We are on a roll!

4 nights in a row. He is MUCH happier getting good sleep. Even our daycare can notice the difference. We are still searching for a bed for us, although each night gets a little easier for us to not encroach on each others space. Ryan still seems happy in his crib, so we will stay there. We have a toddler bed just in case....but until he starts climbing out, he is staying in that crib. :)

Night 2 of CIO.....

We were in a bad rut...yes, I admit it. One of us always slept in Ryan's room in the big bed we put in there. Not only that, we rocked him to sleep EVERY night. Not putting him in his crib like we do at nap time. What did that wonderful plan get us?? A child who slept horribly for the first year home and parents who have been sleep deprived as well. So...after a stern talking to from our peds doc, we made the change. Amazingly, hubby was quite resistant. Probably because he did most of the rocking to sleep and really enjoys it and also, he and I are both used to sleeping in queen size beds alone.
2 nights ago a proclimation was made by the queen (that being moi) that I needed more sleep now that I am back to full time. So, the big switch began. Bailey became the new recipient of a nice beautiful bed in her room (which she loves and so needed now that she is getting bigger) and Ryan inherited a nice set of bunk beds in his room that noone is sleeping on unless we get a visitor.
Soooo...how goes it you ask? Ryan cried 4 minutes 2 nights ago before falling asleep for the WHOLE NIGHT and last night he made not a murmur and slept the whole night again. WOOHOO!! I know we will most likely have some rough nites, but this is very promising. Now, if Aaron and I could only learn to share a queen size bed again. I have been lobbying for a king size bed and I think after the last 2 nights I am getting somewhere with him. Ahhh...sleep is so awesome!

Some thoughts about this past summer...and random other stuff

I am taking a break from (ok....who am I kidding) I am procrastinating cleaning the house.
This summer has been kind of a blur. Between 1. full time work 2. big kids home alone 3. vacations 4. changing daycares 5. other crazy stuff - we are really behind in anything we ever wanted to accomplish this summer. And summer is almost is over.

I really was hoping to start back PT next week, but the economy put a hold on that. My family needs me to work FT, so that is what I will do. Sigh...I guess. How in the world am I going to keep all the kids on schedule, get them to and from their activities, keep dinner on the table, clean the house, have time to have ME time, get to the gym, do laundry, etc....
I know other people do it, but I can't see how it is all going to get fit in. I know I know...ask the big kids to pitch in more. Well, there is an old saying, if you want it done right....do it yourself. I will have to redo it anyway because I am particular. Lower your standards you say? Nope...I thrive on a clean house and my kids can't cook!!

Can you tell I am frustrated about taking this all on. I guess what is the most frustrating is I hear how I am too valuable at home to work full time, but when the times get tough...BAM...I take it on after I am asked.

Well...off to make schedules for kids, dinner menus, etc......

Well...back to reality...kind of

Here I thought I would go back to "real life" after vacation. Only to be asked to work FT again for the next 2 months. There is so much stuff at work to do, I can hardly say no. I did say no...kind of. I said only 4 days or maybe 3.5 depending on the day.
It has been an interesting summer to say the least. Vacations were fun, but here comes the school year. I started crying at Chandler's High School orientation. Thank goodness he wasn't there for me to embarress him. :)

Ryan's speech has really taken off. His new word is chip....which sounds like pip. :)

Our trip in pictures

Kisses.....

Getting the kids ready to attend Princeton.

On the carousel for the first time.

Digging in the sand on the Jersey shore.

Ryan has been to the Atlantic AND the Pacific Oceans in the same year. What a lucky kid!!

Bon Voyage!

Chandler and Bailey have left MN and are on their vacation with Nana and Papa. The house is already so quiet. They did an AWESOME job of cleaning their rooms spic and span before they left.
Ryan is down for a nap and I am going to catch up on cleaning the bathrooms. YAY...not!
Ryan and I leave Wednesday until Sunday, so I won't be blogging much while we are gone, probably not at all.
TTFN!!

Day 2 of less talking

She is doing pretty well. We have to remind her that if she doesn't stop talking they may have to wire her mouth shut.

I hope my post didn't come off too harsh, I do love the girl, just the teenage years could drive a person nuts very quickly.

The big kids leave for vacation in 4 days. They are going with my parents for a week. They will have a GREAT time! Ryan and I are going to visit some friends out east during that time as well. We leave a week from today. Ryan will be so excited to be on an airplane!!

This just in*********

My 13 year old daughter tore the tendon in her jaw! Other than a soft food diet do you know what this means???

SHE CAN'T TALK MUCH or risk having her jaw broken and wired shut to heal.

Am I a bad mom that thinks that this could be a little piece of heaven? Any mother of a 13 year girl will know JUST what I mean.

BWAAHHAAAAAA!!!!

This kid loves to ride!

We took the 4 wheeler out to my aunts farm and everyone had a great time on it. Especially Ryan!! My dad had never riden on one before and Ryan wanted a ride SO bad so my dad gave him one and I don't know who was smiling more!

I didn't get a picture of my brother and I as we zoomed off (him driving) and me holding on for dear life!! He hadn't riden one before either!!