a gem of a restaurant...or someone who makes it at home! I also love Thai food (the spicer the better!) and Chinese, since that's more available than the other two! But my FIRST love, is Korean!!!

Kimchee anyone??? (Make mine SPICY!)

Fact #10

10. I love the smell of freshly dryed clothes.

Be it Snuggle, Downy, generic brand, it really doesn't matter. But that first "whiff" when you open the dryer door... or even better... when you pass by the dryer vent outside and catch the smell of freshly drying clothes. I love it! I even put dryer sheets in to freshen up sock drawers!

Happy Birthday Riley!!!

Today is Riley's 6th birthday! Happy birthday, Rooster!

(If you didn't figure out my Fact #9, RILEY is the reason I love Valentines! Best Valentines Gift I EVER received!!! He's my Heart!!!)

Fact #IX

9. I love Valentine's Day.

Not for the reason's you think, but because I got the BEST Valentine's Day present in 2002! I've loved it ever since!! And I love to carry on my mom's traditions and make RED scrambled eggs, RED pancakes and serve RED orange juice!!!

Factamungo #8

8. I LOVE the snow!!!!

Plain and Simple.

Fact-O #7

7. I'm a bit of a Wild West buff.

I love anything that has to do with that whole time frame... Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Jesse James, Wild Bill Hickok, Billy the Kid... I don't know if I believe in reincarnation, but if I were alive in that time, I think I would have been Calamity Jane or Annie Oakley. I'm a pretty good shot, at least I was when I was getting practice almost every weekend! One of my favorite movies is Tombstone, and is actually very close to historical perfection. I loved my time living in Arizona... I was in "historical heaven." I visited Tombstone, Brisbee and even walked through Boot Hill. One place I want to visit is Deadwood... someday, man, someday! Road trip???

Fact #6

6. I used to ride bulls...seriously.

I didn't do serious hard-time riding, just local rodeos in Lubbock and later in Kentucky. I loved it, and in some case, I miss it. It all started on a "dare" to ride a machine and then later the real thing, but I don't regret it at all. Luckily, I didn't get seriously injured... although one time I did land wrong on my back and that next weekend was thrown from a horse at my Aunt's Ranch and landed on the same spot (so I was able to go to the doctor without telling my parents the REAL way I hurt my back!) Sometimes when flipping through the channels, I'll stop at the rodeo's and smile at the memories. Now, my life is a FULL-TIME rodeo!!!

Fact #5

5. I LOVE to read!

Anything and everything, really. I love classics and will get on a classic kick and read all those wonderful novels we "had" to read in school, but with enjoyment this time! I love adventure, history, biographies, anything but romance. Can't really get into those. Right now I'm reading one of my all time favorite seires. It's Sci-fi, something my brother got me into many, many years ago. It's "The Wheel of Time" by Robert Jordan, who sadly passed away after suffering from complications from Amyloidosis on 16 September 2007. He passed before finishing his final book in this series, but shared the main plots with his family and his widow chose an author to help complete her late husbands' wishes.

Picture time!

Can you believe Colt is 3 weeks! I'm in shock! We managed to get some good shots of him before he remember he was hungry! He's such a cuddly-bear, this outfit is perfect for him! He loves being snuggled close, and finds any excuse to cry to be cuddled! Can you blame him? I'm taking the doctors words to heart..."you can't spoil a newborn, so enjoy him!" All too soon he will be up and running and not want to be hugged and held.. like the next picture...





Brodie LOVES to help me in the kitchen, and I guess this is probably why! Anytime I make anything, she is right there, telling me, "I'll help you. My turn to help!" She gets rewarded when she does help, so maybe she'll continue to be helpful!! We were making brownies here, and she LOVED to lick the spoon!!




Jason took Randy and Brodie to get pizza last night (our Friday night family tradition), so I used that time to get some good shots of Riley and Colt. Riley doesn't often get the chance to bond with his little brother, so he enjoyed every moment of being alone with him. He did such a good job holding Colt. He was very gentle with him and sat very still and patiently. He is an awesome big brother!!! (times 2!)






Brodie is trying her hardest to do everything by herself these days. This is how she came out of the bathroom the other day when I reminded her she needed to put a pull-up on! It's a good thing she's so cute!!! How can you get mad at that darling smile?? And those eye!! She knows she has her daddy and me wrapped around her pinky nail when she bats those eyes at us!



The boys really got into Legos again during their break from school over Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday! This is Riley's accomplishment... he was SO proud that he did the whole X-Wing from Star Wars on his own! That was a pretty hard kit to do! The boys really enjoyed doing the Star Wars Legos and we even watched the movies so they could see where they came from! I wish I had the patience to sit that long and do one of those kits! Heck.. I wish I had the TIME to sit and do it!

I'm trying to get more picutres up here... I can only post 5 at a time, so at least I'm making some progress! I'm trying to make myself take more pictures so Colt won't be the only child who doesn't have pictures in his book!

Fact #4

4. I LOVE CHOCOLATE!

Any kind, really, but milk is my favorite. My absolute favorite candy bar is theI get my love for chocolate from my Daddy... something I proudly share with him!

(Thanks to Angel for the idea of adding pictures! Hope you don't mind me taking your lead and adding pictures to my blog...makes it more fun!)

Fact #3

I'm trying to catch up!
3. My FAVORITE place to live from Fact #2 was Pennsylvania.
I was only there for 9 months, but I would go back in a heartbeat!
(Texas is a given, seeing as how I'm a Texan, but PA was the best as far as school years goes!)

Fact #2

Ok, I know I missed a day... THAT should be fact #2!
2. I've lived in 32 different houses in 33 years.
As well as 16 different cities, 6 different states and one foreign country.

New Pictures

I'm trying to get better about taking more pictures, but usually when I think about taking some, the kids aren't in photogenic moods. Of course, when they are being cute I can't find my camera!

This one of Colt is him trying out his new duds from my friend Angel. She sent this adorable overalls with the cutest animals on it! It also came with adorable onesies, which I absolutely LOVE in cold weather! and a pack of rompers. I love baby clothing, especially when they are unexpected from friends!
Thank you Angel! You are toooo sweet!!








Brodie LOVES to hold her brother and will jump at any chance she gets...literally! Colt is very patient with her, even when she hugs him every 10 seconds. Normally he is alseep, but every now and then she gets him to look at her and she is in heaven! This is one of the few pictures we have of her actually kissing him. She wouldn't get close enough to kiss him the first couple of days and now she is very selective when she gives him love. She is such a good big sister... very helpful, sometimes TOO much. But I'd rather have too much help than not enough!

So.. hopefully I will be back with more pictures soon! I'm trying to get the boys to sit with Colt too, but they don't find that much enjoyment in holding a baby... looking at him and talking about him is ok, but hold him.... that might take some bribes!!

Fact a Day

Have I ever told you about my WONDERFUL friend Angel? She is so inspiring, in many ways! Creative, Spiritual, Family oriented...I could go on! Once again, she has inspired me to follow in her footsteps and create a Scrapbook page about "ME." I will post one fact a day about me... maybe harder than I think! and you may learn more about me than you ever wanted to know! But I know some things will come as a surprise, so it will be fun. At the end of my "posting" I plan on making a scrapbook page to hopefully start a scrapbook.
So I'll start with Fact #1:
1. I've been devoted to the Military my whole life. Literally... grew up an Army brat, my first husband was in the Marine Corps when we met and later switched to Air Force (which is how I met my wonderful friend!!!), and my current husband (that sounds so bad, but not sure how else to put it!) is serving in the Army. I wanted to go into the military myself, but couldn't decide how my Special Ed major would fit into it! (Of course, with some of the cadets I've heard about here, they could use a Special Ed teacher!!!)
So, now starts my journey about me... how long will YOU last? :-)

I'm exhausted...

...and I'm not ashamed to admit it! Sure, after my first, second and even third child, I tried to be "SuperMom" and not admit I was tired, needed help, or was overwhelmed. This time, however, I'M TIRED!!!! I don't know how those mothers of twins and more do it. I'm struggling with just one! He's waking up every 2 hours or less at night and during the day he won't sleep but maybe 30 minutes at a time. I don't know if it's the other kids that are making me more tired, but I'm physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted.
Between Brodie who hasn't been sleeping through the night due to a cough, Randy who doesn't fall asleep till after 11pm most nights due to his meds and Colt who just doesn't stay asleep, I'm drained. Riley is my "perfect child" in this senario... he goes to sleep at bedtime and sleeps till I wake him up in the morning. Even though he's so like his Mother and is NOT a morning person!
It's been nice having Jason home for the last 2 weeks, but sometimes it's more work when he's home than when he's gone! Now I have 5 kids to keep up with, fix meals for and clean up after. I'm kinda looking forward to just being Brodie, Colt and myself this next week. Luckily, we don't have many appointments, so that's a good thing. Only one for Brodie's cough and one for a trip to the dentist for me, it's a slow week. Not sure I'll catch up on sleep since Brodie doesn't nap, but at least I won't have to entertain all the kids.
I have to say though.... nighttime feedings with Colt are part of my favorite time! I love when he is awake at 2am, honestly. As tired as I may be, I love it. It feels like it's just the 2 of us against the world. I have him all to myself and I get all of his attention. Those quiet moments are what I live for these days. I know all too soon they will be gone and he will be an independent tyke who won't want to cuddle with me! It's so final now, him being my last one, it's finally starting to hit me. I'm trying to enjoy every single day, every bath (which he HATES so far!), every sound, every time he's peacefully asleep. I know the time will fly, and I'm trying to file it all away. I don't take enough pictures, so I'm trying to get better at that!
I'm also not ashamed to admit that I miss my Mommy!!! I love the relationship we have and wouldn't change it for the world. (Except, I would change how far away we are from each other this time!!!) It was so comforting having her here for those 10 days, I dreaded the day she left, knowing I would be on my own again. I am so thankful for the relationship we have maintained over the years, even though I know I have tried her many time and given her many grey hairs, but I appreciate her more each day. If you have a relationship like that, you understand what I mean. It's something hard to explain, and my words would NEVER do it justice. I just hope that Brodie and I have that relationship when she gets older. My mom is by far my "best friend" but I didn't appreciate it truly until I became a mother. Now I SO understand the terms, "wait till you have children!" and "you won't appreciate this till you're older." So, Mommy, if you are reading this, THANK YOU!!!

He's growing...and more!

Colt had his 2 week appointment today. I'm still in denial that he is already 2 weeks old! Where has the time gone? Surely I haven't slept it away, so how did I miss it!!!
He now weighs 8lbs 5oz. Down from his 8lb 9oz birth weight, but up from the 7lb 10oz's he weighed at discharge, so all are happy! He's also grown 3 inches, so we will take every bit we can get! With as much as he eats, I'm surprised he's not already 10lbs!!! Everything looks great, so the next time we go back is 2 months! I sure hope the next 6 weeks goes slower!!!

I was playing with Brodie the other night, and I "heard myself" through her. Truly a "Do I really sound like that????" moment that makes you sit back and think. We were having a Tea Party and all of a sudden her phone rang...(she must have had it on silent mode because I never heard it ring, but she answered it!!!) As she was talking, I asked her a question. She calmly put the phone to her shoulder, looked at me and said, "I'm on the phone. Please be quiet." Just as clear as can be. Boy, was I put in my place!!! It made me wonder how many times I've said that to her. Poor thing. At least I say, "please." I guess it could have been worse! It could have been her Daddy!
She also has potty trained one of her new dolls after she received a "doll accessory" kit from her Grandma and Grandpa. She picks up the doll and says, "You smell like you need a change!" undresses her, puts her on the potty and then sings "Five Little Monkey's" to help the process. Then she gives her baby a "high five" for doing a great job and tells her, "I'm so proud of you!" I guess she really does listen to me after all! It's quite cute to see her doing the same thing with her dolls that we do with her every day.

That's all the fun and exciting news we have from the Hale Household for now. Jason returns to work on Monday and I am truly going to miss him! It's amazing how much calmer he is the second time around. I've actually been to the store without kids, and today Brodie and I went grocery shopping, just us girls. It was fun to do again with just her. I came home and the "boys" were sleeping on the couch, quite content. Colt took a bottle like a champ and neither one of them were stressed out! I am so proud of both of my "male hales!"