Ice storms, sleep deprivation, and two little monsters.

So much for writing more often, eh? Oh well I am working at my resolutions slowly as not to burn out and quit! ; )

Yesterday afternoon an Ice Storm hit our part of Missouri...there is atleast an inch of ice covering everything outside. Thankfully we are warm and safe inside. We continue to pray that the power doesn't go out...which often occurs with ice storms. School and work are cancelled for today for my brothers and Dad, so we will get to enjoy a little down time together.

Megan and Madie have been playing tag team with their poor mother at night. It seems as soon as Madie finishes her midnight'ish snack and mom slips back to sleep...it's Megans turn to make sure mom knows who's boss. Don't worry...it only took a few nights to figure out who's in charge and I know it's not me!!! I am at the mercy of my two darling monsters.

Megan is such a kick in the pants. She heard me talking to my mom about how it would be fun to go down to Puerto Rico and see Peter's Aunt Flo and Uncle John. The next thing I know she is walking around saying "I want to got to Puerto Rico." I told her to tell Pete that when she talked to him on the phone, so for the next 24 hours she would say "Call Daddy. I want to go to Puerto Rico." When Pete finally called she said "Hi daddy. I want to go to Puerto Rico." He of course thought I had been coaching her...not necessary...she is a two year old who knows what she wants! AND SHE WANTS TO GO TO PUERTO RICO!!!!!

Peter is doing well. We miss him, and can't wait for him to come home. But we are so blessed in that he calls almost everyday and our deployments are more or less voluntary and of short duration.

Madie is not quite as calm as I previously blogged about and appears to have a bit of a temper too. Meg hit her for the first...(and better be the last) time yesterday. But at the rate Madie is growing..(according to my parents scale she is already 13 lbs at 8 weeks) Megan better watch out. It won't be long before Madie can hold her own in a sisterly fight!

New Years Resolution

So I have decided to post some of my New Year's Resolutions in order to increase my accountability, and therefore hopefully my success.

So here they are in no particular order:
1. Get back in shape...I turn 30 this year and want to be in the best shape of my life by my 30th Birthday. This goal will take a lot of work, but I am committed to it! I won't list how much weight I want to lose, but lets just say it is enough to keep me working hard til I turn 30 in October.

2. Read my Scriptures EVERY day... this goal has alluded me since children came on the scene, but 2009 is the year for greatness.

3. Blog more. I am so impressed with the depth of some of your blog entries...mine are usually just about daily events and vomit, so my goal is to include more of my thoughts and feelings about daily events, not necessarily my thoughts and feeling about vomit because that shouldn't be necessary...who likes vomit?

4. Get more organized...we have 4 people in 980 square feet of space and it is a little tight, but I know it will feel less small and confined if we get organized. I like our place, its just small, so I think if I minimize the "stuff" factor, it will feel bigger.

I think that will keep me busy for the year...don't you??

PS. Peter made it safely to Qatar, and I will write updates on him, as I receive them!!!

Ringing in the New Year!!!

The December Recap...
We had a great Christmas...of which I will post pictures later. It included a new kitchen set for Megan and Madie, a new flat iron for me, new running shoes for Pete, a trip to the beach and friends over for dinner. It was a great, laid back day! Then Pete took a check ride on the 30th, and then we got up at 3 am on the 31st so we could make our 6am flight to my parents house. Though tired, we enjoyed our first day with my parents very much...

Embracing 2009
...the next day (Jan 1st)Megan vomited while jumping on the trampoline with cousin Zeta and though we hoped it was just due to being jostled...it was the stomache flu.
We blessed Madilyn that night while my brothers, Nicholas and Seth and sister Ashlie were still in town. It was a beautiful blessing and my dad and his dad were also able to be in the circle while Pete blessed her. Pete's mom, made Madie a very pretty blessing dress of which I will post pictures later.

Megan vomited all through the night on the 1st, throughout the 2nd, and the morning of the 3rd. While my mom took Pete to the airport so he could head home to prepare for his deployment, my Dad and I ended up taking an increasingly more and more lethargic, dehydrated Megan to the ER. We spent 4-5 hours there while they drew blood, did x-rays, gave her some Zofran, and started orally rehydrating her. So our last few days as a family were not quite what we had planned, as the last night before Pete left he spent the night taking care of a vomiting Megan and I took care of a hungry Madie in different rooms. Kind of sad, but that is just the way family life is sometimes. Megan woke up Sunday the 4th back to her sassy self and has been doing fairly well since. I got feeling sick Sunday night...and now am feeling better.

Gratitude
I am grateful Madie has so far, stayed well. I am so grateful for a husband who is a hands on dad. I couldn't do this by myself. I am also grateful to be with my parents while he is gone for a 5 weeks. So we are out in Missouri for a while. I plan to try to blog while I'm here (one of my new years resolutions), but it depends on my parents internet connection which is only good between 2-6am, most days! Hope everyone else had a less eventful and more enjoyable way to usher in the new year. Welcome 2009!!!