I miss blogging! There's never enough hours in the day to do everything miss doing. I absolutely miss being a stay at home mom. There's so much I miss about it. I hate that I started school. I love the stuff that I've learned and I know if I didn't go..I would regret it and be sour about it. It really makes me apperciate being a stay at home mom a lot more. I've been doing school work with the kids this summer to try and keep the kids minds focused on all that they've learned this past year. We are doing summer journals with the bigs kids. They love them. They are only supposed to do a page front and back..but they always sucker me into doing a lot of them. It's cute though. I love seeing them so enthused about learning. We also have draw and write journals that we write about the fun things they do during the day. I'm trying to keep them busy. I need to find some fun things for the babies. We do chalk a lot. I painted a wall in the big kids room with chalk board paint. They love to be in there and drawing on the wall. LoL it sounds a little funny to tell my kids to go in the big kids room and draw on the wall. But it's great for them. They are starting to talk more. Max is starting to talk a lot more. He's putting three words together. He's saying 'I want that' and 'I don't want' and some other short sayings. He's trying really hard to talk. His faveorite color is red. And he's absolutely charming. He is always thinking about everyone else in the house. When someone is sad or needs something he's right there trying to cheer them up, I love it. Mady's faveorite color is pink! She's very girly which I didn't think she would be having Max as a twin. She's two inches taller and a pound heavier than him. She looks so tall and lean.

My Monday (:

Suprisingly my Monday was a great Monday despite how it started out. I woke up late. 7:33 to be exact. I needed to leave the house with all the kids by 7:45 to get Mikhail to school on time to get him breakfast. It was a really stressful morning. I decided though that I wasn't going to let my stressful morning getting the best of me. I got to school and I got a lot of work done. When I got home, Tim and I went shopping which is always tons of fun. Then after we picked the kids up, I took Makenna to dance which I absolutely love! She's the cutest dancer and I love to see her be so excited about something. She has a recitle coming up soon and she's really nervous about it..and it's so cute. I think it' so important to tell her that no matter how she does at the dance recitle I love her and I'm proud of her. When I told her that, her eyes sparkled and her ace lit up..it made me feel good that she really knew I meant that. When we got home the babies were in bed, so the big kids and I took a walk around the neighborhood. Ahh it brought back instant memories of Brian and I when we were little walking around Goshen. Mikhail reminded me so much of Brian when he was little. He ran up and down the side walk and on everything he could find Lol he's such a boy! He told me he was built for walking and in true girl fashion Makenna said she was built for..walking! Haha that girl is so funny! When we got home from our walk, Mikhail and Makenna painted a little box she had gotten from the Easter bunny. They did such a good job of doing team work, it was adorable. Tim and I made No Bake cookies together. At first I was getting frustrate with him because he doesn't follow the recipie exactly like I do. He likes to add a little extra of this and a little extra of that and that drives me nuts. But then I realized we were doing somethig together we normally don't do and that I should just enjoy it. And once I settled my self down it was fun, and it's definately something I want us to do together more (: I finished the night off reading the kids How to Train Your Dragon and they went to bed. ohhh such a packed day, but so much fun! Im glad the day didn't end how it started.

Mikhail's recipies

Mikhail got excited about a Puala Dean show and he wants me to make these two things for him, so I thought I would share my recipie that I plan to try very soon.

It's a quiche..or however you spell it. But instead of using a pasty crust you use hash browns! Mikhail's faveorite :)

3 cups of frozen hash browns, mixed with melted butter, seasoned with salt and pepper
pat down in a glass pie dish to make crust
Cook at 450 degrees for 25 mins

To make the center:
Use 3/4 cups ham
beat together 3 eggs and salt & pepper and 1 cup of half and half and then add ham & 1 cup of sharp cheddar
Cook 350 degrees for 30 mins

The second one was for white hott chocolate
1 cup white choc chips
1 cup heavy cream
stir until melts
add 4 cups half & half
let simmer until hot
add 1 teaspood vanilla
top with whip cream

Enjoy ;)

A new blog

For anyone who follows this blog and wants to follow a nother one I'm starting..I will continue with this one :) Updates about the kids and cute stuff they do and say. My other blog is more personal. More of my feelings being a Mom of four and just more personal thoughts. I don't know if that sounds appealing to you or not but here's the think :

http://confessionsofarlm.blogspot.com/

So it's been a while since I've updated, but some big things have happened. Well some cute things :D On Christmas Eve Maddox refused to wear a diaper. I kept trying to lay him down for a nap with a diaper and pj pants on, and he'd take the diaper off and put his pants back on. One time he peed in his pants with out his diaper on..so I decided to give him the potty I bought him a day early. At first he didn't want to sit on it at all. Then when Mikhail and Makenna and Madelyn got excited about him being on it, he didn't want to get off. He sat on there forever. We even did the 'water your bug' trick. He finally peed in the potty for the first time and was so excited! He did it again the next day too. I read him a story while he was sitting on the potty and he sat there for a really long time. He definately wants to use it. It's just so hard potty training when we are such a busy family. Mady is starting to want to sit on it, but she's yet to pee on it. She's so cute though when she cheers Maddox on!

Mady has been talking up a storm. Most of it is just jibber jabber. Tim had to work on New Years Eve and he left really really early in the morning. I wanted to lay in bed and be lazy..so I brought all the kids into my room. Maddox kept opening the door and wanting to go out and play downstairs. I kept counting to three and he'd shut the door. Well I must have dosed off because Mady woke me up screaming in my face, so I sit up and she sits up and she points to the door and Maddox had the door open and when I yelled at him to shut it she smiled with saticfation. She compeletely cracks me up! She's been jibber jabbering all the time. She yells at the boys and says, 'nuh uh' all the time! She's a funny silly little girl! Yesterday I showed he a baby dll that used to be mine when I was a little girl, it lights up and when she saw it she was amazed :) She was amazed like I was amazed when I opened it up on Christmas morning, so many years ago! She actually said, 'doll'! And for her not using a lot of words all the time it was really cute to hear <3

Speaking of babies talking, when Maddox was at my dad's house today he called him, 'BOB' and then called him 'Bobby' he's so silly! He also has been saying, 'bye bye' really well. Max is good with the B words and Mady does well with the D words, like Dog and Doll :)

Today I took Makenna to dance class. I haven't been able to find any of her dance clothes for so long, I really don't know what she's done with them. So today before I picked her up from daycare I went and bought her a new leotard and a skirt and she wore tights Mimi's got her for Christmas. She looked so beautiful! Yesterday she decided she wanted to get her hair cut. The bottom of her hair was always getting knotted. When I took her in, the lady said she still had baby hair...because she really hasn't had her hair cut in the last four years. They cut a pretty good amount of hair off, but her hair is so pretty and healthy looking. She feels really pretty with it! She looks pretty too :D She was so funny, when she was getting her hair cut they wetted it down and combed it and it was stilll knotted even though I had given her a bath that morning and brushed her hair..but when she's at home she SCREAMS when I brush her hair..she didn't let anything out once when she was getting her hair brushed..it was so funny how tough she was being! She's growing up on me that's for sure!

It's really weird that my life is changing so much. I always thought that I wouldn't be a career drivin person..but that's exactly what I'm turning into. I am currently going to the spa school for esthetics. My goal in joining the program was that I'd be able to work at a Medi Spa, but now I'm realizing I'm going to need some kind of nursing degree to achieve that. Tomorrow I'm going to go to Columbus State and see what they have to offer as far as a nursing program goes. Everyone is saying that the waiting list is really long, it's kind of discouraging. I'm going to do it anyways. I'm still so younge, even though sometimes I feel so old. I'm only 25. I've accomplished so much in my short 25 years, I think I can do a lot more. I've had four kids, I have a marriage, I've had my ups and downs. Unfortunately right out of high school I didn't go straight into school mode, I started a family first. I think that in a way is against me in my planning. But really my kids will be in school when I start my career, and that will be a bonus. Child care won't be as expensive. Tim is also finishing up his degree. It would be nice for us both to have well paying jobs. I'm really lucky too to have all the support I do. Tim is ver supportive and so are my parents. I've always been such a planner so it's nice to sort of plan the next few years of my life. I have totally loved being a stay at home mom as long as I did. But there are always new chapters and new parts of life to be explored and that's where I'm at right now. Sometimes I feel like I'm standing in the middle of a cross road and there's so many paths I can take..it's a little scary to choose one, but I know I have to trust my heart and go with the one that feels right. Right now it feels right to talk to CSCC :)

On a whole nother note, my kids are changing so much! Mady and Max are talking a lot and they are following directions a lot better. It's so amazing to see how they are changing so much. Maddox is absolutely inlove with Santa. Everytime he sees him he gets so excited! He tries to say, 'ho ho ho' and he knows that Santa gives him presents. It's so cute :) Mady gets excited about Santa too..but when it comes time to see him she freaks out. Mikhail and Makenna can't wait for Christmas. I defiantely want to amke sure that we talk about the true meaning of Christmas with them. But I can't help but to be excited about thier presents. We don't buy them toys very often since they have so many..I really get excited for the excuses to buy them presents!

Max has to go to the doctor tomorrow to check on his ear infections. I think the poor kid just always has them and is going to be getting tubes soon :( I'm scared to think about him getting tubes..but I hate the thought of him being in pain over ear infections :(

Anyways, I try to keep up on the blogs, but a lot of times I fall behind.

The kids are doing amazing. Mikhail is learning SO much! I'm able to sound out a word for him and he's able to spell it for me! He's so smart <3 Makenna is a great daner! She loves ballet and I just love taking her! She's such a sweet and smart little girl. She's really doing well with daycare too! She has a lot of friends there. She even has her first boyfriend Gannon :) She told me that Gannon wants to marry her and one day I went to drop Makenna off and he came running across the room to hug her! I was like WOW, if she's only four and already doing this..imagine 10 years in the future..aye yae yae

Mady & Max have aweful dry sking. Max more than Mady. The doctors tell me to put vasaline on it and hydrocortizone cream, but I don't think it's helping. I'm going to start looking towards some home remidies to try and help them. Today I gave them a bath and let them soak in an Aveno bath soak for dry skin. Max has been crying a lot lately at bath time, and I don't know if it's because it hurts or because he doesn't like the bath..but today he didn't cry :) I wrapped them up in hooded bath towels and they cuddled me like they were still my little babies :) I loved it so much and I just cherished it. They have grown so much, but they are still my babies. It's funny when we go to the day care they see the babies, and they get down and they make little baby noises at the babies..but they are really almost the same size. They are too cute

Teaching the kids organics (:

Today was my day off of school for the week. It really feels weird to be committed to the school four days a week. It really makes the week go really fast! Fridays are awesome days. They are my days to catch up on everything I need to catch up on. Today I was supposed to read a story to Mikhail's class about Christmas. I went to the book store and made sure to pick one out that would tell the real reason of Christmas, Jesus's birth! Of course Mikhail woke up throwing up this morning and he just couldn't go to school. I feel really bad, and I hope the teacher will let me reschedule. Today Mikhail and I just spent the day cleaning up. We had a good day together. Tonight Tim went to practice martial arts to start getting active, and I had a spa night with the kids. Makenna and I had a Mayo & Avacodo hair mask to help with our dry hair. Then we made a face mask with egg, honey, and lavender essential oil that Mikhail, Makenna & I all put on. It was fun and great time together! One reason I decided to go to The Spa School was so that I'd be able to teach the kids good skin care habits. It's fun, even though they are only four and five years old..but it's awesome bonding time. I like teaching them things, and this is definately something I am passionate about. Tonight I told her about make 'organic' products..because she thinks everything should come from the store. I want her to understand the benifits of making your own products and what they do for you. I want to teach all of my kids that. I think the twins are a little too young right now, but Mikhail and Makenna are very into it! It's so fun :)

ohh my..today is only wed. and I'm competely exhausted by this week already! Thankfully there's only one more day left in my school week and then I have a three day weekend with the family :) There's lots of fun Christmas themed things going on this weekend, so I fully plan to spend lots of quality time with them :)

School is going really well. The first week got off to a rough start. I came in every day and played on my computer and didn't do anything. Now I'm really starting to do student services and I'm also doing a lot of research and learning makeup and natural remidies. I'm trying to learn more about the basics of skin care, because I think that's important to understand the more complex parts of it. Unfortunately the hours I go to school are the hours people are working, so I don't get a lot of clients coming in. Today I did a brown and lash tinting which I was really excited about! I also have been doing basic facials, and I feel pretty confident about them. Tomorrow I'm going to focus more on deep pores. It feels really good to be learning and really apply myself to what I'm doing.

It's a little rough part which I know I just have to suck it up and learn to play the game..I can't stand how caddy and petty some girls are. There are a lot of girls that I absolutely love there..but there are some that just make me cringe. I guess it's all just how we were brought up and we all have different back grounds..and that's how it's going to be wherever I go..but it's really frustrating some days. Today was one of those days. Tim and I talk a lot about how we want to raise the kids and how we plan to deal with things financially..and it's annoying to hear people critize that. We have four kids all within three years..so to say that we are going to pay for thier college is unrealistic. I will however always provide housing and transportation and food ect..I don't want them to worry about that..just thier education. But then people are like how are you going to bring four kids into this world and not pay for thier college. I think that's rude. I love my kids and I will do anything for them. I will instill in them that thier education is very important...BUT you have to think realistically..and I won't be able to afford to send all of my kids to school on my dime. Anyways, it's a part of school that annoys me..but for the most part I look forward to going. I'm excited about learning new things every day..and I am making new friends which is awesome :)

Today was December fist and it was the first day it snowed! The kids were amazed! They ran to the door and they were chanting that it was snowing, and Makenna said, 'it's Christmas!' I love their little minds :) Last year the babies were too little last year to like the snow..but today ahhh I wish I could have caught thier expression on camera. Maddox was twrilling around with his hands in the air and just laughing and running through the snow and Mady was compeletely amazed. It's going to be a really fun winter with them. Last year when it snowed I put them in thier high chair and brought snow inside for them to play with..this year they'll be able to tromp through it..it's going to be a blast! They still really aren't talking, but they both were trying to say, 'snow' which sounded more like 'nooo' it was cute though :) It was still snowing tonight, so maybe when we wake up in the morning it will have stuck to the ground and I can see thier excitement again. They are really amazed with Christmas lights and they keep pointing to Santa statues and they get excited..I love it! I'm hoping this will be the best Christmas ever!

I just took a break from the blog to talk to Tim about the kids..and it just makes my heart melt talking about how amazing they are and how much we love them :) Makenna's school was teaching her about occupations and she said she wanted to be in the marching band like mommy when she grows up. Mikhail said he wants to be in construction like Daddy :) I love how they love us. They are really amazing little kids! Anyways..it's getting late and I have class again in the morning..so I'll write more tomorrow

I'm taking on another project :P This one more useful then the past of course. We were using the fourth bedroom in the basement to store stuff..and I've decided to start going through our boxes and getting rid of things we don't need and don't use. I'd like to turn that room into a play room for the big kids. Lately the big kids have been playing in thier room more and have been playing by themselves away from the babies. I don't want there to be a big speration between big kids and babies..but I understand the big kids are starting to like things that are just to big for the babies. For Christmas Mikhail asked for legos, which babies will just swallow and loose. Makenna wants a doll house and I just don't want the babies to wreck that. Plus the big kids are really into art and they need a place to be creative and hang thier art work with out the babies stealing thier stuff and loosing it all over the house. There's a really nice table downt there right now that they can use to do art on and I have storeage shelves for them already. The rest of the room will be really nice for Mikhail to do legos and and for Makenna's doll house we are going to get her for Christmas. I was also thinking it would be nice, if it's possible to put the tv down there for them to be able to play the wii on it. There's a lot more games for little kids on the wii then there is on Tim's xbox 360. Anyways, I had just taken a short break from cleaning and I'm going to get back to it..more later :P

Welp, I'm offically a Senior at school. Doesn't really mean the same thing as when you're a senior at a university..but it also doesn't cost as much ;) Today was my second day as a senior. It wasn't quiet as exciting as my first day. I was just at the table pretending to be busy...when I was really just being tired and lazy..and Ms. Nixon came by and told me I had my first facial. I'm not going to lie, I was scared to death. I litterally thought I might get sick. I completely forgot how to do anything. It was all ok though. My client was so nice. Even though I forgot a lot of stuff, I'm pretty sure I did well. She gave me a five dollar tip and most imprortantly she rebooked with me! Her rebooking with me in December was the biggest compliment. It was such a great expierence for working on my first person. I know there's still so much more for me to learn. I still have so many more first expierences at the spa school...and I know I'm going to be nervous for a while and I can't wait for the day when that passes and I just feel so confident doing services that there's no nervousness.

The only thing I really can't stand about the school is that you basically stop learning after juniors, and you don't learn enough in juniors to get you through. I feel like there's a lot of stuff I have to teach my self and learn on my own. When I go into school, we basically sit at a table and do nothing the whole time unless we choose to. But I have faith in my self that I will excel at this. I feel like I have the drive and the determination. It was definately a big compliment when my first client told me I was in the right feild of work and that I was good at it :)

I still don't know where our future is going to take us. I don't know what I'm going to do once I'm out of school. I'd really like to work in a spa. I'm definately thinking about interning and hopefully that will land me a job. I think the best way to learn is by watching and working. For so long I've only seen Tim and I's life in Gahanna..but I'm starting to see that eventually were are going to travel outside of this bubble and we are going to explore life outside of gahanna. I know this blog is taking a different turn..but that's kind of just how I write my blogs. But Gahanna is becoming everything I despise in towns. I can't wait to get out of here. This used to be a little town and it used to be personable. I feel like they have expanded so large. I don't want my kids growing up just being a number and a statistic in the school system. I want them to be a name and a person and I want a teacher to see the potential in them. I definately want the small town school and life experience for my family and I. I was talking to a girl in class today and she lived out in the country and we talked about the dirt bikes and four wheelers..and there's just a whole nother life to expierence outside of the city life and that's what I want to expierence.

I'm really stressed out tonight and need a little blog therapy before I go to bed. I had applied for Title 20 to help me out with daycare. It's $242 a week per kid..and since I have four kids..that's about 4 grand a month..insane. I don't know who can afford to pay that? I just feel like with out day care I'll never be able to work or go to school. Tim's job is so physically demanding, I can't expect him to take care of the kids as soon as he gets home so I can go work or go to school. I can't believe they waited to tell me I wasn't going to have daycare until like four days before my full time school schedule started :( I just feel like things are really hard right now. I had Mady and Max in a good routine at thier daycare. They really liked thier teachers and they had friends..and now they might now have a spot in daycare by the time I get everything approved. I just really want to get out of this rut that I'm in right now. It's so hard because I'm only 25 and I feel like the things I deal with and go through on a daily basis are things that people in their 40s deal with..not 25 year olds. I wouldn't trade my kids or my husband for anything..I just wish there weren't the struggles sometimes. I feel like I know there will be a light at the end of the tunnle I just want to see it sometime soon.

It's so hard to be a planner when plans always change. I always think things so far out and things just constantly change. I had planned on working more and going to school very part time. But works not giving out as many hours as I'd like..so I think I'm going to completely flip it. I'm going to go to school a lot and work a very little. I know Tim and I can use the money with me working..but it really would be nice to graduate in May. I'm a little worried about becoming a senior, because all the seniors do is bitch about how much they can't stand it. I guess I'll just try to soak up all the knowledge I can. I'm bound and determinded to be successful. I really think that there's been so many people against me..it just feuls me to be more and to do better. Some day I'm going to own my own spa. I know I can do whatever I want, I just have to do it. I'm excited to kind of buckle down and knock my school out!

Now that the kids are in daycare almost everyday...I try to make the most out of my time with them when they get home. I picked them up today and we went trick or treating at giant eagle..which was so cute! The kids just couldn't get over doing that in a grocery store. Mikhail and Makenna noticed there was a new bank at the store and when Mikhail saw Tim he told him there was a job for him at the bank :) I think it's so cute that they associate banks with Tim :) That's what he's done every since they were babies. After we went trick or treating we went and saw Tim for his dinner break. I really love that. I don't think Tim knows how much I enjoy going to see him on his break. But we just drove around while he ate and we talked about school and work and everything..we are such planners and it drives me crazy sometimes. But it's always good to have a plan :). After we dropped him back off at work we went home to eat and the babies got a bath. I had bought the big kids a bingo game today. I thought it would help them read numbers and letters. They loved it! We had so much fun playing and they did such a good job reading the numbers and letters..I was really proud of them..and it's really good family time :) We played until all three of us got a bingo. I really want to teach them to be good sports about winning and loosing.

Max and Mady are starting to talk a lot more! Max said 'Sissy' for the first time yesterday. His faveorite word right now is Bubba :) he also says, Mama, Dada, and I've heard him say drink but it sounds more like dink a could of times. Mady is trying to talk more too. She's says Buba well, and she says, 'Brrrr' when it's cold and 'uhoh' a lot. She's saying Mama and Dada too. She really likes B words though! It's amazing to hear all the things they are saying and they way thier little personalities are shining through.

I haven't fully adjusted into our new life style yet. I assume that will happen this week when I am scheduled almost every single day. I hope that it just eventually becomes second nature for me and I don't feel so tired all the time. Because right now I just always feel so exhausted. I don't think people understand what it feels like for me. I've been a stay at home mom for so long. I've not really had to answer to anyones schedule ever. I did what I wanted, when I wanted. I'm not trying to sound like a spoiled brat, it's just really the way my day went. It started to change with Mikhail when I had to start being here for him to get off the bus. That really limited the things I could do with the kids during the day. But I love Mikhail going to school. He has so much fun with his friends. I got to see him interact with them at the Walk a Thon..and it was so cute. He knew so many kids and everyone was nice to everyone. I love this age right now when everyone is just friends and there's no judgements. But now I have to answer to my job and to school. I can't just do things with the kids when I want to. Some times I think about it and I start to panic. I feel like maybe they'll think I'm abandoning them at daycare. I know that's not how they think and I know they have lots of fun. I just miss being with them all day and I think I'm punishing my self by making myself feel bad about it. I know that I definately enjoy the time I do have with them a lot more. We definately make the most of it. Thursday I didn't have to work and Mikhail didn't have school and Tim didn't have to work until 5..so we took the kids to Blackhand Gorge. I used to go there with my family when I was little and it's amazing to be able to share that with my kids. It was absolutely beautiful. Tim and Mikhail got to go off on the tracks and have a blast. Makenna played in the leaves and the babies got to run around. It was a really perfect fall day! That's one of the good parts about having a day off when you work all the time..you really make the most of it. No lazy days anymore :) Madelyn and Maddox are actually trying to talk a lot more. Yesterday when we were at my dad's, she was saying, 'pap pap' and when you ask her what a pirate says, she says, 'argggg' Maddox is saying, 'Mama' and 'Dada' & 'Nana' a lot more. They are starting to make sounds and attempt to talk. I'm really proud of them. When I went to pick them up from the day care yesterday, Maddox was working on a collage with his friends. He was gluing fall leaf cut outs on a big piece of paper. I just really think daycare is a good thing for them. I think me going back to work it a really good thing for our family. It's just the first time I've ever really had a demanding job that I have to be there for a full shift almost every day. I'm not bieng a baby about it, it's just a lot of adjustment. I got promoted too :) I was just a reg sales assoc..but I'm in prestige now! I'm really excited about that. I'm trying so hard to make a good name for myself with the company and I really want to move up. I always think it's good to have goals, it keeps you striving for something more :) Anyways, I guess this was just some of the randomness on my mind..lol there seems to be a lot of that lately.

My life has changed so much I sort of don't recognize it! I've been a stay at home mom for so long, and in September I started school..which was a big thing for me. I go Tuesday and Thursday nights and Saturday all day. Tim's been so supportive of me and so have my parents. It feels nice for them to support me in doing something that I really want to do, even if it means more strain on them..because I really lean on them for help with the kdis. And then I applied for a job at Ulta. I got hired on as a sales associate, my goal is to be an esthetican with them when I finish with my school. Since I started a job, the kids have to go to day care during the day. That was a really big step for Tim and I. It's really hard to trust someone with our kids. It's sad for me to know someone else is loving on my kids and doing fun things with them..when that's my job. But I know that they are having a lot of fun and that day care is a really good thing for them. They have so much fun and they are happy to go! Everyday they go, I get a report from the teachers on the things they did and how they did during the day. I really love to read the papers and to just know that I'm doing the right thing for my kids. I know that I'm doing what's best for our family, and that makes me feel really good!

I love haning out with Mikhail while we wait for the bus. I need to spend more one on one time with all of the kids. They really eat it up. Today I sat out on the front pourch with Mikhail and we talked about his cute little frekles and how they are all over his face. He's so cuddley too. I love it! I love that he's still young enough that when he runs to the bus, he turns around to tell me he loves me! I love that he sometimes waves to me on the bus, but most of the time he's busy talking to his friends. I love that he has friends! That was one of my biggest worries sending him off to kindergarten was that he wasn't going to have any friends. I don't know why I was worried, he's a great kid. He's got an awesome personality, he's funny, and he's (most of the time) really good to other kids. (Sometimes he gets a rotten bone in him) I'm just so proud of him! Last night he read a book to me that they made in class. He's been learning sooo much! A couple weeks back I was on the computer, and he came up to me and said, 'Google Map our address' I was like what!?, so I did it, and it showed us where we lived, even a picture of our house! He definately learned that in school, and it just amazed me! I wondered if sending him to full day was a good idea or not, but I think having the extra time at school is a really good thing for him. He needs it. They get to learn in a more relaxed enviornment..they aren't rushing to fit everything into the day.

Makenna is really loving her Preschool. I love to go and see thier song time, and see her sitting in her class and playing with her friends. Yesterday I had to pick her up 10 minutes early for my interview..and when we were leaving..she said by to a friend, the wholeee class said 'Bye Makenna' and it was just so sweet! I love that my kids have friends. I love to see Makenna running around and playing with the little girls..she even gets along with the boys too..she loves to play chase with them..haha the age old game! When I took her to the doctor last friday..there was a boy who was also four in the waiting room..and instantly they started running around the whole waiting room, laughing and chasing each other..if you wouldn't have known better you would have thought they were best friends. It was so cute! The little boy was sad when Makenna got called back to the room. But that's just the personality she has, it's very easy to like her :) It's even easier to LOVE her <3

I got my job though! I'm so excited! I'll be working at Ulta. I'll be working with beauty products and doing makeup, it really goes we'll with my school. It's awesome to have a job that you'll actually enjoy ;) The only hard part is, Makenna isn't going to be able to go to Stoneybrook anymore. I feel so bad! She really does love it there. But I'm going to need her to go to a day care instead. She's going to be going to Kindercare, and they have a preschool program there. I think she'll learn more there, because she'll be in prek all day instead of just two and a half hours. I haven't told her yet, because I dont' want her to tell the kids at school. I'm going to try to leave her in for the month of October. They still have the Halloween party that she really wants to go to, and they have the pumpkin patch..I really want her to be part of all of that. They also have class pictures..which she is part of the class..and I want her to get one! Anyways, big changes are coming our way for our family. I haven't worked a day job in a very long time. The kids have NEVER been to daycare..so this is really wierd for us all. But change is good, and I think it's good I'm going back to work. Right now, they twins are too wild for me to really take them on adventures. They both want to run opposite directions..and they just make it impossible. All we do is stay at home anymore.. I think they'll have a lot more fun at day care. I think when they get home we'll enjoy the time we have together much much more! I also think the house will stay cleaner because we aren't here to mess it up all day. We'll see on that one ;) I'm really loving my crock pot on busy days, and I think that's probably how I'll be making meals this whole fall and winter. Especially since I'm going to be working during the day and then I still have school at night! Crazy, our schedule is going to be just crazy!

So I think that I am addicted to life changing. I'm always finding new ways to make our routine change. It's really changed recently, and honestly I kind of wish it would go back to being simple. Mikhail is in school full time. It's crazy, the week flies by..and I feel like he's never here. Our days center around him going to school. Makenna is in prek three days a week in the morning, which is a little rough. I'm not used to having to get these kids up and ready first thing in the morning. Makenna also has dance on Monday night, which I absolutely love :) It's my favorite day of the week. I love to see her get dressed up and to see how excited she is to go. It's our special time together every week! I have class two nights a week and alllll day saturday. I do like going to my class. I've learned so much already. I just miss my family when I'm in class all day on Saturday. I miss having my Saturdays to go do fun things with them. It litterally feels like we have something scheduled every day of the week. On top of it, I start all these hobbies..I love having my little things to do on the side..but lately I don't feel like I have time for them either. And to be crazier and to make things more, I'm going to get a part- time to full time job. The kids are going to be in school, and I need to help out in any way I can. Plus I think it would be good for me to get out of the house. I know as soon as I get a job, I'll probably wish I didn't work and I didn't go to school again..but you just have to roll with whatever direction life takes you in.

The kids are getting smarter and smarter on me everyday. This morning Mikhail and Makenna were drawing and coloring. And Mikhail started asking me how to spell things, and he ended up spelling Mom, Pap, Mimi, and Dad. I was having him sound the words out and then spell them. I was really amazed at how well he was doing! He's learning so much. So is Makenna. She is so artistic. I love how she turns her letters into animals. They are both just so creative. I love to see how their drawing evolves too. They always get better and better at it.

Makenna loves going to prek so much <3 I love to see how excited she is to go. I always go early to see her sing with her class, and she does all the hand movements. She doesn't always get all of the words, but she pays attention..and it's absolutely adorable. She really pays attention. Last Wed. when I went to pick her up, they said the kids had used ink to make pictures. They were only supposed to use one finger to do the pictures, but some of the kids got really messy with it. If the kids got messy with it, they didn't listen. When Makenna came out of her class, she only had one little finger with ink on it. I was so proud of her to see that she was listening in class. She's a really good student ;) I can't wait until we get to do parent teacher conferences and I can really talk to her teachers about how she's doing. I hate that her teachers don't really like to talk to me about her. I feel like this expierence is so different than it was with Mikhail. When I took Mikhail, all the parents chatted and the teachers were so friendly..this time, no one talks to me and the teachers don't socialize :( As long as she's having fun, that's all that matters!

Madelyn and Maddox had a person from Help Me Grow come to evaluate them. I know that they are two and they aren't talking, so that's kind of a concern. But of course once they come out to check them for speech and I tell them they don't say anything at all, they start talking lol. Maddox has been yelling 'Dada' & saying 'No!' and he points. It's absolutely adorable :) Madelyn was leaving my Mom's house the other night and she was trying to say 'Mimi' and she said, 'MmmmmmaMmmmmma' it was cute. She really tried to say it. I also heard Maddox say, Sissy ;) He's going to be talking soon. They are both absolutely sweet. They love to hug and kiss. Mady always kisses the side of Daddy's cheek. He loves it, he thinks it's so sweet. She gives the best hugs too. She really squeezes when she hugs :) Maddox clicks his tounge when he wants to kiss me. I really love that. I'll be leaving his room for him to go to sleep, and I'll hear his toung clicking and I'll have to go back in to give him a kiss :) I don't mind though, I'll kiss him a million times! Today he really cracked me up. He tackled Mikhail and straddled him and gave him lots of kisses. Then all the sudden his rotten butt bit him! He's so rotten. Now he knows how to climb over the baby gates. I can't trust him to be downstairs anymore. Everytime I do, I find him walking around the middle level. He's so wild! We are going to be moving again when our lease is up here. We are definately moving out to the country. For the first time in a long time, I actually want a ranch. I'd really like one with a basement. But I don't like all the stairs at this house. I get sick of climbing baby gates, I get sick of all the different levels, one would be nice :) I'm also starting to weed through all thier toys to donate them. I have to learn to let things go. I hold onto everything...and it really clicked the other day when my mother in law was over..she said, none of thier toys are important to them because they have so many. And I totally agree. I really need to start getting rid of things. They shouldn't have so much stuff. I need to limit thier amount of toys, so they appericiate what they have. Anywayss now I'm really side tracking!

Madelyn and Maddox are getting a lot closer again :) I LOVE it! They used to be like that when they were little babies, and they are getting back to that. They love to sleep in the same bed and share pillows and share blankets. They are so sweet. They are starting to hold hands and give kisses..I abosolutely adore it! I look at Madelyn and see so much of Makenna in her, I also see my Mom in her. I don't know if it's her expressions or her looks, but I think she probably looks a lot like my Mom did when she was little. Maddox really looks a lot like Mikhail. I can't believe how much his little looks changed once he got his hair cut.

Ohh and I forget if I blogged about him swallowing a penny or not..but ya he definately did. Of course Maddox did. He doesn't every rotten thing..like getting stictches twice before he even turned two, and learning to climb baby gates, and eating dirty money..and just being the rotten little man that totally melts my heart. There's definately never a dull moment with him ;)

Ohh and the last thing that I'm going to blog about tonight is that today we went apple picking at Lynd's Fruit Farm :) It was the best day we've had in a long time! The weather was perfect, the apples were so yummy and the kids had tons of fun! Really couldn't have asked for a better day <3 Mady is my little Mady Appleseed! I think that little lady would live off apples if we let her. And I think the kids definately ate thier weight in apples today. The just had a blast ;) I love fall and fall fun! Pumpkin patch is next :)

So at the last house I couldn't stand how Mikhail and Makenna had to share a room and the twins had to share a room. I couldn't wait to move to this house and for the girls to be in the same room and the boys..I wanted them to have a gender approptraite room..but it looks like that's not happening. Maddox is way too wild. And he's the reason Mikhail and Makenna have to sleep in our room. So today I got the big kids room all cleaned up and Makenna all moved in and Maddox all moved out. I feel bad because the babies room is a wreck..but I'll get it fixed up for them. I also feel bad that Makenna's room looks like a boy's room. I'm trying to add some things to it to make it feel a little girly for her, but still comfortable for Mikhail. I actually ordered him some army wall stickers..because if you know him..he's absolutely army crazy. I ordered Makenna butterfly stickers :) Ever since her first room at the townhouse she's wanted butterfly stickers like the ones she had. The ones I ordered her are more realistic looking...I hope she'll like them :) I'm also getting them the glow in the dark planets and stars..haha so classic. I told them we'd put a desk in thier room so they could do school work and do art work..they are really excited about that. That's a big kid thing and something they can't have with the babies in thier room. I also told Makenna I would get my lava lamp and black light from my parents house..they'll love it! Ohh and I'm moving thier tv, dvd player, and video games up there, along with books and hopefully getting Makenna a dollhouse soon! The room is so little..it's hard to think that all that along with two beds will fit in there..but it definately will! And it's going to be their own personal amazing space. I would really love to paint the room..but they like it the way it is and that's all that matters. I always think rooms need 'themes' but they really don't...all they need is what the kids want and like in there. I also didn't really realize how dependent Mikhail and Makenna were on each other. They both had to sleep in my room even though it was easy to sneak Makenna in her room because Mady sleeps through anything...but she'd never want to sleep in there because she was so used to sleeping with Mikhail. At the next house they will for sure have seperate rooms..they'll be too old to share. Hopefully our next house will have four or more rooms..but who knows.

Ohh and Mady was crying so I went in to check on her..and she was trying to crawl into bed with Maddox..so it will be interesting to see where they end up falling asleep tonight. Maddox isn't happy about me making him go to bed..and he's keeping Mady awake. But it's just something we are going to have to work out and deal with because we only have three bedrooms upstairs.

Ugh I'm already having the same problems with Mikhail and Makenna that I was having before that were driving me crazy at the other house..they are up there playing and they aren't going to sleep..it's just something I'm going to have to deal with

So it's only 839am and I already feel like so much has happened in my day that I need to blog about it. If my morning was this exciting..I can't wait to see what the rest of the day holds for us! Everyone slept in today. I had a really hard time getting up. But finally I did get up and it was before everyone else for once. I decided not to shower right away and just let the kids sleep in as long as they would. When Mikhail finally got up it was about 7am and his bus comes at 740am..so we were rushing a little bit. But I got his lunch packed. He insisted on having a pb&j, apple sauce, and a little debbie just like I used to have when I was little :) He had been begging to pack his lunch..so Tim went out at like midnight last night and got him a Spiderman lunch box which he absolutely loved! And I made his lunch this morning. I bought this dinosaur cutter to make his sandwhich look like two dinosaurs and it takes the crust off..which he's not a crust eater. I also got him a hard case for his sandwhich so it wouldn't get smashed. His case had a skate boarder on it..so I think he's going to think he's got a cool lunch :) We had to pack today because I didn't think he'd like what they were serving.

His Noni came over this morning and brought him a special treat for his day. She froze a gogurt and by the time he has his snack it should be unthawed for him. He got a kick out of that. It was red day at his school today. All the kids in his class are supposed to wear red because that's the color they are going to be focusing on..and Anne told him that's her faveorite day..it made him feel pretty special!

Anyways I waited at the bus stop with him like I do every morning. When he got on the bus he took forever to find a seat. I'm going to have to talk to him about that because I'm sure it drives the bus driver crazy..and then he chose a seat that already had two boys in it. lol he's still learning..but I'll have to talk to him about it. Then as soon as the bus left I drove to his school to make sure he got off the bus ok and into the cafe for breakfast. Yesterday when I got to the school, he hadn't gotten off of the bus yet..so I waited for him and walked him in. Today by the time I got to the school he had already gotten off the bus and went into the school. So I walked to the cafe to look for him and he was already standing in line talking to some other boys that were in line. I was so proud of him for knowing what to do and doing it. So since I had checked on him and knew he was fine I went to talk to his teacher. I wanted to make sure she knew that he packed his lunch and that it was in his book bag because I didn't think he would remember. She told me that for half of the day they'll be switching Mikhails teacher because him and the other boys are too rowdy..so they are going to try to break their group up. So in the am he'll still have Mrs. Peer and in the pm he'll have Mrs. Steager. I feel bad that he's being like that. But I told her that we couldn't send Mikhail to prek last year and explained about having the twins..and how it was just too hard. He probably could have used that structure to prepare him. But she said a lot of kids didn't do prek and that he would be fine. I know this week will probably be hard for him. He's not used to getting up so early in the morning and being active all day, but I know he'll get the hang of it and it will become part of his daily routine. I definately think that putting him in the all day class was the best decision for him. If he's playing for so much of the class already..he wouldn't have been getting very much from the half day. Atleast now he has more time to learn things.

After I talked to his teacher I went back to check on him and he was sitting a table full of boys with his lunch tray and he was laughing and eating with them. It was the cutest thing ever! He's so little yet he's such a big boy! Really melted my heart! I think he's going to be ok ;) I think tomorrow I can let him get on the bus without following him to school.

While I was gone this morning taking Mikhail to school, Makenna picked up the living room for me. Maddox had made a mess wiith my candle lids and she picked them all up without me telling her to. Then when I brought the babies down..they wanted a juice box just like her..so she sat down with them and and opened them for them. Maddox had gotten them out of the fridge..and I was holding Mady..he remembered to get her one too. I thought that was so sweet! You can definately tell he's a twin! But both of the babies sat down infront of Makenna and patiently waited for her to put the straw in thier juice box..it was adorable! She's really being a great helper. I love that she's taking on that role. She's taking on the big kid role now that Mikhail's in school all day and she's the big kid. I'm really proud of her! It's weird how much our day has changed with Mikhail going to school. Makenna does really have any one to fight with..so she's not crying all day and the babies are calmer..and the day is just over all quieter. I miss him like crazy though. I can't imagine what it will be like when Makenna starts full day school!

Ohh and I don't know what we are going to do about the room situation at this house. At first Maddox wouldn't stop opening his door so we had to put a door knob lock on it. Well that did the trick for that. Maddox has pretty much had that room all to himself the whole time because he sleeps right behind the door with his ear to the floor and anytime he sees you walk by his room under the crack in his door or hears you he cries. Well I couldn't sneak Mikhail in the room like I had planned because Max slept right behind the door and would wake up the second I opened it. So the big kids were falling asleep in my bed and then Tim would move them to the floor. I hate them sleeping on the floor..they don't mind it, but I don't think it's fair. Well yesterday Maddox climbed the latter of the bunk bed..and he had the fan going in his room..he can't sleep in there any more. It's too dangerous. I just don't know what I'm going to do about the sleep arrangements anymore. I guess I'm going to have to put Mady and Max in the same room again..but Mady sleeps more than he does and I know he's just going to mess with her. Putting him in a pack n play does nothing because he climbs right out of it..so I can't put him in that in my room..there's way to much for him to get into in my room. It's just really hard. We really need atleast four bedrooms. I sware the second you think you have one thing figured out in this family..it all changes and there's a whole new set of problems!

Today was Mikhail's second day of school..but really it was his first full day of school. He had his whole class there with him today. The first day he went it was only a third of his class. I can't help but to worry about him going. I'm so used to watching over him all the time, it's hard to let go of control and trust someone I've never met before to really take care of him. But I know this is all part of growing up and it's just the first year of many to come. Anyways, I let Mikhail get on the bus this morning and I drove to the school with Makenna to watch him get off the bus and make sure he knew where to go. When he got off the bus he looked a little confused, but I understood. It's overwhelming to get off the buss and see everyone from Kindergartners to fifth graders and parents and teachers everywhere. But that's why I went to make sure he knew where to go. He likes to go eat breakfast in the morning. I hate to rush him, but he eats slow. He's just not used to it. We've always had a really relaxed morning, so to have to go with the schools schedule must be a hard adjustment for him. Makenna came with me. She was so excited to see his school. So she sat in the cafe and waited with Bubby. She cannot wait until next year when she gets to go. I noticed a lot of the boys looking at her. She's so pretty! And she so social, she won't have any problem with school when she goes. And soon she'll be going to prek. But after Mikhail ate his breakfast he went to school. I couldn't help but to look at the clock all day and count down the time until he'd be home. I miss him so much while he's at school. It's wierd just him being gone how quieter and less stressed out I feel. I kind of feel a little guilty about it. But Makenna plays by her self well and the twins play together. There's really not much fighting.

Today I actually got to see him get off the bus. After what happened the last time..this was the first time I actually got to see him get off the bus. He seemed so big! I could see all of the big kids getting off of the bus, but I could barely see Mikhail over the top of the seats. He's so small compared to the rest of the kids. When he got off he looked so tired, but the first thing he said was that he got off at the right stop :) He was really proud of himself and he knows his address. He's pretty confident that he won't ever get off at the wrong stop again and that makes me feel a lot better. I was really anxious to see him get off of the bus that I went out like 15 minutes early to wait for him. I sat out there in the 90 something degree heat and waited for him..and I'll do it again tomorrow. I love that little man so much! I love to see all the new things he's doing with his life and all the new adventures. I love to see him laughing with his new buddies. This is a really exciting time in his life! I'm glad that I get to go on this ride with him! I felt so bad though, when he got off the bus he was SO tired! I could see the look written all over his face...pure exhaustion. He was absolutely tired. He's not used to having to follow the school routine the whole day. He said he got to play outside 3 times today. I wish he could tell me more about his day..but he's a typical boy and he just remembers playing and wants to play video games when he gets home.