Jordan

We have had a very busy August. not to make a really long post and so I don't completely bore you. I am going to have to break it up a bit and not do everything at once. Aaron had received a state department scholarship to do an advanced arabic study in Jordan. He was gone for about 2 1/2 months. While he was there he learned that the last week there they would give them to tour the country at their leisure. So last minute and after a lot of debating we decided that I would go there to meet him for the last week and we would tour the country together. Thanks again Debbie for convincing me to go because I LOVED IT!!!

Aaron's mom agreed to come out to watch the kids. A BIG THANK YOU TO HER!!! And I left for Jordan!! When arriving in Jordan it was a huge shock to me and once I saw how everyone was dressed and that I didn't know a word that they were speaking I knew I was in for an adventure. I have never ever been outside of the country and moving to Georgia was a big culture shock to me so you can imagine how I felt at this point. At the airport there you have to arrive gain a visa exchange your money into Jordanian Dinars and get your bags and go through another security check before you can go and meet the people waiting for you. So I had to do all this without Aaron and his Arabic speaking abilities. Of course my suitcase didn't come and I had to make a claim and try to explain the color of my bag (next time I get a plain color bag for this very reason) and why I didn't know the address of where I was staying to this person that didn't speak much english...why they put these people in the airport I will never know. So needless to say I left the airport one bag short.

While Aaron was living there he got to know the family that owned the hotel where he had been staying so the brother had been nice enough to give us a ride to and from the airport. The ride home was crazy. They have lines on the road, but I have no idea why they even bother. No one follows the traffic rules and so it was an interesting car ride.

The following day we had planned on going to the Dead Sea, but being no luggage and not wanting to spend my entire vacation with only what I had in my carry on we spent the morning seeing some Roman ruins and going through the markets. then most of the afternoon back at the airport trying to find my bag. And after bugging them long enough they magically produced my suitcase...yea!!! We then drove to Petra. Good times!! The first day was a bit crazy, but the only minor incident so the rest of the trip was AWESOME!!!

a week to go

Our computer hasnt been working like it should lately. So I have been going for weeks now not being able to look at blogs or much of anything else. The only things that work are my email and facebook...awesome. So now it decided to work and im going to do a little updating

This might get a little long
and aaron left me with a really crappy camera so the pictures...well you will see...they arent great at all!

So these last few months have been an...adventure to say the least. We started our trip in Utah which was a lot of fun and was so good to see my family. We also got to see my parents new house. The down side of the trip was it decided to rain pretty much every day we were there. So no swimming for us (sure glad I packed all the swimming gear) And luckily i packed some jeans because it sure was cold...IT WAS JUNE and i was freezing most of the time! I had so much help with the kids and it was soooo nice. I stayed up late playing games with my family and sam (who is pretty much family) and I didnt realize that a game of monopoly could get so heated (nick). FUN FUN FUN!! While we were there Jonas learned to walk. The week we got there...so aaron missed it by just a week. While I was there I got to see my brother nick graduate from high school and also my other brother peyton got baptized as well. So it was so awesome to get to be there for all of that.

Jonas also found a love for the thinking chair (from blues clues) and you could most likely find him here. Sure wish we had stayed longer because the next few months just get better:)

July is a big month for us. The kids birthdays all come in the same week...i know and no we didnt plan it that way..although i think we could hold some kind of record. First came Emmas on the 21st. She is now 3 although if you ask her she is 7 (its always 7 no matter how many times you ask) We had their big combined birthday party that day. The kids loved it and i will just say this that icecream cone looking cupcakes might seem easy, but was soooo not worth it...or maybe i just made too many (there were 23 kids...and thats not counting the babies or the moms or my own kids)!! My friend Sherrie took pictures (i wasnt about to have a day such as this remembered with the camera i had..plus it can only hold like 10 pictures at a time and who takes just 10 pictures? So thanks so much Sherrie (her better than mine pictures coming soon)


She also took some pics of the kids. you can go here to check them out. She did such a good job and that proved to be yet another adventure. First while we were trying to get the girls into another outfit I discovered that Emma had stepped into poop and had gotten on a few of the clothes now. And of course I forgot the diaper bag!! So i used a blanket to clean them as much as i could. Then Jonas found more and decided to squish it in all his fingers (if you go look at the pics one of them shows it in his hand) and yes no wipes or anything. I had run to the car to search there and still nothing. So i went to the bathroom there to see if they had paper towels...nope. So i did the best i could with toilet paper. and tried really really hard not to throw up in the process...ANYWAY sherrie was such a good friend and ran him to the bathroom and tried to clean his hands (and forehead) off as best as she could with just the water and no soap or towels. Thanks AGAIN sherrie!! Maybe we will try again when Aaron gets back and do an actual family photo...are you up for it again sherrie? hehehe

So Jonas' first birthday was the 22nd. We spent the day at the pool. And it was perfect. I cant believe he is already 1!! I feel like it was just yesterday that we brought him home from the hospital!! He is amazing. I love this little boy so much. I love the girls too, but Jonas just can find a way to melt my heart. He is so cuddly and sweet. Until it comes to food and he will fight you to the death if he knows you have something. But he will also let you know if he doesnt like something and will spit it right back at you. I have found all kids of yummy things in my hair and on my shirt lately:)

Then Abby's came on the 28th. We got all their check ups with the doctor done this day. Abby left with one shot and jonas got 3...happy birthday abby:) it was one of those days, but i felt i HAD to do something. It was of course her birthday and you only turn 5 once. So I asked some friends if they were willing to brave the craziness of my kids in a restraunt and they agreed. We went to red robin (or the balloon store as my kids like to call it) And abby loved that they sang to her (and emma) and brought her her very own ice cream. yea!!! success!! Thanks again davis'!!

Now we are just getting ready for Abby to start school. She will be in kindergarten!! I CANT WAIT!:) That same day Grandma Vi (aarons mom) is coming to stay with us. She will be here watching the kids while I get to go see aaron for a whole week!!! Aaron and I havent been on a vacation just the two of us since our honeymoon...so we are ready for a "just us" vacation. I am so excited!! I was really nervous at first because i havent ever left our kids with anyone but aaron and i, but im sure they will be fine and im ready to go!!! can you tell i have been with them by myself for a little too long (or am i just a horrible mom??) either way I cant wait!

We are ready to have our daddy back!! I think the kids might be just as ready as me. Since today the girls told me they didnt like me because i got mad at them (that was because they would not clean the playroom) and that they didnt want to be here with me and that they wanted to go to marios (a neighbor friend) to stay until daddy came home. did i mention that they are 5 and 3!! I cant say that it has been all bad. We have done a lot of fun things in the last few months. I have spent a lot of time with my kids and that truly (as hard an exhausting as its been) has been a blessing. They are so funny and I love them soooo much! Emma is Hilarious Abby is so smart and Jonas is so sweet and goofy. And we have been blessed with good friends that have helped me soooo much! Thanks everyone!!!

Now just one more week to go!!!

here are a few more pics of the kids. Abby loved her new goggles..or gobbles is what she called them. She wore them everywhere...even to bed!! funny girl. And then jonas i think got tired (literally) of me ignoring him and just crashed on the floor...while at the same time emma found a nice bed on the table in the playroom. silly kids!!

more aaron

its been a really good day

Last night I took the girls on base to watch the fireworks. I am SO glad that I did...even if I did have to take them by myself!! I was a little nervous at first taking the kids without Aaron there to help. Mostly for fear of losing one in the dark. The girls loved them. Emma at first wouldnt look at them. She said they were too bright so I gave her my sunglasses that were in my purse and that really helped. She was so fun to watch. She loved the ones that looked like gold glitter falling. She would be laying there on the blanket (with sunglasses as big as her whole face) and as soon as one of those would come she would hurry and sit up..start to clap..and yell "TINKERBELL DUST!" and then lay back down to continue watching. Abby chose for us to sit right at the front so occasionally one of us would get pelted with the firework remains, but it was so worth it to watch the girls excitement. Jonas on the other hand fell asleep half way through (I still dont know how he managed that especially during the finale). All in all it was a really good night.

Today the kids (even Jonas) let me sleep in until 9:30am!! We just spent the day cleaning up and playing. The perfect day. Jonas took a nap around 10:30 and did not wake up from that nap until 3:30. I had to go in a few times to make sure he was still breathing...it was such a long nap! To be honest I havent had many good days with the kids lately...i have been too stressed or worn out so I will take today and whatever meltdowns I am sure will come tomorrow and just be happy to be a mom to three of the cutest most precious kids...I figured I should say it now before I change my mind tomorrow :)

a few pictures from aaron

Happy Fathers Day!

I just have to say that I have been so blessed with great dads in my life. First my own dad who is just absolutely amazing. He has done so much and sacraficed so much for me and I am so grateful for everything he has done. I also have an amazing father in law. I know that Aaron is the person he is because of his dads incredible example (most of what he says is "because my dad taught me"). I am sad that I dont get to see them very much but I truly love them both and want to wish them a happy fathers day.

And I couldnt forget Aaron. I know I have said it before, but my kids really have the BEST dad ever!! He works so hard and does so much for his family. Fathers day without him has been hard for us all, but we cant wait to have our daddy back!

HAPPY FATHERS DAY!

p.s. Aaron- I was trying to find a video to say just how much we love you, but I just couldn't find the right one...i'll keep looking:)

Mother's Day - Part Deux

Well, I've been feeling guilty about my last minute, make-shift Mother's Day post for Megan. What can I say? It is so hard to put all the feeling and sentiment into words. Well, fortunately I was able to find a video that says it all exactly how it should be said. I pitty da fool dat don't watch da whole video! This one is for all you mothers out there...