The Latest:

I made it to six weeks, this is usually just a milestone Josh is excited about, but this time, we were both happy to get here for more reasons than one.

House Hunting- in progress, almost a decision.

Job-we have a new possibility - I am NOT prepared to talk about this. But who doesn't love our life?? Always something.

Kids - So Fun. We love each of them, and they seriously take up all of my time, between Colson's school, homework, cub scouts, and reading; Hallie's Ballet, and Storytimes; Laila's physical therapy, and speech therapy, and Charlotte's Doctors' appt.s, and lots of diaper changes, I have very little time to blog. We find ourselves laughing a lot more, even though life is still stressful. At this point, we've thrown up our hands and play it by ear. My bathrooms never looked worse, my kitchen is constantly open, and well six stacks of laundry is quite the task. But we still manage to play games, take hikes, look for houses, and make do on little cash.

Life is busy, but good.

Take a little time to enjoy your journey, wherever it takes you.

If Only...

You could read ALL my posts. I have a backlog, of posts I've started but never finished, their contents either too ornery, or no longer applicable.

Lately I've been ranting about the economy, spending, B.O., and mortgages. But I'm sparing you, only because it's exhausting being right all the time.

We've been looking for houses, at least 40 or 50 of them. Still haven't found "The One". We're trying to get in one, that's big enough for the long haul, in case the mortgage crisis actually hasn't hit rock bottom, (It would be awful to own TWO homes not worth what you owe on them). But prices here, are still hanging on, and well dang it if we aren't going to have to pay two mortgages, supplemented by a little rent, this limits our spending potential to say the least. Wish I could help out the economy... If only.

Two nights - Two great sleeps.

Could it be?

Charlotte has slept from 8 or 9 until 4 a.m. the past two nights... I'm afraid to jinx myself. What a difference some sleep makes.

Lost It.

My mind that is. It's total mush.

I can't think at all.

I'm completely overwhelmed, outnumbered, and outwitted by 4 kiddos.

I thought taking the kids to Chic fil a would be a great idea. Let them run around while I held Charlotte, wear them out, since Josh was working tonight, brilliant right?

I get there, Charlotte has the biggest blowout of all time, pooh to her neck, both front and back. Oops, forgot to refill the size 1 diapers... she ends up sporting a diaper from Laila. And well, we tossed the clothes in the trash, wasn't worth the hassle.

Let the big kids play while I hold fussy charlotte, and feed Laila and myself. I cram my COLD sandwich down, so that I can get Laila in to the play place. CARRY BOTH BABIES in, just in time to hear Hallie say - I have to go to the bathroom.

We went home.

Got questions, we got answers!

For more info go HERE.

Simple Joys.

1. girls sleeping, lots of girls sleeping.
2. mini cadburry eggs.
3. a job, and a place to live.
4. living in so many great places.
5. meeting so many great friends in great places.
6. internet, my cooking has improved dramatically with thousands, millions of recipes at my fingertips.
7. Blue Ridge Mountains.
8. 70 degrees in March, twice.
9. craigslist.
10. The Gospel.

For Brandi

Taxes, I bet mine are worse than yours.

Have you filed yet?

Seriously, I have to file FOUR state tax returns. Yup, that's the truth.

I spent more in filing state taxes, than I actually got in state refunds.

Here's some wisdom for the economy:

Elected Governor of Massachusetts in 2002, Governor Romney presided over a dramatic reversal of state fortunes and a period of sustained economic expansion. Without raising taxes or increasing debt, Governor Romney balanced the budget every year of his administration, closing a $3 billion budget gap inherited when he took office. By eliminating waste, streamlining the government, and enacting comprehensive economic reforms to stimulate growth in Massachusetts, Romney got the economy moving again and transformed deficits into surpluses.

At the beginning of Governor Romney’s term, Massachusetts was losing thousands of jobs every month. By the time he left office, the unemployment rate was lower, hundreds of companies had expanded or moved to Massachusetts, and in the last two years of his term, the state had added approximately 60,000 jobs.

Laila and her Hats

A favorite pastime of Laila's, hats on and off, of all shapes and sizes. And I swear she actually said the word Hat, once.

I forgot to mention...

Life with four means you take up almost an entire pew at church, there are not enough chairs in a doctors waiting room, you have to know where several primary classes meet, AND I totally have four rolls of fat... one from each kid I'm sure.

By the way, I've totally added the you know whats on the side of this blog, my friend Brandi is rocking the ad revenue... she is a much better writer, with a much bigger following, but hey... maybe I could earn enough to pay someone to buy my house after all. Click if you want, or not!

Well Charlotte is wailing upstairs and my Chocolate Chip cookies are almost out of the oven, so I'm going to go rock, eat, rock, eat, rock... until we're both asleep.

A reason to jump for joy!!

A High Temp of 71.

SAWEET - I'm out of here, have a great day.

Charlotte won't sleep.

Which means I'm awake... I've been awake since 3 a.m. when she got up this morning. And after the puking from Laila, the dr. appt., and the news about the house, I'm just exhausted. Physically and emotionally. Josh is working. we have no cable.

If you're contemplating more children, DON'T DO IT!!

I suggest sleeping on it. Because after the baby is on the way, you can't sleep on anything.

Verbal Offer.

We got an offer.

It's 20% below our asking price, making it a full 30,000 dollars less than we need.

We didn't take it.

Laila threw up twice before 9 a.m. this morning, I think I might join her.

BTW, does anyone have any binoculars, or a magnifying glass. I'm having trouble seeing the joy in my journey today.

UPDATE: a super great friend sent me the cutest little things for my little Charlotte. It definitely brought me at least a smile on this cloudy day.

How's that change and hope working out for you??

Just wondering.

SECOND SHOWING>>>>

Today at 6 p.m.

If you've never bought or sold a house you do not know what this means.

It is a HUGE deal. It means that someone was sort of impressed the first time they saw the house that they thought they should check it out, a SECOND time. It means that someone didn't come to see it JUST because they were curious... It usually also means they NEED to buy a house.

All things good, with a second showing.

Now, if only I could NOT get my hopes up... Come what may, and love it.

But if you're so inclined today, would you mind "Saying a little Prayer, for me?"

Thanks, YOU are a gem.

AngelFood Ministries

My friend Lori recommended this program to me a while back... we were moving and too busy to look into it. Well, I'm slowly getting more time, and well more broke, Thank You Obama..., o.k. so it is not ALL his fault, anyway, it's a great program, you do not have to meet an income requirement or be a part of any church.

I sent an email to a few people that I thought might be interested. If you want more info let me know!

Life with Four:

1. There's ALWAYS someone awake.
2. There's ALWAYS someone to feed.
3. Someone's laughing or crying ALWAYS.
4. I spend WAY TOO MUCH on things related to pee and pooh... Diapers, Wipes, Toilet Paper, and lysol.
5. I spend WAY TOO MUCH on food and drink that turns to pee and pooh.
6. No one else can ride in the van, and I'm thinking about putting on the side of it, Lucy's Day Care. Could I then get a tax write off for using it for a "business purpose"?
7. Please can someone ask me ONE MORE TIME... Are these all yours????
8. Blogging, emailing and phone calls, are few and far between.

I love it. My van prophecy was fulfilled. Long Story...no time, I've got four kiddos.

THE BIG FIVE. {and 300}

Miss Hallie is FIVE today. She is quite the girly girl, although she can take her brother, easily. She is starting ballet and tap this week, her birthday gift. OUCH to the wallet... who knew dance classes were so much? Bummer, she was afraid of the beam! We've collected all the bits and pieces of the money sent to us, and bought her gear, and her classes. I think she's going to love it! And I love it even more that we added ZERO toys this birthday. Hallie is such a great helper with Laila, she's more responsible than even Colson on this one. She L.O.V.E.S. holding Charlotte, and does her best to be the second "mom" to the little girls. Having multiple children gives you such insight to birth order... wishing her a happy day!

Side Note: THIS POST MARKS 300 POSTS, WOWSERS!!

We've been busy, have you?

Great Grandparents came to visit. No, Sonia, NOT twins, the baby boy is my nephew. Nice Try, you still owe me $100 bucks.



We celebrated two birthdays.



The Key Lime Pies were fantastic. Megan, I made this recipe, except I needed mini pies, so I just pressed the graham cracker crust into the bottoms of cupcake holders in the pan, baked them, and scooped the filling on top of the crust, and froze.



Colson followed the Savior's Example.




Charlotte Rose was blessed to be happy and helpful. Typical family photo. Hey Becca, could you cut 20 lbs from me, correct Hallie's face, by removing hands, etc... and also Colson needs a smile. Oh yeah, Laila is crying could you take those tears away, too. One more thing, Josh is NOT choking Laila, so could you remove that hand, too. Thanks.

Needless to say, I'm hoping for a calmer March, with A LOT more sleep.