All the fun

Happy Birthday Noah!

2011-04-05T17:45:00.000-07:00

The words don’t come easy, like they usually do, to explain this treasure that’s perfect and true. His name means comfort, a tried and true friend, more loyal than the rest, with you till the end. Deep and mysterious, with big chocolate eyes, he’s a charmer to say the least, a blue ribbon kind of prize. Sharp as a tack, wise beyond years, you know you’ve made it in, if he shares with you his fears. Once you’re there, nothing is the same, you’ll look through different eyes and you’ll understand his name. In a world full chaos, fighting and hate, this little comforter will find a way to lock up the gate. He’ll keep you safe, make you feel loved, cozy and warm, Thank You Lord for he’s my calm before the storm.

What she loves

2011-02-11T08:16:00.000-08:00

She disappears, not making a sound
I look through the house, this girl can't be found
I yell out Sophia and walk down the hall
If she were a boy, I'd find her with a ball
She's quiet and gentle and doesn't make a mess
She loves to carry purses, wear bracelets and a pretty dress
She's left me a clue, a trail of some sort
I hope what I find, won't be her sport
Now the mystery is over, no more missing baby blues
There she is in her closet, playing with her shoes.

Siblings

2011-02-08T12:23:00.000-08:00

Here's what Wikipedia says a sibling is:
Siblings (also called sibs) are people who share at least one parent. A male sibling is called a brother; and a female sibling is called a sister. In most societies throughout the world, siblings usually grow up together and spend a good deal of their childhood socializing with one another. This genetic and physical closeness may be marked by the development of strong emotional bond such as love or enmity. The emotional bond between siblings is often complicated and is influenced by factors such as parental treatment, birth order, personality, and personal experiences outside the family.

Here's what I think a sibling is:
A fat little, oriental looking sumo baby that was born on February 10th, 1986. When I heard this little creature was waiting for me at the hospital, I was so overcome with excitement and anticipation that I fainted and got a huge knot on my head. Immediately wanting him to accept me into his life, I dug out my favorite outfit (that had been packed away, with good reason, as I'd outgrown it months ago) and found a bottle of gel to fix my hair all by myself. At the ripe age of 6, I entered the hospital, gasped when I saw him and asked in my squeaky voice if I could "pet" him. This little guy at only a few months old, would only laugh for me. He was the perfect size for all of my doll clothes. He was the perfect dance partner when I was wearing a cowboy skirt. He looked adorable with pony tails all through his head. He kept me warm at night when I was scared and needed someone to hold on to. He was my constant through a messy divorce. A little buddy when I felt I had no friends. He was a pain but only I was allowed to think so. He was the end of a friendship, when someone else thought they could say the same. He was my muse when I wanted to start cutting hair. He was the victim to my many pranks. He would accompany me to sleepovers and chaperon my dates. He was the reason I had to stay home on the weekends and the reason I enjoyed it more than most kids would have. He was my in flight pillow and my travel partner. He's the reason I hold my feet up in the air as I take off on a plane. He's the reason my favorite color has been green for the last 20 years. He's my Happy 4th of July! I took him to his 1st rated R movie and fraternity party. My little buddy was the youngest kid ever to stay the weekend at an all girls dorm and if I could have, I would have had him as my roommate. He's the smartest guy I know. He motivates me to be the best I can be and inspires me to love with no regrets. He's wise beyond years and as handsome as a movie star. He's my sibling, my Big, little brother and he's a best friend. There's nothing complicated about our bond. It's strong, it's true and it's one of a kind. I can only hope and pray that one day, my kids will look at each other with the same love that I do him. Happy Birthday Tim!

Buttons

2011-02-04T12:58:00.000-08:00

I've never worn one.
I keep ordering them?
I'll be the proudest Mommy with a whole bag of buttons one day!

We're a house split. I hope there are no tears!

What's hot

2011-02-01T13:23:00.001-08:00

What's hot...

This little guy is called a Puffle. In the Club Penguin world, he's a pet. He requires around the clock attention, love, exercise and food. He'll dance, surf and go deep sea diving with you. Club penguin babysat my boys after I had Sophie and now, we just can't get away from it. It's a really cute, safe place for your kids to go. Here is the website. Once you're there, there's no turning back. Trust me!

http://www.clubpenguin.com/

What's NOT...

One quick and very wrong reach for my razor ended like this. It sliced right through my finger nail. YIKES!

Cousins

2011-01-24T12:55:00.000-08:00

Cousins are friends that will love you forever!

Cherish your family
For they are your treasure
A storehouse of riches
Wealth beyond measure

My Cart Runneth Over

2011-01-23T06:31:00.001-08:00

Treasured Rides

2010-07-07T20:55:00.001-07:00

Some of the most treasured conversations I've had came from a car ride with my family. We use this time to get caught up on our dreams, feelings and secrets. We study for tests, practice our times tables and learn about opposites and rhyming. In the car, I've shared my love for show tunes and introduced them to favorite childhood stories. We've laughed, sang, cried and shared. From games to books on tape, family meetings to history lessons, we've used the many hours we spend in the car as an extra bonus family time. Frequently we play the "count your blessings" game. Today, I can only think of this one...

So you can see....what I see

2010-06-10T12:22:00.000-07:00

I still can't get over this blue eyed beauty. There are times during the day that I look at her and think...who are you? Then I think to myself...I wish everyone could see this child right now! So today, I took a snap shot of this little joy eating her sweet potatoes. Just so you could see what I see every day.

Graduation and New Beginnings

2010-06-09T12:36:00.000-07:00

Now that Noah has graduated from preschool and Sophie won't be going anytime soon...I am truly a Stay-at-home mom. I love being home with my kids. Staying at home allows me to spend precious moments with them, moments that may have been missed if I wasn't here. However, it also means that we live off of 1 income. So many times people say to me "We could never afford it!". The reality of staying at home for us meant making drastic lifestyle changes. We couldn't have afforded it either if we hadn't. I choose to stay at home, giving up the extra income that would allow us to live life a little more freely. Most days, I love being a Stay-at-home mom. Other days, when I think nothing looks good on me, I have no time to exercise, laundry multiplies by the hour, the kids are fighting, the baby is crying, I forgot how to cook, the thought of a dust rag makes me feel nauseous and school didn't start until 3pm, I temporarily change my title to Stuck-at-home mom. This pity party quickly changes when the fighting stops and I see my oldest reading a book to his brother and I think to myself...I taught him how to read! I feel a little less ugly when my 5 year old runs through the house and stops to say "By the way Mommy, I like your shirt!". I start to feel warm and fuzzy inside when I go to check on the baby and her head pops up from her pillow, she starts to kick and squeal and reaches out her arms for me. One after another, moments I share with my children, that may have been missed if I wasn't here. I think to myself...what a blessing it is to be stuck-at-home with them!

Yes, he's mine

2010-04-04T20:25:00.000-07:00

Today I pass down my title to Noah. He is officially the king of "ruining pictures" using his creative faces. However, I'm changing the title for him. He is the king of "making me smile". Others may think the pictures are ruined but I think they're perfect. Here are a few cropped samples of this wild thing in action! I only noticed he was making faces when I uploaded the pictures today. What a nice surprise from a wonderful weekend!

Almost 5!

2010-03-05T12:03:00.000-08:00

Noah is a very smart and interesting little guy. He doesn't let people in very easily but when he does you're in LOVE. He's got a heart of gold and loves to learn. He's the best side kick, crafty to the core and a loyal friend. I feel sorry for those that don't take the time to get to know him. He has the potential to be anything he wants to be and might be one of those people that impacts your life in a big way. I'm excited for him to round the corner and become an official BIG boy. Noah turns 5 on the 31st of March! I know there are still a few weeks left until his birthday but Mommy over here is getting sentimental. Now take a look at his pretty chocolate eyes! They will melt your heart!
!

Baby Dolls

2010-02-13T12:51:00.000-08:00

1. This is why I can't leave Sophie alone with the boys!
2. This is why she can't ever get a good nap.

2010

2010-02-12T12:25:00.000-08:00

WOW. It's been almost 1 year since my last post. Here's an update from 2009 to get you caught up......
WE HAD A BABY!

Yes, you read that right. We had a baby. I found out in Feb. 09' and stopped blogging in March when the sickness settled in. Sophia Bella was born October 3rd, one day after her Daddy turned 30. It's been awhile since my last blog but trust me, it was worth the wait. I'm back and better than ever. My family is complete and we wanted to share the great news with everyone. I leave you with a picture of our new little doll. Enjoy!

Boys & their music

2009-03-06T10:46:00.000-08:00

He lost a tooth

2009-02-18T14:49:00.000-08:00

Joseph came to me the other day, shouting "I know what tooth I will lose first!" He went on to show me his loose tooth. I must say, I was slightly emotional. I showed him how to work on it, to get it loose enough to pull. Then we talked about methods of pulling teeth. I told him of the time I pulled his Uncle Tim's tooth out with a string tied to the door. Later that week, the tooth was about to come out. I went to pull it and he declared that the tooth must go the way Tim's went. Today was the big day! We had the whole family help. I tied the string to the tooth, Noah opened the door and David filmed. After a few failed attempts, David just yanked the string sending the tooth down the hallway. It was an adventure and I can't wait to come up with other ways to get the rest of his teeth out. I wonder how much money he'll get?? He hopes it's worth $100.

I'm looking for some more creative ways to pull his teeth. Please, send me your ideas. We'll film his next tooth being pulled using the best method suggested. It won't be too long from now, there are plenty of other teeth wiggling around in his mouth.

What do your kids do for fun?

2009-02-03T11:49:00.000-08:00

Oooh, that's nice. Your kids read to each other, talk about horses and play house. How sweet!

You want to know what my kids do for fun??

Umm, well. Let me go check on them and see what they're up to right now.

My kids put layers of clothes on their bodies and then see how many pairs of underwear they can get on their head. Do you want to send your kids over for a play date??

Big on Football

2009-01-27T10:30:00.000-08:00

With a house full of boys, there's bound to be some football fans around. I'm thrilled with this because I love football! Here's a little something Joseph said to me today...

"Mommy, when I turn 7 I want to have a Corn Huskers party and when I turn 8 I want it to be the Panthers. When I turn 9, it will be the Pigeons!" To those of you that don't know, the "Cardinals" are playing in the Super Bowl. They beat out the Panthers and so now Joseph wants them to win....only, he mistakenly calls them the Pigeons. Maybe he knows something we don't!

Just for Tim

2009-01-26T13:16:00.000-08:00

I thought you'd like this one! Joseph brought the ball down the court and handed it off. Make sure you're watching Joseph. He's the boy standing behind the boy with the ball. He's got issues when letting someone else take the shot. Maybe he's been playing the Wii too long!

Basketball

2009-01-26T12:04:00.000-08:00

Joseph is finally old enough to play basketball on a team and he loves it. I already have dreams of him playing in college! They had their pictures taken this Saturday. They looked so cute grouped together as a "real" team. There were many options of pictures you could order. And of all things, I ordered a button! A button! Yes, I ordered a button! And I will wear it proudly! Go number 10!

Snow Day

2009-01-20T17:07:00.000-08:00

Yes, it's been ages. I thought it would be nice to share the little miracle we had in North Carolina. It snowed! A few notes before you watch.... 1. I used the few clips I got from an old digital camera of mine...they're not sharp and sometimes very jerky. 2. Please, I know the editing is terrible. You don't have to point it out to me. 3. Don't be alarmed when you see Noah's hair cut. During the process of shaving his head, he requested a little hair on top to be funny. I honored that request 1. because he's so darn cute 2. because we had no place to go until Wed. To those of you still concerned.....it has since been shaved completely off. Enjoy our Snow Day!

Bed Head?

2008-11-19T07:28:00.001-08:00

Can you imagine waking up to this?!?

This suits our kids well

2008-11-18T10:22:00.001-08:00

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

2 Reasons Why I Love the Day After Halloween..

2008-11-05T11:46:00.000-08:00

1. Costumes 75% off
2. Endless hours of dress up fun
Don't be jealous Tim. I got you one in your size!

Fairy Land

2008-09-21T15:28:00.000-07:00

Since David was gone for the weekend, I had to use our time/days wisely (otherwise, it would have been a long weekend). This morning we made muffins for breakfast and had a pretend birthday party.

This afternoon, we made a "Fairy Land". The inspiration came the other day when the giant mushrooms in our yard appeared for the second time. The first time, I pretended (in my own mind) that they were the homes for a little Fairy community. A few days later, someone (I never could get anyone to own up to it) had pulled this little community out of the ground. So when the mushrooms came out again, I decided it was time to use them wisely before they were gone.

Of course, when I presented the boys with the idea of painting the mushrooms (to attract tenants) and constructing a Fairy hotel, they were thrilled.

I am pleased to announce that we are now open for business and will be checking the hotel daily. If anyone out there has any Fairy friends looking for a new place to stay, please mention our humble hotel and our fabulous Mushroom suites! Email us at Fairyhotel@charter.net for a list of amenities and more pictures.

Queen size bed with pillow and blanket
Computer desk with fresh flowers

Mega Post

2008-09-17T19:58:00.000-07:00

Noah had his first day of school Tuesday. I took these pictures before we left the house. He had a great time. Here is a list of things he said he did at school. "We ate baby pretzels, baby tookies and baby bananas!" "We sang a song about ants that go up and down and march around." "We learned about the Bible and Jesus in my heart!" "When we sit we do criss cross applesauce." This next video is a clip from that morning. It's a big production to try and get them up and ready before school. Take a look and you'll see what I mean. Watch this!

This next video is a short preview of the basement. I'm posting the "tour" clips at the end mainly for my dad. Without him, we would not be near the end. He flew down a number of times to help with the construction. Thanks Dad! You're awesome! I've been working endless hours, trying to get the basement painted. There is a schoolroom, office, familyroom, bedroom, playroom and clubhouse (a room within a room). I saved the clubhouse for the boys to help me paint. They had a little too much fun. I will post pictures when it's finished!

Last but not least...after licking the brownie bowl clean, I tried to get a few pictures of the boys, sitting still, on the counter, looking very yummy. This is what I got!

I hope you enjoyed the nice display of monkeys and monsters. This is the end of my Mega post. I hope you all have a great day!

Cute sticker

2008-08-16T21:44:00.000-07:00

Create your own family sticker graphic at pYzam.com

Our Many Faces

2008-08-13T20:44:00.001-07:00

What you do at a concert during intermission!

I'd explain

2008-08-06T23:03:00.000-07:00

If I had the time, I'd tell you what a blast we're having on our trip. I'd tell you how wonderful it is to be with my family. I'd go on and on about the different places we've been and all the times we've laughed. I'd explain in great detail the pure beauty of Tim & Mallory's wedding. I'd fill you in on how happy they are and how blessed we are to have Mallory as a part of this family but I'm too busy laughing and loving to go into these things. You'll just have to wait!

Cockman's in Nebraska

2008-07-28T20:22:00.000-07:00

We are 6 days into our 3 week trip to Nebraska. Today is the first day I've had time to get on the computer. It has been non-stop family, friends, parties and fun! The kids are starting to settle into mid-west living and I am certainly glad to be home. It's amazing how fast you fall into a new routine and how easy it is. I was a little scared to be gone for such a long time and now I wish I would have made the trip even longer. I've been away from NE for 9 years! It's about time I spend a little more time here....giving my kids a sense of where I'm from. They love the constant attention and everyone here is glad to give it. Memories from my childhood that I thought were long gone are flooding in like a river.

We're going swimming every day and boy can you tell! Joseph has turned into the fish that I was! He's swimming like a pro and looks like he's ready to race. Noah has made several attempts to take his floaties off. A few times he succeded. He took them off and jumped into the water (over his head) and swam to the side. Just like that. HELP! They're growing so fast. Joseph has made some neighborhood friends. He even found one that looks just like him. My dad bought him a bike to ride and they've been going on evening rides through the neighborhood. When I was gone the other day, they road their bikes to the gas station to get some candy (just like we used to) and then went to a pond to search for fish. It brought tears to my eyes as he talked with excitement about riding in the street and using his bike to get from place to place. I realized then, that as long as we make a better effort to get the kids to NE, they'll be able to experience some of the things I did as a kid. It makes me feel more complete as a mother to give them some of these experiences. Here are a few pictures of our trip so far. I hope you're all having a great summer and staying cool!
!

4th of July

2008-07-03T07:14:00.000-07:00

The 4th of July used to be my favorite holiday. As a kid, we would go to my Grandpa & Grandma's cabin for the week. We would spend the time together 4-wheeling, boating, wave running, tubing, skiing and eating potato salad! Best of all, we'd all be together. We'd use all of our allowance to purchase fire crackers. My cousin Shawn and I would jimmy rig the fire crackers to see how many we could get going at one time. One time we boobie trapped the whole house with the pull string fire crackers. Every door, cubbard and drawer was attached to the string fire crackers. Oh how we laughed as our Grandma chased us around trying beat the snot out of us when she found out. There are many times I get home sick but I think the 4th is the hardest. It's not just the loss of youth and those days in the past but also the longing for my family, mostly the ones that have gone on. Shawn, I miss you the most during this time of the year. I hope you knew how much I treasured those times we had together. Nothing will ever replace the memories I have of the 4th of July weekend. Looking forward, I need to pull myself together and start to make new memories. Memories that will be as close to my kids when they're grown as mine are to me. To all of the Vallier's reading this (even though there aren't many of us) I hope you have a great 4th of July. I miss you dearly and I'll be home in just 3 weeks! To everyone else, treasure this time with your family and don't forget to tell the ones you love just how much they mean to you. Love, Jessie

Addicted

2008-06-21T21:23:00.001-07:00

Yes, I am addicted to making home videos. The resources I have on my computer are slim but I'm enjoying it none the less. If someone out there would like to purchase an IMac for me, I'd gladly accept. There's no telling how much time I'd waist playing with one!!! Anyone??!?? I'll even dedicate a video to you!
I hope you guys like our latest project!

Just for laughs

2008-06-13T22:23:00.000-07:00

Joseph and Noah love the movies I make of them. They could watch them over and over. Today, I thought I would capture them as they saw the "Slip n' Slide" video for the first time. There's not a whole lot to the video but I thought it would be enough to make you smile...at least it was for me!

Enjoying our summer

2008-06-11T23:10:00.000-07:00

Apples to Apples

2008-06-09T22:15:00.001-07:00

Let me explain these pictures... David and I took the boys camping for the weekend. As we were eating burgers on Friday night, I noticed that Noah had a large amount of ketchup on his face. I wanted to take a few pictures of him because I thought it was cute and also strange that it was on his eyebrow. As I take a few pictures, Joseph (not wanting to be left out) starts to apply ketchup and mustard to his face. Now, we are all laughing and I look over at David and notice that he also has ketchup on his face (not on purpose). I guess the apples don't fall far from this tree.

Tagged

2008-06-04T21:46:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged by an old friend to answer these questions.

4 things i was doing 10 years ago:
1. Working at Kindercare in the 2 year old room.
2. Boating, wave running & partying
3. Making plans to fly to CA to meet someone I'd met online
4. Getting ready for college and sorority rush week

Wow, I've come a long way in 10 years. Thank you Lord for your Mercy, Grace and Salvation!

4 things i was doing 5 years ago:
1. Traveling around and exploring North Carolina
2. Playing the part of the "stay-at-home mom" in my newly built house
3. Rocking my 6 month old baby boy
4. Obsessively cleaning my house

4 things i did yesterday:
1. Took the boys to Carowinds (a 6 Flags kind of theme park) We rode roller coasters & water slides!
2. Went to McDonald's to get Happy Meals! (I remember the excitement of getting them when I was a kid)
3. Went shopping for camping supplies & food but came back with the cutest shoes and material to make a skirt.
4. Paid $1,600 in airline tickets to make it home for my brothers wedding this summer. Ouch!

4 shows i like to watch:
1. Desperate Landscapes
2. Flip that House
3. What Not to Wear
4. House Hunters

Okay...here is the tagging part. I'll tag Melissa, Connie Edwards, Crystal & Emily

Graduation

2008-06-04T10:45:00.000-07:00

Joseph graduated from Pre-school a few weeks ago. When asked on the spot & on stage what he wanted to learn in Kindergarten, he kindly replied "I want to learn how to read". I'm lucky to have a guy so eager to learn. I hope you enjoy the pictures from his special day. I'm also including a picture of him with his first ever ribbon & prize. He won the drawing contest at school this year! Congratulations Joseph!

My Joe

2008-06-02T21:10:00.001-07:00

Our Family

2008-05-30T19:10:00.001-07:00

Joseph finally has a real guitar. He had his first lesson today and walked away on a cloud. I think he looks like a natural...what do you think?

Nebraska

2008-05-14T20:48:00.000-07:00

This past week Joseph and I went to Nebraska to attend Tim's graduation. We had the finest seats in the auditorium due to the fact that he was singing the National Anthem for the ceremony. We loved the extra attention, being escorted into the "special" seats and avoiding the mass crowds afterwards. Congratulations Timmy! We're so proud of you!

It was great to spend some time with Tim and his adorable (I'm sure I've used that word to describe her before but that's exactly what she is)future wife. You won't find a better match than those two.

We spent Mother's Day with the entire Vallier family at my Aunt Sherry & Uncle Rogers house. I usually learn so much about myself when I go home.

#1 At my Grandmas house, we were sitting around, hanging out and she keeps getting up to clean and organize (she just can't be still)! Ah, so that's where I get it from.

#2 My Aunt Sherry has this perfectly manicured lawn, with tons of color and life. It looks as if she's quite obsessed with it. I realize that...I too, am quite OCD when it comes to my yard.

#3 And then there's my Dad. Oh, my precious Dad. He just continues to get better looking with age. Uh huh....you know where I'm going with that one!

It's always so refreshing to go back home (to Nebraska that is). I must say, however, that it was just as great to get back to North Carolina knowing that I had this little Brownie waiting on me! Oh how I missed my Noah!

Tim Singing

2008-04-30T11:08:00.001-07:00

My brother Tim sent us a recording of him singing with a choir in Europe (he's the soloist). I wanted to capture the kids hearing it for the first time so he could see how excited they got. What you're about to see is just that and let me say, this is a typical reaction for my boys. ENJOY!

Riding a bike!

2008-04-29T20:17:00.001-07:00

Behind the wheel!

2008-04-27T18:57:00.000-07:00

Here's what you get when you put a 3 year old behind the wheel of his favorite yellow (or as he says, lellow) car!

Where I am

2008-04-13T20:17:00.001-07:00

Some of you have been asking me if I'd ever post again. So, here I am. Things are very busy at my house this time of the year. I work full time during the spring months as a festival administrator. The festival is Memorial Day weekend. Until then, I'll be up to my ears in work. Here are a few pictures to satisfy those that keep asking about updates. Enjoy!

SNOW

2008-01-17T09:21:00.000-08:00

Puzzles

2008-01-16T13:02:00.001-08:00

It amazes me how easily Joseph can put together a puzzle. Here are a few of his finished pieces along with a cute picture of the boys. I hope everyone is having a great week!

Birthday Weekend

2008-01-16T12:49:00.000-08:00

This weekend was the first mini vacation we took with our good friends Tim, Rebecca & Riley Murray. Hopefully it will be an annual trip for all of us. Friday we went to the Dixie Stampede. If you've never been before, I highly recommend it. Saturday, my birthday, was spent exploring the town and spending money! Once the kids were in bed we played games and questioned whether Becca had put something "special" in the brownies! I've not laughed that hard in a long, long time. Thank you guys for such a great weekend! We can't wait to do it again.

Tis the season

2008-01-01T08:41:00.001-08:00

We had a wonderful time the last few weeks. Here are a couple of my favorite pictures! I hope everyone had a great Christmas and I want to wish you all a Happy New Year! 2008! WOW

Check out my Slide Show!

2008-01-01T08:38:00.001-08:00

1st time on the board

2007-12-31T18:11:00.000-08:00

Talent

2007-12-15T20:27:00.000-08:00

My kids have mad skills!

Animals?

2007-12-12T20:56:00.000-08:00

Look at the stair steps!!!

Here are the 8 Cockman kids singing at Lake Junaluska to a very large crowd. Poor Joseph couldn't figure out if he belonged with the older kids or the younger kids. And Noah....oh sweet Noah...he just likes to shake! A lot!

Delivery!!

2007-12-11T13:50:00.001-08:00

Yes, you are looking at a picture of delivery pizza! I won't tell you what I paid to have it brought out to our house...and I won't mention that it was hardly even warm (due to the distance they had to drive)...I will say, it might as well have been Ed McMann at our door! Who would have known, a man bringing pizza to our front door, would bring so much joy! YEA for delivery in the boondocks!

WOW

2007-12-07T12:21:00.000-08:00

The Fisher Price FP3 Player works wonders when they're sick in bed.

So, we made it through the throwing up. I'm telling you, that "natural" stuff worked wonders. WONDERS!

I went online and found it at a few different stores. $25 a bottle plus shipping is more than worth it. I received a comment asking what this miracle stuff was. I thought keeping it a secret would get someone to comment and it did. The only this is, you left yourself anonymous. Ahhh. How will I ever know who actually reads this blog if you guys don't tell me?

On to the next topic
Removing urine and vomit from your mattress

Those of you that know me know that I'm a complete neurotic cleaner. I like things to be fresh, clean and in place. I'm usually on top of accidents before they ever happen. So, I don't know what happened when it came to the mattresses in the kids room.

Round 1

Noah, still wearing diapers, totally leaks through his diaper and on to the mattress. I had a mattress pad under the sheet but it still leaked through. If that wasn't bad enough, the smell was. Goodness! What did he drink the day before? So...I did some research on the web to find the best way to clean it. Here are the suggestions I considered:
1. Vinegar/water solution
2. Some sort of pet mess remover
3. Baking soda
4. Sunlight

I went with the baking soda. Tons of it. I put it on the mattress and let it sit for 24 hours. I did this for days and the smell, very slowly, disappeared. I also added some Febreeze just in case. Once it was all dry, I put a vinyl zippered mat on the bed, a mattress cover, a pee pad and the sheet. I hope this will do the trick.

Round 2

You would think going through all of that, I would have prepared Josephs bed. I didn't. (I know, this isn't like me) BAD MOVE When he was sick the other day, it soaked through all the layers and on to the mattress. AHHHH This time I chose a different route.

First I took a dry towel and tried to soak up anything I could. Next, I put the mattress on the front porch. I stood it up so the sun would hit it directly all day. After day one, it had slightly faded. So I kept it out for one more day. Day 2 I purchased a pet/carpet cleaner. I went outside to scrub it on the mattress. The stain was gone. The smell was gone. I couldn't even find where it had been. WOW I still scrubbed the cleaner into the mattress and plan on putting baking soda on it as well. After all of this, I will put a vinyl cover on the bed (in case you were wondering). All in all, nature works best. I'm very impressed.

Oh and that natural stuff I gave Joseph is called Ultimate Aloe 150% Whole Leaf Aloe Vera Juice, Apple/Cranberry flavor. Let me know if you try it!

Looks like we made it! Or not?

2007-12-05T21:31:00.000-08:00

For the last 4 years, poor little Joseph has been tormented by the stomach bug. Last year he hit an all time record of 8 rounds. Yes, he had the bug 8 different times! WHEW It started early November and ran through till May, sometimes lasting over a week!

I started to wonder if this would be a regular winter activity in the years to come. Today, I thought to myself..."Looks like we made it, maybe...we won't get it this year."

I was WRONG. That poor kid.

A friend of mine told me of this "natural" stuff you can take when you're throwing up. I remembered we had it in the fridge, waiting to be tested. I gave it to Joseph after the first time he threw up. He kept crying saying he was going to throw up again and then all of a sudden...he seemed better. Now, he's asleep. I know, you're thinking maybe he wasn't all that sick, right? Let me tell you, when Joseph feels even a twinge of stomach pain, he throws up. Those of you that know him know that he has one of the weakest stomachs ever. So, yes, I think we've found something BIG.

Joseph turns 5!

2007-11-21T21:12:00.001-08:00

Joseph, the professional ring bearer!

2007-11-18T20:59:00.000-08:00

Holiday Fun

2007-11-18T20:52:00.000-08:00

Click on this link to see the good time we're having!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9544514590

Thank you to the slim few who commented on my blogs. I changed the comment section to accept anyone so now there are no excuses!

To Clique or not to clique?

2007-11-10T17:21:00.000-08:00

Why do we have this need to fit in? Everyone is out to impress, gain approval and essentially become a member of a clique. For what, a sense of belonging? You want to feel like you belong to this group, even if though you don't like half the people in it. Is it a source of support or simply a way to protect you from other cliques and your own insecurities?

In the end, do you want to be a part of a group that can leave you stripped of individuality and prevent you from mixing with people outside your group? Cliques cause you to act differently from normal in an effort to fit in; often leaving you feeling even more lost than when you were alone.

So I ask again....why do we have this need to fit in? Find confidence and boost your self esteem so that you can stand proud. Don't let yourself be labeled. Be yourself!

A few pics & updates

2007-11-08T19:42:00.001-08:00

Joseph turns 5 soon! 5!! Seriously?!? I know...time just keeps slipping away. We've been busy planning his birthday party. It's actually a lot of fun now that he can give his input. He's picked out the decorations all the way down to the food we'll serve. It's not a big party but one he's going to leave his mark on. This will be the 1st he's done the planning for. How fun!
Noah really enjoys the time he's getting with me when Joseph is at school. We've had a great time searching for marked down Halloween costumes. He loves to run around the house, pretending he's a super hero. These boys are great and so much fun. Not to mention, adorable. Aren't they so cute?!?

Find Noah

2007-10-31T14:33:00.001-07:00

I know.....how cute!

Fall Field Trips

2007-10-10T12:11:00.000-07:00

Fall is my favorite time of the year. Here in NC, when it starts to cool off and the leaves change colors, there's no place I'd rather be. However, we're still suffering from the heat of the summer. This week the temperatures have hit the mid 90's and the lack of rain is apparent looking around our dead yard and dying trees......fall is a thing nearly forgotten.

We're still trying to enjoy the regular fall festivities. We've made trips to the Lazy 5 ranch, Deal Orchard, Murray's Mill and a few days from now Patterson Farms Pumpkin Patch.

Joseph is in Pre-school 3 days a week. He really enjoys this time on his own. Noah enjoys having his Mommy to himself. I must say, however, that they really love to get back together at the end of the day. They have become best friends and I couldn't ask for anything else.

Joseph has become quite the artist. He loves to draw, everything and anything. He sets up things to draw and gets into a lot of detail. He also thinks he's Spanish. He loves anything Spanish and is trying his hardest to learn the language. He even tries to read books in Spanish, making up words when he doesn't know them.

Noah recently found the joys of books. I thought I was lucky to have one child that loved books (Joseph). Add Noah to the deal and I know I'm blessed. What a great time we have, going to the book store, getting that stack of books and falling into a world of imagination.

My dad will be here in 1 week. We're all anxiously awaiting his arrival. He'll stay for 2 weeks! We're going to have a great time.

We're also going to take the boys to Nebraska for Christmas! I've not been home in 2 years so I'm thrilled. Tim graduates in May, so we'll be there and back again in August for Lindsey's wedding. We've got a busy year ahead of us.

I hope everyone is having a great October. Time just keeps flying by. Hopefully I'll write again before November.

One last thing......is anyone reading these posts??? Let me know!

Van Joe or PicasJoe??

2007-09-10T14:18:00.000-07:00

"All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up." Pablo Picasso

Miles

2007-08-23T08:01:00.000-07:00

Can miles truly separate you from friends.... If you want to be with someone you love, aren't you already there? ~Richard Bach

Missing someone gets easier
every day because even though

it's one day further from the last

time you saw each other, it's one

day closer to the next time

you will. ~Author Unknown

Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened. ~Theodor Seuss Geisel

We had such a blast with Tim and Mallory. Spending time with the ones you love helps you remember who you are and leaves you longing for next time.

Love is missing someone whenever you're apart, but somehow feeling warm inside because you're close in heart. ~Kay Knudsen

We'll not say "goodbye" but "see you soon!"

Where is the good in goodbye?~Meredith Willson, The Music Man

Thanks for a great time Tim & Mally. We're already missing you (and your Starbucks discount) but we know we'll see you soon! I'll leave you with an Irish Blessing.

May flowers always line your path and sunshine light your day.May songbirds serenade you every step along the way.May a rainbow run beside you in a sky that's always blue.And may happiness fill your heart each day your whole life through.

Nap Time Conversations

2007-08-16T12:46:00.001-07:00

Joseph is very talkative. You wonder where that came from, right? So, when Noah is taking a nap, we talk. Today, I thought I would type our conversation. Thus, the title of this blog, Nap Time Conversations.

What was your favorite part of Mallory’s Birthday?
Eatin Muffins, the boo berries, yum, yum, yum. Even I like playing with my new turtle.

Where’d you get your turtle?
At the Build a Bear store.

What’s his name?
The turtles name is Joseph, the doggie is Bo and my bear is Buddy.

What did Tim teach you yesterday?
Drugs

What do you know about drugs?
Taking them and you turn to a bad guy when you pick one of those. Then someone have to call the police and then they have to go to jail.

Do you like to go to church?
Yes

Why?
Cause when you say I don’t want to go to church the devil will hold on me and they will be happy. And then they may get on your shoulder and they make you sick.

What happens if you say you want to go to church?
The devils get mad.

Who is your best friend?
Tim and Noah

What is your favorite thing to play?

Umm robots and my ship. Umm play with my dinosaurs.
I love to play with crayons and drawing and paint. Even I like to sleep. I say ok EVERY time, when I go to sleep.

I have a lot or words, right? My favorite part is playing with my airplanes. Cause I have an airplane.

What can you tell me about airplanes?
Umm they’re smooth and that is aero dynamit I have lots of words right?
One is red and it’s the fastest in the whole world and its big and it can fly. Cause its aero dynamit.

I have some more…..dinosaurs are real but they died. Pirates too but there are still more pirates. Theres lions too. That’s it. I don’t want to talk anymore.

Joseph waited by the door all morning for Tim to arrive. These pictures were taken after he talked to Tim on the phone. Tim told him he wouldn't be there for 1000 hours.

My thoughts for today

2007-08-14T19:56:00.000-07:00

My thoughts for today

Regarding family

* Just because you may not talk very often or see each other as much as you'd like, doesn't mean you don't care.

*Never let pride stand in the way of turning to those that care for you most.

*Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

My Favorite * It's not about how much time you get with the ones you love but the quality of the time that you get with them.

My baby brother is here for a week! He's brought along his precious little girlfriend, Mallory. (I say little because she's 5'1/2" and we're all giants) Her birthday is tomorrow.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MALLORY

It's so wonderful to have them here. No one will ever know how much Tim means to me. He is the best brother anyone could ever ask for. It makes me wonder, how does someone make it through life without a brother?

A brother is a friend given by God.

Words from the mouth of a child

2007-08-13T12:01:00.000-07:00

The toy promised to Joseph when in the ER.

Doctor Noah picks out a toy too!

So, Joseph is on an antibiotic. He is acting out of character. He doesn't hear a word I say. He can't sit still and... well, he's just acting quite naughty to say the least. The problem is that I don't want to discipline him. I feel so sorry for him and I know it's the drugs causing him to be this way. So, I've been looking through my parenting handbook to try and find the answer. Oh, wait! There's no such thing is there? HELP!!! 4 more days of this!!!

Here is a segment I've titled
"Words from the mouth of a child"

True stories:

Last night David was lying in bed saying prayers with Joseph. Joseph said “Daddy, maybe you were saying the wrong prayers and that’s why I got run over by the golf cart.” David said “Oh no Joseph. Jesus was watching over you!” Joseph said “Well, maybe he didn’t see me then.”

Tell me that doesn't break your heart!

At the grocery store the check out clerk asked Joseph what happened to him. As he told her the story he showed her every mark and bruise on his body. At the end of the story he very quickly turned around and attempted to pull down his pants to show her his bruised up bottom. I told him that she would be fine not to see his bottom. As we walked away the woman said "Bye, Bye Joseph. Nice to meet you" to which Joseph replied "Bye, Bye sweet honey!"
Such charm!

A while back Joseph ran up to me and slapped me on my back side. I said "Joseph, did you just spank my bottom?" Joseph said "No, Mommy. I was just giving your bottom a high five!"
Yes, I know. He's my child.

Last but certainly not least. We were at the mall and the boys had each gotten a cookie. They were free cookies given to the kids. Since no one would share, I stopped at the cookie store to get one for myself. Noah said to me "I want a cookie" and I said "You've already got a cookie Noah!" At that point I looked at Joseph and he had this little twinkle in his eye. He said "I want a cookie Mommy!" I said "Joseph, I know you had a cookie, what have you done with it?" He then held out his hands to show that he had no cookie. I said "Joseph, where did your cookie go?" At that, he turned around and tucked in his butt cheeks (outside of his clothing) was his cookie!
It's funny how I can feel you laughing at me now. I think we've established the point that this kid is a lot like his Mommy.

His ear looks awsome today!

Joseph still shows favor to this leg.

Joseph's accident

2007-08-12T11:57:00.000-07:00

Everyone wants the story……so here it is.

My in-laws have a golf cart. From time to time they drive around and pick up all the kids (since we all live on the same land). My Mother-in-law likes to pick them up and take them on little nature walks and maybe have a little lesson along the way. Friday, she picked up all the kids and did just that. Around 11am she started to return the kids to their homes. She pulled up to my back deck and she and Joseph hopped off of the golf cart. She was helping him gather his sticks and other treasures when he walked back over to the golf cart. He was at the back of the cart and his brother, Noah and cousin Jeremiah had jumped in the front seat and stepped on the break release, which then turns to power for the cart. It was in reverse and they back up over Joseph. It knocked him down on the ground face first.

At this point in the story, I must say, that she could not see Joseph any more because he was under the cart and it happened so fast. So the rest of the story is what we feel happened after closely looking under the golf cart and examining his body. The cart ran over him feet first. A bolt under the cart punctured his bottom and possibly picked him up and dragged him a very short distance and turned his body slightly. The bolt then went diagonally across his back and up his ear and his head above his ear. The opposite site of his body was very scratched and burned by the grass.

I was sitting in my house on the computer when this was happening. I heard a terrible scream outside and ran out, prepared to see that Noah had fallen down a few stairs. The sight I saw was terrible. My precious little boy, blood all over, scared and crying. From there we got in the car and drove him to the hospital. During the ride he started to complain that his bottom hurt, his should hurt….etc. When we arrived at the hospital they took him right in. It was a sight as we undressed him to see cut after cut, bruise after bruise on his body, head to toe. It was like a road map on his body, the cuts told the story of what happened.

Joseph got around 25 stitches. He had a cut above his ear that ran down the shape of his ear and ended in a hole, the size of the bolt under the cart. The inside of the ear was cut directly across the ear and then there was a small cut on the back side of the ear lope.

After looking at the cuts and under the cart we realized just how luck he was. We were worried that there could be internal damage. We could see all the damage on his body but it was the unknown that scared us terribly. It’s now two days later and he’s recovering very quickly. His leg still looks infected and his ear has been draining but I know that with prayer, that too will clear up. He says he has no pain anywhere.

He is a miracle child! The overflow of love, support and prayers has been wonderful. It really touches our hearts and reminds us how precious life is. Joseph said today “it’s like my birthday” in reference to all the presents he’s received. Please continue to pray that all the wounds will clear up and no infection will settle in. Also, remember us all in your prayers that we can forget and move on. We love you guys and thanks again for everything.

My first blog

2007-08-12T07:42:00.000-07:00

Well, here I am. I've finally decided it would be best and easiest to start a blog. Everyone knows I'm not good to send out pictures or make phone calls. Now, I will journal our fun days (and not so fun) and everyone can enjoy. Its a win/win situation. So, enjoy!