Life changes

Life has changed so much since February! Being military, we received our orders and just like that...life got busy. Really busy.

We are busy in our every day life as is, but throw in a move and life just got out of control. Packing up one house, house hunting for another, finishing school up with the kids, a funeral and then the actual packing, moving, cleaning...Need I say more?

Although we still have plenty to do to get settled, life has calmed. That calm has come with plenty of changes.

We are now homeowners.

We are now on a (modified) year round school schedule.

My kids schools & our church is much closer.

We now have a dog.

My grocery budget is still the same, although spread out differently, due to paying a mortgage.

Life is indeed different.

But my life, my interests & my goals have not changed. In fact, I have a renewed sense of wanting to save money! No longer are we able to just call housing if something breaks.

Ben & I have spent many a morning at Lowes or Home Depot picking out appliances, counter tops, paint...none of that is free or cheap.

Saving money and living on a budget will always be a part of our lives. Now, besides the normal, we have pet food and house "stuff".

Hopefully you will stick around as I rebuild my stockpile, feed & care for our new dog, updating our home, and everything in between!

brain & phto dump

Home from vacation.

We had a wonderful visit with family and friends. 2 weeks worth of talking, laughing, and avoiding our actual lives.

After 2 long days on the road, we arrived home. And reality hit like a slap in the face.

Someone has to unpack the car?

And pack up the Christmas decorations?

Who is going to go buy milk? Bread? Everything...

Laundry, laundry and more laundry... ( I swear I did it all before we left!)

Back to the grind. Over vacation, I dreamt and thought about what I want my 2014 to look like. Organized. Planned. Prepared. Practically perfect in every way. Only it is now the 5th and I have yet to execute...anything.

I will. Tomorrow the kids go back to school. Tomorrow Ben goes back to work. Tomorrow I will have 3 blissful hours to myself.

"Tomorrow, I love yah! Tomorrow, you're only a day away!"

As for today, it is about church, laundry (seriously?!) and getting ready for tomorrow.

Life as the CEO of Turner Inc. It is not for the faint of heart!

On life with an autistic child...

The past few weeks have been rough. Rough on Ivan. Rough on me. Rough on our family.

I feel tired. And drained. Both physically and emotionally.

People ask me what they can do to help. My honest answer is I DON'T KNOW. I just don't.

Ivan's "typical behavior" has never been quite like what it has been recently. He has always struggled with social situations. He has always been easily frustrated. He has always used crying and screaming as his main way of communicating.

But lately...I am in shock. My child has changed. The older he gets, the more pronounced his "symptoms" are.

I have had to pick him up from school because of violent behavior.
I have had to go chase him down in the school field because he was upset by something.
I have found him laying on the ground in the fetal position.
I have had to try to pull him out from under his bed, in an effort to get him to go to school.
I have had him scream at me.
I have had him physically hurt me.
I have had him lock me out of my car for 45 minutes.
I have had meetings and more meetings.
I have cried more tears than I care to admit.
I have tried to be patient.
I have lost my temper.
I have "given up" so many times.
I have wondered why me?
I have wondered why Ivan?
I have asked questions after questions.
I have had more than I can handle.

So many questions and not enough answers.

One moment he is a perfectly happy and content. The next he is covering his ears, screaming and agitated.

I love that kid and want the very best for him. Life as a Mom is so unfair. I know what I want for him.  But that is just the thing. I know what I want...and yet I am not the one in charge.

So all I can do is keep trying. Keep on keeping on.

 

I am not writing this post so I can whine or pout. Or so that I can get comments about what a great Mom I am, or how well Ivan is doing. It is just...what is on my heart and mind.

School daze

This Wednesday, my kids started school.

High school. Middle school. Elementary school. Preschool starts next week.

I have made lunches. Packed backpacks. Signed enough papers to give myself a hand cramp for a week. I have driven back and forth. I have walked back and forth.

Seminary started. Early morning seminary. My alarm is set for a time that STARTS with a 4. Yes, a 4. Harmony's alarm starts with a 5. Early.

There have been quiet moments to think. There have been quiet moments to just be me. There have been sweet moments with Mason. There have been moments where he has driven me nuts, without older siblings to entertain him.

All of my kids have had a great first few days. They have classes with their friends & favorite teachers. They have made new friends. They have managed to open their lockers. And haul textbooks. And find their classes.

However, after three days, this Mama is worn the heck out. Last night I fell asleep at 8:15. With my contacts in. In my clothes. With Masons shoes at the end of my bed. Dead to the world at 8:15.

This year is going to be busy. And next year. And the next.

My caffeine consumption just may go up. By a lot.

Done and done

February is the most inSaNE month for my family. Just thinking about it makes me want to cry...or go sleep for a month. One of the two. Heck, maybe both.


Birthday Boy #1

 

Birthday Boy #2

Birthday boy #3

3 birthdays. 14 days of love. Valentines Day. We then added a baptism and a visit from family into the mix.

Valentines Day tulips

14 Days of Love mailboxes

 

It was a great month. Busy & full of wonderful things. It was also really tiring.

Lots of Grandma Lovin'

I am so looking forward to getting back on a routine. I like to be nice and scheduled. Not running around like a chicken with my head cut off. Some people thrive on crazy. Me? It just makes me more crazy.

Decisions, decisions

Last year in February, I made a decision. It was hard, but I felt that it was the right decision at the time. For my family. Was it wrong? Was it right? I don't know.

I learned a lot. About me. About my children. About my strengths. About my weaknesses. About what I am made of.

While it has been on my mind for a while, I haven't shared with anyone my thoughts or feelings. Until it became so overwhelming I thought I might just burst.

In the end, what it all boils down to is...I am NOT going to continue homeschooling my children.

I am sad that I wasn't able to do it long tem, but have a feeling of relief, a load has been taken off my chest.

I admire those Moms who homeschool and the work that it requires. I am just not one of them.

Boy this Mom thing is rough... I really, really do need a manual! So if anyone comes up with a parenting/mother hand book, let me know. Although I need it specific to my kids, so that keep in mind!

Hmmm...

Boy time sure flies doesn't it?! I can't believe how long it has been since I blogged.

Slowly but surely I plan to get updated.

It will probably take me a bit but...whatever.

Such is life.

I can't be the only one who gets this look, right?

The other day, my daughter (lovingly? sarcastically?) told me that she doesn't ever have a chance to miss me, because, " you are always around". Then basically, it all led to the fact, that she takes me for granted. Yikes. Ouch.

But then...she redeemed herself. Somewhat.

"Mom, your work is so important to you...that you live there."

How cute is that? What I do is so important to me. It really is. I am not a perfect Mother, but at least my kiddos know that they are important to me. My home. My family. They are my "work". Even if my bosses do have a tendency to take me for granted...

O.M.Gracious!!

Here is the situation:

Take 1 tired Mom and add in 5 kids = Turner family

Then add a trip out of town= Legoland

Add about a billion activities= church, school events, field trips

Add in a broken laptop = kids in big trouble

Add in a non-working wireless connection= annoyance

Add in a new router  = fight with kids at Best Buy about why I wouldn't buy an X-Box, M&M's or a new movie.

Add in a visit from the cable guy= halleluiah

And that is why I haven't blogged. Whew. Today our wireless is working. My new laptop is never going to be touched by my children. All school events are over in T-2hrs and 3 minutes.


I am going to be taking a nice long nap today and then get my house back. Bring on summer!

Whose behind?

Mine. Ha ha, that is my favorite line in Toy Story 2. If you don't know what I am talking about...you're missing out. That movie has some of the funniest lines.

How is it possible for one persons life to get as crazy as mine has the past few weeks?

I have been so far behind and I haven't been able to catch up! I am behind on:
*dishes
*laundry
*basically all housework
*blogging
*product reviews
*family blog
*homeschool blog
*coupons

Seriously, do I need to go on? I am choosing to blame it on two big changes...

1. My hubby's deployment
2. Taking my kids out of public school and into homeschool

Those are good reasons for being such a slacker right?!

the busiest time of the year...

All of this holiday rushing around is making me tired!!

What a crazy time of year. I have been to concerts, parties, field trips, assembalies, presentations...I could go on and on.

Oh and lets not forget the "great lice invasion" which got every single one of us! Yuck. You never realize how many items your head could possibly touch until you have to wash them all! Pillows, blankets, stuffed animals, couches, chairs, your car, hair brushes, hats. Ugh soooo GROSS.

So all this just to tell you that I am alive and well...just crazy tired and busy!

How about you? Have you had a chance to stop and smell the roses at all this holiday season?

Uhm...

Why no, no I haven't fallen off the face of the earth!!

I have been just a teeny bit busy!

Here's the thing...

I had found this great way of organizing coupons. I was so excited about it. After a few weeks of using this system (and of course those were the weeks with tons of inserts) I realized it just wasn't working for me. ):

The biggest key to saving money is to be organized. And being organized means doing things in a way that works for you, right?

So I have spent the past weekend organizing, filing, clipping...and I am not done. Getting there but not done yet.

I feel like I haven't been on the "coupon ball" for awhile now and my budget is starting to show it. Time to tighten the purse strings!

Whew!!

This was supposed to be a nice relaxing week for me.

My daughter is gone at an overnight church camp. My boys were looking forward to logging lots of time in front of the Wii.

So I thought I would get sooo much done. Uhm, yeah. Not exactly.

Tuesday morning I woke up to a phone call from my Mom. Then I had a voicemail from her. An email. A facebook message...



My sister had to go in for an emergency surgery and so I needed to go pick up her son, and then see what I could do to help her.

(an image of LA's freeways which I found at this site

She only lives about an hour away BUT between my house and hers is this little city you might have heard of...Los Angeles. Or what I like to call the"pain in my rear end". Simple, "quick" trips turn into hours (literally)  of sitting in traffic. Doesn't that above picture just make you want to cry?! It does to me!

We left at 9:30ish and didn't return home until 4:00 or so. Looong day, and the majority was spent in the car.


my cute nephew hanging out



That night my 2 year old decided to get up every 4 hours. Ugh. Then later in the morning my daughter called from camp...not feeling well and needing some medicine.

This is the short version of my week.



I am feeling tired, unorganized and waaaaay behind in every area of my  life. This whole summer has just been so busy!!

Anyway, I just wanted to check in and let y'all know I am alive and well. Tired but well!

I have so much planned and going on...including a fabulously fun giveaway!! So stay tuned!!

still here...

Nope, I didn't fall off the face of the earth (:

After our family vacation, I had a little over a week to get ready for a family reunion...at my house.

Then I spent a wonderful weekend with family...

...and I am still sleeping it off!! Seriously I have been taking a nap almost every day or going to bed rrrrreally early.

This summer has been so full & busy that I practically have to schedule in time to breathe!

I am starting to feel rested up and am getting back in to the swing of things!

I'm baaaaack

After a vacation with the fam...I am home.

Our house smells like campfire, Mt. Washmore (aka laundry) is piled up everywhere, there are brown rings around the tub after my kids took baths...

I have lots to do but I am hoping to be back soon. Spending the day cleaning, organizing...and airing out my house!!

still here...kind of

I know it has been awhile since you heard from me. The fact is, I am busy!!

Summer is here and I am :

*trying to keep my kids entertained enough that I am not pulling my hair out

*trying to keep my kids from pulling each others hair out

*trying to get my house ready for my hubby's return from his deployment (:

*trying to keep my sanity until my hubby's return

the moon looked so big from our front porch the other day!!

So that my friends is what I am doing. Oh and...some of my neighborhood girls, have me exercising with them. Heaven knows I need it but...how do you spell sore? M-a-r-i-e!! When it hurts to carry your squirming 2 year old up the stairs for his nap...then you know you worked parts of your body that haven't been worked in a long time!!

neglect

Oops!! Looks like I have been neglecting my poor blog!!

I had a dr. appt on Monday. Which meant I had to go to the base. Honestly it isn't that far. Maybe 20-25 minutes depending on traffic. But it feels like a whole day because I try to get as much down there as I can. Plus I had to bring my kindergardener with me. That is like triple the work! (:

The next day was another running around day. This time it was Staples for free paper, Adidas outlet for free t-shirts, and Target for a whole bunch of cheap/ free items. Then appt's, and church activities.

Yesterday I had to go back down to pick up my perscription. So once again I made a whole day of it. Day old bread store, commissary, gas is cheaper on base so I did that. But can I tell you...I am tired!! I need to start planning a one day whirlwind trip and just get everything done. So that I have the rest of the week to just relax. Know what I mean?

Tomorrow is the last day of school. I am excited to be done but also know that feeling will only last for so long (:

(Taking a break from a busy week to go play at the park!)

So anyway, long story short...I will be back to regular posting soon (: