Making Phone Calls.

When Preston was little James and I made the mistake of letting him play with our cell phone. So, we determined that Landon would not be allowed to touch them....easier said than done. Landon is ridiculously stubborn. He doesn't get hi hand on my phone very often but when he does he made the most of his few seconds of naughtiness.

For Example: This past July I was able to take the kids and go stay in DC for 3 weeks. During that time Landon came down with a cold. I got him up one morning and the snot was unbelievable. So, I grabbed him to wipe his nose. You would have thought I was killing the kid. He started screaming and thrashing all around. Somehow, during the struggle he managed to get my phone out of my pocket and called Aunt Janis (James' aunt) I did not realize that he had done this until a few minutes later when she called me almost in a panic. Scared her to death.

He is also fond of sending blank text messages to Aunt Carissa (my life long best friend)

Normally he gets in trouble for touching my phone. However, this morning he made a phone call and I didn't have the heart to punish him for it.

I had plugged my phone in to charge and walked out of the room to go do something. I returned a few minutes later to find that Landon had managed to put the phone on speaker and called his daddy. By the time I got in there he was in the middle of a conversation. His little face was beaming. I think it totally made James day as well. So, I let it go this time.

It feels like Fall!!!!!!

Fall is by far my favorite time of year. Maybe I love it so much because I was born in the fall....I just realized my birthday is 3 weeks away. Yay me!!!!!

The past few years I haven't done much for fall. I was too exhausted from being preggers to get much into the fall spirit. Even this year I haven't been feeling it. However, I was walking out the front door to leave for the grocery store when the people who live across the way opened their front door. The most amazing smell of cinnamon and pumpkin filled the breeze way. I wanted to just go sit in their living room and enjoy the smell....Landon must have been thinking the same thing because he started walking through their open door. Anyways I knew I had to get some Fall decorations and scents going at my house. So, while we were at Bilo we got a huge pumpkin and a spiced cider candle. When I got home I immediately lit the candle. Then I set up my Fall/Winter Hot Drink Station. I stored the toaster oven under the counter and replaced it with my coffee maker, hot pot (for boiling water) and a basket filled with hot coco mix, apple cider mix, hot tea, honey and marshmallows.





Here is a list of my favorite things about Fall.

~ Hot Apple Cider
~ The smell of leaves
~ Sweatshirts
~Fresh picked Apples
~Thanksgiving
~My birthday ; P
~The sound of crunching leaves
~ Rainbow colored fires my dad makes in the fire pit at his house.
~ being able to play outside in the sunshine and not get all sweaty.
~ Curling up on the couch with a blanket and hot cider.
~ Grilled cheese and tomato soup
~ Scarfs
~ Candy Corn

Sky Top Apple Orchard!!!!!

Landon's favorite activity was rolling around in the dirt.


Preston loves tractors!!!!!



Fresh Apple Spice donuts!!!!!!


Me and my baby girl!!!!!!!!!!!





Preston really liked the hayride.
Soooooo tired after our super fun day.....

Day at the play gound with Daddy.

While Daddy was home we packed as many fun activities as we could. I already posted pictures of our Zoo trip. So, here are pictures of our trip to the playground.

Daddy is gone/ kids are sick

So, I haven't written in a while. James was home for a few days and then all the kids caught a cold. Needless to say I've been a bit busy.
James had to fly back to DC Tuesday night. So, we decided to just chill at home all day till we had to leave for the airport. James spent most of the day just cuddling with the kids. I am still amazed at how attached all 3 of the kids are to James. So many people told me that the kids wouldn't miss him and that when he came home it would take several days for the kids to get use to him again....not true for my kids!!!!!! Just goes to show what an amazing Dad James is. : )
Anyways, that afternoon we took James to the airport. James and I decided it would be easier to just drop him off and say goodbye at the car. I think the less of a big deal we make out of it the better. The kids have asked about Daddy a lot since he left but overall things are going better than I though they would. I'm so proud of my little men. Since James went home Preston is back to being the protector. He is always to concerned that Landon and Madison are taken care of...Bottles, Blankets, Toys....Also, every night before I put them all down for bed Preston gives Madison and Landon kisses and tells them that Daddy loves them. And yes I cry every time.
In other news....all the kids have caught a horrible cold. Poor little guys are coughing, sneezing and have snot pouring down their little faces. I found Preston trying to use the bulb to suction out Madison's nose. She was looking at him like he had lost his mind. hehehe Oh, and Landon is walking around blowing snot bubbles out of his nose and popping them with his finger...

Daddy is home for the weekend!!!!!

So, for most of this past week I have been getting ready for James to come home. The plan was for him to fly in late Friday night and fly out Tuesday afternoon. Friday morning I needed to go get groceries.....I had been putting this trip off for days. So, I decided to go early in the morning to get it our of the way. I needed to spend the rest of the day cleaning and getting ready for a party I was going to later that evening. When we got to the store I started feeling a bit sick to my stomach and my back was hurting. I decided to still try to make it through my shopping trip....bad choice. Between pushing a huge shopping cart filled with groceries and 75 pounds of little boys and wearing 20 pound Madison in a carrier my back started throbbing. I ended up cutting my chopping trip short and going home. After several hours at home with no relief I finally called my mom to come watch the kids so I could go to the chiropractor. I must say I would die without a chiropractor. Anyways, the rest of the day was really fun. Tracy ( my awesome babysitter) came over to watch the kids while I went to the party. The party was a lot of fun and helped pass the time till James flew in at 11:30. We decided to not tell the kids that Daddy was home till Saturday morning. So, Saturday morning we got up and James went in and woke the boys up. They were super excited. James carried them both into the living room and they sat with daddy while I cooked breakfast for everyone.

That afternoon we went to the Greenville Zoo. Someone remind me to never go to the Zoo on a Saturday. The place was packed. We ended up leaving after about 20 minutes. The boys aren't use to being there when it's crowded and it was a bit overwhelming for them. So, we came home, had lunch, took naps and then Uncle Sam come over for dinner. Overall it was a very exciting day.

We love the Greenville Zoo

The Greenville Zoo had become a weekly activity for us. Most of the entrance workers know who I am now....not sure if that is funny or sad. Anyways here are some pictures of the kids enjoying the Zoo.






Last time we went to the Zoo before Daddy deployed

The second we get past the entrance Preston runs to see the elephants
Madison happy to be out of the infant car seat and sitting up like a big girl
"Let me go Mommy. I want to go play with the boys"
"Ok, I guess I can look cute for one picture"
Landon LOVES the goats....and please note the 3yr old jumping
the fence....yes this is the time he got in the goat pin.
Landon likes to try to give the goats kisses.
Landon's first time climbing up on the playground!!!!
Madison and Landon are stroller buddies!!!!!!

One of Those Days

The summer before I got pregnant with Preston I started working at a coffee shop. That started my love of coffee and I learned how to make all the specialty drinks. So, tonight I decided to make myself one. I had a really rough day and decided to use the good coffee. (extra bold starbucks) As I opened the bag of ground I paused for a minute to breath in the amazing smell. Suddenly I was back in college....back before I was pregnant. Life was so easy. Of course I didn't think it was easy at the time. If I had only known how good it was. Don't get me wrong. I love my life now. However, life is considerable more difficult. I rarely let myself think about how my live might have been if I had never gotten pregnant with Preston. For those of you who don't know....James and I were sophomores in college when I got pregnant. It's a super long and complicated story but in short form....We found out I was pregnant, one week later withdrew from school and the next day we broke up (not really out choice) and James went back up to Vermont. I didn't see him again till Preston was 3 months old. The time in between was the hardest 12 months of my entire life. Obviously, we worked everything out and are now married and have had two more beautiful children. Life has happened so fast. Four years ago I still had 2 1/2 yrs of college left and thought that James and I would get married in 2009, wait a few years and then think about having a family. Never did I think that in four years I would be married with three kids. I had planned my life to be calm and simple. I thought James and I would have weekly date nights and do all these cool things before we got tied down with kids. We laugh about that now. Since we have been married (2 1/2 yrs) we have gone on maybe seven dates. Now James is deployed and life is even more insane. Today was one of those days that makes me wonder if I can really handle this. I didn't sleep well last night....maybe 5 hours of restless sleep. Madison woke up at 6am (2 hours early) and is apparently teething. (Teething never really bothered the boys that much. Madison is a different story. She has been cranky all day long.) So, I get up, get Madison fed and tried to have her play on the floor while I rest a little bit longer. However, my head was pounding and couldn't rest. Then about an hour later the boys got up. I got them breakfast and sat down to drink some coffee and check FB and e-mail. As I am sitting there Landon climbs up on a chair beside me, flashes a huge smile and then spit a mouthful of chewed up biscuit into my coffee. That was just the beginning of the mischievousness. A few highlights.....Landon spit in my coffee. Preston or Landon (not sure which) decide Madison was hungry and gave her a biscuit to munch on. (she doesn't eat solids yet) Preston figured out how to open up the freezer and climb up the front of the fridge.....he wanted a piece of ice. I lost Madison.....she was hiding with Preston under a pile of blankets. (at least they thought it was funny) And then I found Preston in the dryer....naked. I actually find the mischievousness quit funny. What made my day so difficult was the pounding headache, Madison's crankiness and Landon was clingy all day. Oh and the trash was smelling (yay for diapers) and I didn't get a chance to take it to the dumpster till later in the afternoon.....that really really bothered me....probably because it was not helping my headache. So, once the day started rough every other little thing just seemed magnified. James being on a night shifts and not able to call is not helping. If Preston has to go a long time without talking to daddy you can really tell it bothers him. At least 3 times today, totally without warning, he broke into tears and just cried for daddy. So, we looked at pictures of daddy. He seemed better after dinner and even decided to pick up all the toys in the living room for me. By 8pm they were all in bed and I had managed to get all the cleaning done. So, I guess all is well that ends well. My house is now quiet and I enjoyed an amazing cup of coffee. There are moments that I miss the simplicity of life before kids. However, I look at my life.... I'm 23 yrs old and God has already given me everything I dreamed of. Ever since I was a little girl I wanted to grow up, get married and have 3 kids....and I wanted 2 boys and then a girl. God gave me my wish list. I have an amazing husband and my 3 beautiful babies. There will always be rough days. Today was one of those days...but tomorrow is always a new day with no mistakes in it.

All I want to do is take a shower!!!!!!!

This is the story of my attempt to take a shower this morning.

I wake up and realize that all is quiet. The kids must still be asleep. Awesome. I will take a shower before they get up. I stand up out of bed....Madison wakes up and is ready to eat. No big deal. I will feed her and then jump in the shower before the boys get up. I feed her and get her settled with some toys. I run towards the bathroom. The boys wake up. No fear. I will get them changed, fed and let them watch a movie. Twenty minutes later all three kids are in the living room watching "The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars." I jump in the shower. Two seconds later I hear the bathroom door open. I peak out and see a totally naked 3yr old.
Preston: "I take a shower too Mommy"
Mommy: "No Preston. You take baths with Landon. Not Mommy. But since you are naked please use the potty"
Preston: "NO GO POTTY!!"
And the 3yr old runs out the door. So, I continue my shower and pray that said 3yr old does not pee on the carpet. Five seconds later. "Clink, Splash" I peak out of the shower and find a very cute 18mo old with his hands in the toilet.
Mommy: " Landon Jaxon get your hands out of the toilet right now!"
Landon: "Is a no no Mommy"
Mommy: "That's right. Now please go play"
18 month old leaves. I continue my shower. Five seconds later..... "Clink. Splash"
Mommy: "LANDON JAXON NEWHART, put the plunger down and get out of the bathroom!!!!"
18 month old runs out of the bathroom. I continue showering. One minute later I feel a hand grab the back of my knee. I scream, jump around, get shampoo all in my eyes and find my 18 mo old smiling at me.
Mommy: "No no Landon. Mommy needs privacy."
18 mo old leaves. A few minutes late.... "Clink splash splash splash."
Mommy (who has now paused the shower to jump out and grab the offender): "Landon, get the potty wand out of the potty and go watch your movie."
As the 18 month old is walking out of the bathroom the 3 yr old comes running in screaming..."Mommy Mommy there's a spider."
Mommy: "Where is the spider?"
Preston: "On Meesmon (Madison)!!!"
I panic and go running to the living room to save my daughter. Amazingly I managed to not fall. (Remember...I had just stepped out of the shower to pull Landon out of the toilet and the floor was wet.) I did not find a spider. So, I returned to finish my shower as quickly as possible.

I have vowed to never again attempt to take a shower while the children are awake.
And if you are wondering if it is possible for my life to be this interesting......you may borrow my children for a day.

Carseat safety and why I'm passionate about it.

When I was pregnant I didn't know much about car seat safety. I bought a used car seat and installed it how I thought made since. My fist trip out with Preston he was about 6 days. Ten minutes into the trip I looked in the rear view mirror and noticed that his head seemed to be falling forward too far. However, he was awake and looking around so I didn't worry about it. Another ten minutes later I arrived at my destination and when I went to get Preston out of his car seat I saw that he had fallen asleep. His head was on his chest, his face was blue and he wasn't breathing. I immediately pulled his head back to open up his airway and did a couple breaths of mouth to mouth. I pulled up away to see if he would breath on his own and started screaming at him to breath. I guess the screaming worked because he startled and started breathing. I got him out of the car seat, held him as tight as I could and just sobbed. My son almost died and it was my fault for not installing the car seat the correct way. That experience made me realize that something as simple as an improperly angled car seat could kill a newborn. Since that time I have spent probably over 150 hours researching car seats. The research started out on just how to install them properly. Then I got into more detailed things such as what age, weight, height is correct for which type of car seat and the benefit of extended rear facing. The other huge topic I have researched is which car seats are actually the safest, strongest car seats. When we found out we were pregnant with our 3rd baby we had just purchased a 2005 Corolla. So, I started researching slim car seats to see if it was even possible to fit 3 car seats across the back of a car. On top of that I wasn't willing to compromise safety. This search lead me to Sunshine Kids car seats. Not only would I be able to fit 3 in the back seat of my car but they are also the safest car seat on the market.....only problem is they cost $330.00 each. I did find one other infant car seat (Combi Corroco) that would fit with two of the Sunshine ones but it wasn't much cheaper ($240). $900.00 for 3 new car seats.....that's a lot of money. However, while James and I were still considering what to do another mother told me that car seats were not luxury items or status symbols. That really hit home and James and I decided that we were going to get those car seats no matter how much we had to give up to do it. And thanks to my researching and couponing skills (thank-you Courtney Wilson!!) I was able to get all 3 for just over $600. However, I was then faced with a new problem. I had people criticizing me for obsessing over this and for spending so much money. It is unbelievable to me that a mother would be criticized and even made fun of for trying to keep her children safe. I will not go into great detail about all that. However, I will defend my "obsessing." Set aside my experience of almost killing my child as a result a car seat being installed incorrectly. Car accidents are the leading cause of death for children in the US. Over 1/2 of these deaths could have been prevented if the car seat had been properly installed.


There is a lot more about car seat safety that I will get into at a later date. This is something that is very important to me and something that I think most mothers are not educated on enough. If anyone has any questions feel free to e-mail me. I would be more then happy to help by either sharing what I know or either helping you find the answer.

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