Drawing!?

As some of you have heard me complain know my class this quarter is drawing. I can not even pretend that I am the least bit excited about this. I don't enjoy drawing or doodling or sketching or pretty much anything that has to do with using my hands to put a picture on paper. I don't even attempt to play around with drawing. I mean why would I when I have seen what I can do and seen what my 5 year old can do and well its not pretty. Not that I don't encourage my children to try new things, you'll never know if your good at something (or even if your not really good at it, but if you enjoy it) if you don't try. But believe me people I have put a pen to paper on more then one occasion and it doesn't end well. Mostly because it leaves me feeling a bit untalented. I mean we would all like to have a God given talent for these things right? Isn't that the only way to be good at something? You have to start good and then just get better. I am ashamed to admit that deep down inside this is how I feel about most things. Not towards other people, because I am for the most part a cheerleader. I believe that my kids and my husband and for that fact anyone I know, can do anything if they try hard enough and believe in themselves. But that only applies to other people. I have to be perfect the first time I attempt something or its just not something I should be doing. So I have to say that when I turned in my bio for this class I made it very clear that I was "unteachable" as far as drawing goes. 

Well I'm two assignments in and its been hard! I am really having to work and then work some more to do these. But the weird part is I think I might be getting better! Not "Oh my gosh, your an artist" better, but wow that second one looks better then the first better. And the second one didn't leave me feeling like a complete failure. (I had a pretty bad taste in my mouth after the first, especially after Ben told me "Here let me show you how to do it." and then proceeded to draw a perfect strawberry, making mine look like something you would hang on the fridge) But here I am, two drawings in and I feel good enough about the second one to blog about them. What do you know, hard work might just pay off. God and his stinkin lessons he has for me. 

Well here is the "strawberry" and I use that term loosely. They said draw something from nature and I did, well sort of nature. This strawberry is actually from the basket of strawberry potpourri in my family room. What! It was all I could find while I was watching TV, its not like I was going to go outside and look for something!!! lame I know...

This is the one I turned in today. Not the greatest thing ever put on paper, but I must say it looks better then the strawberry in so many ways. Am I improving at something I have never had a desire to attempt? I will be happy if I can walk away from this class hearing, well your better then when you started. 

Are people really this stupid?

The answer is yes: Navy Supply Chief Charged in Theft February 12, 2009Virginian-Pilot NORFOLK -- A Navy supply chief was charged this week in federal court with stealing more than $366,000 worth of computers, televisions and other items using a government-issued credit card. Chief Petty Officer Antonio L. Allen, 36, of Chesapeake, was arrested Tuesday and released on $5,000 bond pending arraignment in U.S. District Court Wednesday. He was charged with conspiracy, theft of public property and making false statements. A federal indictment unsealed this week accuses Allen of using a Navy credit card as if it was his own, buying hundreds of items, some for himself and some that he sold to others. A co-defendant, Yokeia M. Gibbs, who worked under Allen's supervision, previously pleaded guilty to related charges and is serving a two-year prison term. Soon after taking over as supply chief at the Norfolk Naval Station bachelor housing command in summer 2005, Allen began using a government credit card for his own benefit, the indictment says. Items such as big-screen HD televisions, computers, camcorders and digital cameras were purchased on the credit card, delivered to a Navy warehouse and removed by Allen or others, the indictment says. He would allow petty officers to remove beds and other furniture from the warehouse without authorization, according to the indictment. In 2006, the indictment continues, Allen used the credit card for thousands of dollars in fees for real estate investment seminars. When confronted with the allegations in 2007, he lied to Navy investigators about the unauthorized purchases, the indictment says. Allen could not be located for comment .

You are my sunshine...

So I feel really bad that its taken me so long to get this post out. I have started it three or four times now and just havent been able to devote enough time to get it finished. To make matters worse Ben bought me a fancy new camera a couple of weeks ago. Since then I have been a bit picture happy and because of my new classes that I'm taking I have also been a bit editing happy too. So sorting thru 200 some odd pictures and then editing said pictures has been a bit labor intensive. The funny part is its been seriously fun!!! I am loving taking pictures of the kids and then making them look great. I know its no where near what it could be (and will be with practice and some classes I am planning to take) but please be patient with me over the next few days while I get my backlog on the blog and then try my best to keep up the steady pace I had before. 

Here is a little peak at my new toy and some of the resulting pictures. I know Lina has a bruise that I could have so totally removed. But I figured that I would get them on here instead of spending any more time tinkering with them. More pics to come over then next few days.

George decided to attempt the jump picture that I got of his sister. We didnt really time it right the first time around, but that was the only chance he was willing to give me. Much more important things to do, like picking dandelions. 

Everyone is happy when the sun is out around here. Its amazing what a few hours in the sunshine will do for some grumpy preschoolers. It even makes them bring me "bootifull" flowers.  

Here is my beautiful Carolina enjoying being in front of the camera. She really was enjoying the weather and her attitude showed it.

I tried my hand at making some hair bows the other day. It wasn't quite as easy as I thought it was going to be and each one took much longer then I thought it was going to. Making things isnt really my "thing" and I lose interest quickly (no say it aint so, Mandi lose interest in something). Anyways I was able to get three or four made before I decided I was done with that little task. The kids were getting up from naps and hot glue gun + preschoolers didnt sound like a good idea to me. The moment Laney saw all the new bows she wanted them in her hair, all of them in her hair. The last two pictures are of what happens now when Laney says "CHEESE". I can feel the picture revolt coming soon. All of the kids got to the point where letting me take cute little pictures wasnt fun anymore and sitting still and cute wasnt an option any longer. 

Oh please baby girl... Give Mommy just a few more months. You are growing so fast and I feel like its just another thing that is slipping away from your baby days. Slow down baby girl...

It has been a really crazy week (as in week since Ben left last Wednesday) and I am so very glad that Ben will be home tomorrow. It has also been a very beautiful week. God must have heard all the whining I have been doing the past couple of weeks months about the weather. It has been warm and sunny for the past three days. Okay, so today was not quite as warm but the sun was out and that was enough for me. 

Today in a nut shell...

Things that have happened today:

• The kids got up at 7am
• George smacked Laney in the head with a toy car (huge bruise coming I'm sure)
• I burned the muffins for breakfast
• I burned the pizza for lunch
• Laney ate some toothpaste
• Laney ate a tums (one having nothing to do with the other)
• George ate nothing, even after asking for pizza for lunch
• Laney pooped a bright green (st patricks dayish) poop
• Laney said "love you Mommy" (awesome)
• Talked to Granny, she sounds better
• Kids destroyed the family room (on a whole new level)
• we played on the Wii, meaning I played on the Wii
• I slept zero hours last night, seriously couldnt sleep at all! Went to bed at 2am and laid there for 5 hours!
• now I'm sitting inside on the nicest day we have had in months!

My Beautiful Granny

My granny is doing well. I heard from my mom this morning and she has been moved to a regular room and has had her chest tubes removed. She has been up moving around but isnt to happy about it. I guess I wouldnt be either with two broken ribs. She will be spending a few more days in the hospital and then home to finished recovering. I havent heard when they plan to start the chemo, which is really the next big step, but for now there are lots of people down there loving on her. I plan to go down as soon as I can without having to take the kids. Showing up with our three kids isnt going to help anyone get rest.

So today I thought I would post a couple of picture so y'all could put a face to the person you have been talking to God about for the past two weeks. Thank you to all of you for the extra prayers and for all the sweet words. Y'all are the best.

P.S. That super cute baby in the picture is me y'all!!!

Mandi

Update: George is still alive!

Some how last night in all the madness that was getting the kids to bed, George ended up going to bed in his underware. I'm not really sure how it happened since he isnt one to let you over look things like putting on a pull-up. I mean its just one more step that keeps us from getting to bed, so of course it cant be forgotten! But last night (of all nights) he did and guess what! He was totally dry this morning! Got right out of bed and went straight to the bathroom. I asked him if his pull-up was dry this morning and he told me no. I was already with my "WE DONT POTTY IN OUR PANTS!" speech when he interuped me to by saying "I slept in underware last night mommy of course I'm dry."

I was dumbfounded. To be completely honest I didnt beleive him and walked over the check that he had indeed slept in underware. And he had!!!

I know that everyone has an opinion about spanking and I dont think it is the answer to everything, but every once in a while ITS WHAT WORKS. Or at least I hope so. Who knows I could be writing again tomorrow to say its all started all over again. But as of 4pm today we have had no accidents and I havent had to tell him to go potty once. Its been a much better day!

Some one please help this child!!!!

Seriously people George is playing Russian roulette with his life these days. The child has decided to start pooping and peeing in his pants again!!!! He gets up almost every morning with poop in his pants and has peed in his pants three days in a row. Only he pees in his pants steps from the bathroom and always on the carpet. Then he comes to us and says "Oops Mommy I think I peed in my pants." Its not just him getting busy and forgetting to go to the potty. Sometimes we tell him to go potty and he says he doesn't need to and then moments later he pees in his pants. He is not sick in any way, so I am almost certain that it isnt a bladder infection or anything like that.

We started with "talks" about why we don't pee in our pants after we start wearing underwear and then moved to timeout. He has now done it so many times that he is now getting spankings for going in his pants. Actually to be totally honest he got his first spanking this evening, so I guess we will see if it does any good. He has been pushing a lot of buttons lately and I feel like this is just another one. So we are standing out ground and HE WILL NOT WIN!!!!

I didn't think it was appropriate to post a picture of him standing around with pee in his pants or of me spanking him. So no new pics for this post.