Happy Halloween!

Halloween was pretty great. The boys got to go trick or treating 3 times total. Once a few days before Halloween at the nursing home, once at preschool, and then the official trick or treat in my dad's neighborhood. The boys were all so cute going up to the houses with their pumpkin buckets. Bradley loved knocking on doors! I felt bad when Bradley knocked on a little old ladies door, and when the lady didn't come quick enough Bradley started knocking over and over. I had to run up on the porch and stop him. The lady thought it was funny though, thankfully!

Bradley and Parker have tons of candy and other goodies now. So, they will be enjoying themselves for quite a while. I am sure their candy will probably last until almost Christmas time, and then they'll get even more at Christmas.

The only thing I would change about this Halloween was Brad not being with us. Brad unfortunately had to work. But once we were done trick or treating we stopped by daddy's work to have a quick visit. Everyone made over the boys, no one can resist them. I know daddy enjoys all the attention he gets because of how handsome all his little men are.

Well, here are a few pictures from tonight. I hope everyone had a Happy Halloween!

This is my favorite picture. We took this before Brad went to work.

Me and my little tiger.

Brad & I, Bradley & me, Parker & me.



Dustin at Burger King, before we went trick or treating.
Bradley my bear, Parker my lion.

Dustin trying to untie Pop-Pops shoes!

Pop-Pop and his grandsons.

Halloween fun at Preschool

At Bradley, and Parker's preschool there was a trick or treat day after school. It was nice. When Brad and I went to pick up the kids, the teachers had arranged all the tables in a big U shape. All the parents, grandparents and other family members of the kids, and teachers sat around the tables with goodies to hand out. The teachers brought up all the children from all the classes 2's, 3's, and 4's. All the little kiddo's where dressed up in their costumes and went around the tables with their trick or treat bags the school had given them (The bags where very cute!). The boys got some really nice things in their bags.

Dustin got lots of attention as well, even though he didn't participate in the trick or treat. I dressed Dustin up in his Tiger costume to match his Big Bear and Lion brothers! The boys teacher came over to see Dustin, and told me she was wondering if I would have Dustin dressed up to match the boys. She also commented on how cute their costumes all where. Well, here are the pictures of the boys at school. I'm also attaching their school projects that were pretty cute. I love how they made ghosts out of their foot prints!


Bradley making a weird grin lol. Behind him is his lil friend Megan.

Parker lookin cute as he trick or treats with his teacher.

The Boys waiting with their class.


Bradley's Ghost, and Bradley's spider web.


Parker's ghost, and Parker's spider web.


Bradley, and Parker in their spider hats they made.

Halloween Fun

Brad and I took the boys to the nursing home on Tuesday. They where having their trick or treat night. It was really fun for the boys, and they got lots and lots of goodies. We did this last year with Brads parents too, and it was fun. I think this is something we are going to have to do each year. It's a safe place for the boys to trick or treat, and they have a good time. I am attaching some pictures of the boys in their costumes.

How cute are they?! I know they are the cutest!

Bradley, Parker, and Dustin in their adorable costumes!

Bradley my adorable bear, Parker my adorable lion


Dustin, My happy adorable tiger.


Samantha, and Dustin, and Daddy holding his lil tiger.

Trick or Treat

Halloween is coming up so fast! I honestly can not believe it's next Friday. It will be Dustin's very first Halloween. Bradley and Parker should enjoy Halloween much more this year too, since they are another year older. I am looking forward to seeing all 3 of them dressed up in their Halloween costumes. On Tuesday the 28th Brad and I are taking the boys to a nursing home, with Brad's parents, to let the boys trick or treat there. We did this last year too, and the boys where a big hit. It was nice for the kids, and the people in the nursing home. Last year I think the boys came in 2nd or 3rd place for their costumes too. I'd really like if they won this year. I mean, how cute are my Lion, tiger, and bear! They have to be the cutest of all! I'll be posting pictures of the boys in their costumes as soon as Parker's costume is finished. It would have been done, but the sewing machine broke. My mom borrowed her friends machine so the costume will be done this weekend. I'm so excited!

Preschool updates with crafts!

There has been so much going on lately that I haven't posted all the fun, cute crafts the boys have made at preschool. They have been making a lot of Halloween crafts. Bradley and Parker really love preschool. I am really glad I enrolled them. It gives Brad and I some time to ourselves, kinda, because we still have Dustin. Those 2.5 hours seem to go by pretty fast. It's so quiet without them here for that time. Here are a few of their crafts. I don't have pictures of the most recent which where pumpkins made out of paper bags, and painted orange.

Dustin's helmet is Decorated finally!

Dustin's plain old white helmet finally looks cute. It isn't anything spectacular, but it's much better than the plain white. Brad's mom gave us some letter stickers that I put on Dustin's helmet, along with a few footballs.

I have seen other parents with babies in helmets like Dustin's. Some have the helmets painted, but I don't know how to do that. I googled it online and attempted to find somewhere to get the helmet painted, but no luck. But at least now Dustin's helmet is much cuter then before. I like it!

Fall trip

Yesterday, Brad took the boys and I to Ashcome farms. The boys seemed to have a good time. I was a little disappointed though. I really wish Brad and I could have taken the boys on their field trip. It would have been more fun, then our day at Ashcome. It wasn't like the pumpkin farm I went to as a kid. I remember the one from my childhood as being really nice. I remember, you rode on a hay ride, got off and picked your pumpkin and had all kinds of things to do, after you picked your pumpkin.


It was still nice being able to spend time with Brad, and our boys.

I'm so confused

As you grow up, siblings all go their own directions, and start their own families. But even though you are away from your family, you still live by what you remember growing up, and what you have been taught. What you learned growing up, affects your entire adulthood. It affects whether you become a good person, or a bad person. Even if growing up you experienced bad things, but where taught good values, you turn out some what ok. Screwed up a bit, but OK.

This past week I stood entirely against my brother. I couldn't look at things the way he sees them. I couldn't do more then one scenario. Now, I took a look into what he's thinking. I looked at it from his point of view. We talked on the phone for a long time, and strangely we thought the exact same things, and scenario's. It shows you how much we are alike, we were always fighting like cats and dogs, but yet now, so alike. It's strange how things turn out in life.

Right now I am sick over this whole situation. I know what I believe, and what I really feel happened. I feel that everything that was said is a lie. I can't imagine it any other way. When something like this arises, you think deep into your past, and remember everything you possibly can. And I do remember, I remember a lot of good, but also bad. But nothing like this "lie". The lie Cyara has come up with is outrageous. Cyara is a known liar. She has lied so many times, stolen, been caught steeling and still lied. So, I just can't believe this kid. How evil can one child be? She has had a screwed up upbringing, but lying like this, how? why? Are their truly people, children that evil?

There is a warrant out for someones arrest now. I'm not giving details. Just in case someone other than family reads this.

All I can say is I stand by what I believe, I know she's lying. I love my family, and find it ashame that a child can be so evil to lie like this. We've always known she was rotten, in terms of steeling and lying, but lying like this was never predicted.

I'm depressed, I'm confused, I'm scared.

WOOHOO! He did it!

I have been working with Parker for a while now with Potty training. I have had lots of success, but the problem I was having was; whenever Parker wore underwear or pull-ups he'd wet them. So, Parker was running around most of the time with no underpants! When he went without underpants he never had accidents. Now, finally! we have succeeded! YEA PARKER! Parker now proudly pulls down his pull-ups and goes on the potty. I am so very proud of him. Parker is 26 months old and almost fully potty trained. Our last obstacle is teaching him to go to the bathroom when we are out in public. It's already bad enough rushing Bradley to the bathroom while we are out, it's now going to be a constant run for all the bathrooms. I guess I will learn where the potty room is in all the stores.

Picture Day

Bradley, and Parker's 1st school picture day is coming up. The pictures will be taken in November so that they are here for Christmas. I am excited about it. I just hope the boys smile for their preschool pictures.

Every year Brad and I do a family picture for Christmas. We will still be doing it this year, and getting pictures done of Dustin for his 1st Christmas. I can't believe how fast all of this is coming up. I feel like I have a lot of different things to look forward to. Although with the current situation, all I can think of is the horrible thing that is going on right now. Our family will never be the same. I always thought: Blood is thicker then water. I guess sometimes that doesn't apply. My family is the most important thing to me. My husband, our kids, my parents, brother and REAL nieces and nephews. I just can't believe what's going on.

Well, on the bright side, the trip to Disney is looking as if it will really happen. We are trying to figure out dates, and get things straight. I can't even begin to explain how excited I am about taking a trip to Disney with my family. I'd love to see the expressions on my boys faces! Even with thinking of vacation, I come up with worries. My biggest worry, which may be odd to some, is my dog. I am afraid to leave behind my 4th child, Pebbles. Pebble is my furry oldest child, and I just hope she would take it ok, with me being gone for a week. I will probably call my aunt and see if she will baby sit, or um, dog sit, for my precious Pebbles. Brad always calls Pebble's Precious, because she can get away with so much. I think my hubby is jealous of my baby Pebbles!

I will update on when picture day is when I find out. I should know next week, or the last week of October. Plus I'm sure I'll be updating about Disney! Also, the situation with my family. Hopefully I'll have good updates!

Disney World

With all the bad that is taking place right now, I've put my mind on something good. I've been keeping my mind occupied with thoughts of a future family vacation to Orlando, FL. We would visit the Disney parks, and Universal Studio's. I've been before when I was a kid with my parents, and big brother. I remember having a really good time. My husband was excited about the idea of us going, just as much as I am. My mom was the one who brought up the idea of the Disney vacation, and I think we'd all have a really good time.
Bradley and Parker would love getting on the kiddie rides. They would also love seeing all the different characters, and everything their is at Disney. There is just so much to see and do. It would be a great experience, and a lot of fun memories. I am really hoping we get to go. We are planning on possibly 2009, maybe in March when Dustin is turning one. It's all just a thought right now, so I don't know if it will really happen. All I do know is we hope we can afford to go. I've been spending some time on the Disney vacation website where you can pick a hotel, and plan everything out with prices. It doesn't seem too utterly expensive, and it's worth it anyway. Brad and I will just really start having to save some money. If we do get to go, it will be a once in a lifetime vacation. And I say this because my mom will be helping us with affording it. When our children are older, I know my mom won't be able to help us as much as she is now. And as I've said in other posts, I am so lucky to have such a great mom. I don't know where my husband, our boys, and I would be with out her. She has helped us so much.

Just something else

I just posted another post, but this is totally different. I was upset about this also. It was just the start of a really bad day.
My husband and I were supposed to be attending my two oldest boys field trip on October 23rd. I was excited about it, but that has all gone away now. Just one more thing to be disappointed, or upset about. It seems as if it's always, and I mean ALWAYS something.
Well, it's not that big of a deal, considering what else is going on right now. I just was looking forward to spending a nice fall day with my husband and our kids. Now, since we aren't going on the field trip with preschool, we will be going on our own as a family. So, I am ok with it now. I'm looking forward to having a nice outing with my loving husband, and adorable little boys. I want them to have a good time, and I want to spend a day having fun, and getting my mind off of all the bad things going on. So, even though the boys won't be going with preschool to the pumpkin patch, we will be going as a family next week.

SOOOO ANGRY!!!

I am so upset right now, and don't know what to do. Really there isn't anything I can do, which just makes me more upset. I won't explain what happened, but will leave it at this:
It is something extremely horrible that my brother's STEP daughter has done. Our family has always looked at this kid, as part of our family. Now, I hate her! She has stolen from us, lied, and now lying again to the point that will affect someones life. I don't know if this girl realizes the affect of her lie. This is something she will have to live with her entire life. Living with a lie, that affects someone the way this lie is going to is horrible.
I am just so angry. It shows you the importance of real family, and not outsiders that aren't truly family. Yes, she is a child, or a preteen, but she is a liar, and a thief. Part of the way this girl is, comes from her mother. I have always said "You live what you learn". I always have said that, because of my behavior and things I've learned growing up. Life hasn't always been easy, and it still isn't. But my family, who isn't perfect, has always been there for me. My father and I never really got along great, our personalities really clashed. Maybe I was just a lot like him. I have one hell of a temper, and don't let people walk on me, or mess with my family. I noticed, I do dwell on certain things too. I feel that I have become a good person, even with my flaws. Everyone out there has a flaw whether they admit to it or not.
With this situation going on right now, someone who is important to me is facing an uncertain future. I don't know what is going to happen, and I am afraid. I am angry, and scared. Fall was supposed to be great this year. My brother just arrived back home from Iraq, my youngest son will be having his first Halloween, and it was just supposed to be fun. Now, it's destroyed. All because a spoiled brat didn't get what she wanted for her birthday, so she came up with an outrageous lie. It is truly ashame how kids are becoming these days. If I were to lie like this as a kid, I would have been so guilt stricken. I would never have lied like this. How do you lie about something so serious? I am just in disbelief, I'm angry, OUTRAGED! I've rambled on enough. Hopefully I will have a good update to post later, not a bad one, but I am afraid that everything is heading for the bad.

The Girl Diet.......

We have 3 handsome, perfect baby boys, who we love with all our hearts. In our eyes there couldn't be 3 cuter kids in this world then our baby boys.
But my husband and I are still wanting a daughter. I found a web page a while back during my 3rd pregnancy called In-Gender.com. It has all these different ways to sway for a boy, or girl. I figured I'd post the "girl diet". I got this off the In-Gender forums. Brad told me we will do what ever it takes to have our baby girl. Of course the natural way, none of the High tech stuff that you have to pay for.
So, I am going to start this girl diet thing, and do it for a while. We aren't planning on having another baby for a while, but I figured I'd get used to that type of diet. Maybe it will work if I'm on it for a long time. It will be hard to get used to. Take a look:

THE GIRL DIET
Daily recommended supps Calcium 800mg, Magnesium 300mg, Vitamin D
Daily Fluid Intake Must be 2-2 1/2 liters (8-10 glasses) This is very important for proper calcium absorption
DIETARY GUIDELINES
Milk Products : Drink 750 ml milk daily. Include 2 milk products such as yogurt & custard daily
Eggs: Allowed
Cheese: Small serves cottage cheese. 1 dessert spn of Parmesan cheese twice a week
Drinks
Tea & Coffee: Basically forbidden but one cup only of either is acceptable. It must be very weak!
Mineral Water: Evian, Perrier (all other brands are too high in pot/sodium)
Wine: An Occasional drink allowed (150ml)
Meat (maximum 130g per day)
Lamb: 1 midloin chop(large) or 1 chump chop(medium) or 1 forequarter chop
Beef: 1 piece oyster blade (med) or 1/2 t-bone steak or 1pce eye fillet (2.5cm thick)
Pork: 1 butterfly steak or 1 midloin (med)
Chicken: 1 breast & meat from 1 drumstick
Fish: Must be cooked in a 'court bouillon' ie poached in 500ml water, a little wine & herbs.. discard liquid to serve...reduces natural salt content
Bread: Must be low salt content (less than 1%), white has less potassium, salt free crisp bread or crackers
Pasta: Permitted without restriction if prepared without forbidden ingredients
Rice: brown or white permitted
Cereals: Semolina, Tapioca, Cous cous, Corn flour, plain wheat flour (not SR), puffed rice
Vegetables: Maximum allowance 150g daily
Allowed: fresh or frozen carrots, green beans, turnips, onion, leeks, peas, cucumbers, radishes, green/red peppers, cress, celery,eggplant, fresh asparagus
Potatoes Not to be eaten more than 3 times per week
Fruit: maximum allowance 150g daily
May be fresh frozen or canned...small apple 110g, pear (med) 170g, raspberries 1/2 cup 50g, strawberries large 15-20g each
Tinned ONLY (not fresh) & without syrup...pineapple, plums,peaches
Nuts: unsalted walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, peanuts
Sweet Foods
Jams: Not more than once a day, only one desertspn
Sugar/Honey:Restrict as much as possible as too much sugar interferes with calcium absorption
Concession: 1 orange & 1 lemon per week
Herbs: Allspice, aniseed, bay leaves, cloves, chives, chervil, chili,coriander,cilantro,cumin, garlic, horseradish,juniper,marjoram, mint, paprika, parsley,saffron, sage, thyme, tumeric
Miscellaneous: Vegetable oils, pepper, spices, mustard, gelatin, homemade sauces without salt or forbidden ingredients
Cooking Tips: Do not use a salt substitute...everything must be cooked without salt. Onions, garlic, pepper & spices can be used to improve the flavor of food.
FORBIDDEN FOODS
Drinks: coffee, tea,chocolate, mineral waters(except those permitted), cordial, fresh or tinned juice, fizzy drinks, wine, beer, cola, cider, liqueurs, apertifs
Meat: all small goods including smoked meats
Fish: fish fingers, smoked, dried or salted fish, tinned fish,shellfish, prawns,anchovies, caviar
Cheese:all forbidden (high salt)
Bread/ pastries: white, wholemeal, rye bread, milk loaf, fruit loaf, crisp breads, croissants, buns,bought biscuits, cakes, ice cream, quiches, pizzas
Fresh fruit: Pineapples, plums, peaches, apricots, cherries, bananas, oranges,melons, lemons, grapefruit, red currants, grapes, fruit juices
Dried fruit: apricots, dates, figs, raisins, chestnuts, sultanas, prunes, coconut, currants
Vegetables: sweet corn, flat leaf continental parsley,spinach, cabbage, mushrooms, endive, avocado, fennel, raw tomatoes, soya beans,pumpkin, split peas,broad beans, lentils, haricot beans
Sweets: chocolates, lollies
Salt: of any description
Chemical raising agents, bicarb soda, effervescent drugs
Soups from sachet or tins, stock cubes
Tomato paste, sauce, bottled mayonnaise or other sauces
Tinned fresh or frozen ready made meal
Jelly
Salted or slightly salted butter or margarine
Olives, gherkins, marinades, pickles, popcorn
UNDERSTANDING YOUR DIET
It is important that you understand the principles which form the basis of this diet. Essentially it requires you to eat foods that are rich in calcium & magnesium but low in potassium & sodium. This must be strictly adhered to if you are to gain maximum benefit from it.
Why are these restrictions necessary?
Tea,Coffee & Alcohol
Each cup of tea or coffee causes you to lose calcium from your body. Alcohol with its diuretic effect also causes the kidneys to excrete more calcium than they would normally
Chocolate: This is very high in potassium & contains oxalate's which bind with calcium & make it unusable
Wheat Bran: This contains phytates which also rob the body of calcium. For eg., for every 100g of bran that is eaten the body loses 350 mg calcium
Meat: Restricted because of its high protein content. If you eat more than 120g protein a day you begin to enter a dietary range where the protein will cause calcium loss.
Sugar: Heavy intake of sugar will cause you to lose calcium through excess excretion. It is recommended that you keep your sugar intake to less than 60 g per day
Important Facts To Note
Always drink 8-10 glasses of water per day. It is important to drink this amount as it will help the body to dissolve & to absorb the increased calcium that is being taken in, whether from food or supplements. Calcium cannot be absorbed well or excreted safely without water.
Do not attempt this diet if you suffer from poor kidney function .This could result in kidney stones due to the increased calcium intake.
Commence the diet & mineral supplements 6 -10 weeks before a planned conception.
It must be stressed that the diet should only be undertaken with careful medical or naturopath supervision. It is recommended to have a check up before starting & to continue regular check ups whilst on the diet to ensure that excessive electrolyte imbalance is avoided.
This diet was extracted from "the girl diet", an e-book purchased from Sue Roebuck, a natural fertility naturopath in Australia.
* * * * * * * * * * *

Well, thats it. I don't know how true any of it is. All I know is I plan on trying it. I've got nothing to lose. It sounds pretty healthy really. The hardest part will be cutting out sodium, and sugar. I sugar everything, and I mean everything down! My husband yells at me for it. Caffeine isn't a problem, since I already have no caffeine.

He is Home!

Just a quick update, to let everyone know my big brother is finally home! Unfortunately, I am not able to go visit with him today though, because not only am I very sick, but all my kids are as well. It really sucks! I have almost totally lost my voice, and dealing with 3 little boys by yourself is hard when you can't talk! I really wish my hubby was home. Six more hours until he will come home, I can't wait!

They grow up to fast

It hit me that my youngest is already 7 months old. I look at Dustin as the little baby. Dustin is not little by any means, but I see him as the lil baby. I just can't get over how all this time has flown right by. I honestly feel like I just had Dustin a few months ago. It's amazing how fast this time has gone. My oldest is now 3, my middle son is 2 and Dustin is 7 months now. Here are some pictures of how much they've all changed.. I'll start with Bradley, then Parker, and finally my baby Dusty.

Bradley Then

Bradley now


Parker then

Parker now (ignore his dirty face, he wouldn't let me wipe him off!)

Dustin then..

Dustin now.

I really started thinking about how fast they've grown today, while sorting through all the baby cloths that Dustin has outgrown. I was supposed to put aside things that I could get rid of. What ended up happening is me packing away all the tiny baby cloths. Every single outfit just made me remember holding my tiny babies in those cloths.

Anyway, we do plan on having at least one more baby. Even if we do luck out and end up with a little girl some day, she can wear blue. She'll just have to wear a matching bow.
Ugh! How is it that, already, I'm getting baby fever.. I guess that's why our kids are all so close in age.

Don't anyone worry, this time around, Dustin has to be at least 18 months old. He'll probably be older then that by time we start trying for number 4. All that sorting through baby cloths just made me miss the tiny baby stage. Brad keeps saying how he wants a baby girl too.. Maybe one day.

Home coming & Birthday

Yesterday, October 5th was Bradley's 3rd Birthday. Daddy, mommy, and mom-mom celebrated on October 4th with a cake, and his presents. Then on Bradley's official birthday pop-pop, mom-mom, mommy, and all the boys went to the rain forest cafe.

When we were getting ready to leave, the phone rang! It was the phone tree, telling us that my brother was on a plane heading to a base not to far from home. He will be stationed there until he's released, and comes home.

That night when all the boys were going to bed, after a long, fun day, the phone rang again. This time I answered, it was James! He told me he's at the base now, and sounded really happy. No more Iraq!! Now in about 14 days James will be home to stay. We are all so happy. So, Bradley's Birthday was a great day. Not only did our first baby turn the big 3, but my brother is out of Iraq.

Rain Forrest Cafe

For Bradley's Birthday on October 5th my mom and dad took Bradley, myself, and his brothers to the Rain Forrest Cafe. It was a blast! The boys all really enjoyed it. Dustin sat in a high chair and was amazed by the gorilla's. We had a great seat next to a big fish tank, and near the gorilla's. We were also close to the big water fountain. Bradley and Parker were both real quiet at first, but then opened up and really took it all in. Bradley told me he liked the water fall, and fish the most!
The thunder storms that occur in the restaurant frightened both Bradley, and Parker, the first few times. After the initial shock of thunder and lightning in the restaurant the boys were ok.
For dessert Bradley got a Volcano. I have a picture I'm adding to this so everyone can see. The Volcano came with a sparkler in it and a candle. The employee's all came out saying "Volcano" and then sang happy birthday to Bradley. Bradley tried so hard not to smile! This dessert was so huge, it was impossible for just my parents, myself, and the older boys to eat it all.

We are definitely going back for Parker's 3rd Birthday!



Ok, so here are the pictures. The first picture is the life like gorilla's that moved.


Below is just one of the many fish tanks. This is the fish tank we were sitting next to.

Below is the Volcano dessert!

Below is Parker looking pretty mad.

Dustin looking around.

The elephants! Very life like.

The big fish tank.
The boys with (my parents) pop-pop and mom-mom.
Parker smiling

Happy boys!