Oklahoma...

I'm staring at piles of laundry that need to be washed and folded,

suitcases that need to be packed,

bedding that needs to be washed and mattresses that need to be aired,

carry-ons that need to be thoughtfully packed in order to entertain three small children for an entire day or airports, flights and layovers

and the list of things to get in order for the week while I'm away.

Phew... who knew?

And guess what?

The boys are getting sick.

Chyah.

Wish I were joking.

And my mom would lose her marbles if we bailed. 

And the tickets are all non-refundable or transferable.

And I may not see my sister again for a very long time. We're already at once a year as it is.

Ugh...so Hubby is out getting benadryl. That's okay right? Something to help dry up those runny noses during the flight? And if they happen to doze off, that's okay too. ;)

I'm pumping them with vitamin C like crazy.

I'm hoping they can shake it before Monday with a couple calm days and good nights' sleep.

Okay, so here's my current dilemma.

I cannot make a decision, so I need some advice.

And if you don't usually comment (ahem), please comment on this one, I need as many opinions and reasoning as I can get.

So Hubby can go with me all the way to the boarding gate (awesome huh, it's called an escort pass). So I'm less worried about the hassle of juggling three kids, eight shoes, three backpacks and a purse, a car seat and a stroller while going through security and handing them our boarding passes and driver's license. With Hubby there, that part will be a breeze (compared to doing it without him). The plane flight....ugh, I'm just hoping to slip all the kids a sleeping pill and be done with it. I kid I kid.

Then I have a stop mid flight and a layover. And not just where we refuel or exchange a few passengers. No, I have to change planes! UGH. And the layover is two hours. Still no big deal.

But here's my dilemma. 

I am taking one car seat for Baby on the plane so that he will be strapped in and hopefully sleep part of the trip as if we were in the car. However, the car seat is a Britax and is quite large and awkward to lug around.

What I can't figure out is what stroller to bring?

Options:

Umbrella: Super light weight, small, easy to store, fold, lift, shove at the TSA agents, ram into people who won't move...all that. Perfect.

No storage, No holders for anything, only one kid is locked down in airport. I can have son wear one of those little backpack-leash things too though. And Daughter wouldn't dare leave my side and if anyone ever took her, they'd quickly return her with a reward to me for putting up with her sass for so long. ;)

Second option:

Regular size single stroller: Still easy to fold, pretty light (I can lift it with one hand) some storage and holders for cups (or phones, etc). Will have a more comfortable (reclining for naps) stroller in Oklahoma, might be able to balance the car seat on the top of the stroller (shade area)

Not as easy to store anywhere, but they'll be throwing it under the plane after we board anyway, still only one kid is locked down in airport, and I will have to take all the crap I store in it out at every security checkpoint.

Third option:

Double jogger stroller: Easy to fold, lots of storage and holders for crap, probably be able to balance the car seat on the top (shade area), two kids locked down in airport, will have a great stroller in Oklahoma

Not as easy to store, but again, they'll be throwing it under the plane, will be a royal pain going through security, have to not only take out all the crap, but unfasten TWO kids' buckles.

So what do you think??

Arg...

I'm excited to see my family but just dreading this trip. And I'm praying that the boys get well quickly and that Daughter doesn't get sick also or get sick on the trip and then miss more school once we return. 

Blogger business: I didn't even think about my blog while I'm gone, until last night. Lol...so I am planning to bring my laptop and if I have time, I'll definitely post an update here and there.

However, I also went through old blog posts from my old blog and pulled them over here for your reading pleasure. Obviously they are outdated, so one or two of my kids may be missing in a post and they may sound like they are a lot younger than they are. That's cuz they are younger in those posts. ;)

But I chose posts that really still speak to me, that stood out as a very important time or something that I am still feeling or experiencing now or something that I needed to be reminded of today. So anywho, if you've read them before, sorry...just scoot on by! If not, hope you enjoy them.

And again, thanks for all your help with the dumb stroller thing. And any other tips for traveling alone with too many little kids. I can use all the advice I can get. ;)

Talk soon, have a fabulous week!!!

Busy

Busy Busy Busy

We've been:

TB testing,
grocery shopping,
post office going,
breakfast play date hosting,
floor mopping,
clothes washing,
bedding changing,
Ultrasound getting,
airline calling,
weather checking,
story telling,
Bible studying,
homework checking,
teacher emailing,
babysitter arranging,
glass, bottle and plastic recycling,
car seat swapping,
car washing,
stain removing,
healthy dinner planning,
ice cream eating,
Hook watching,
patience losing,
New grace praying,
gift counting,
fall pondering,
cool weather wishing,
Sudoku beating,
not much blogging,
lots of book reading,
sprinkler running,
ice cream savoring,
ice tea brewing,
pet store browsing,
Oklahoma packing,
airport stressing,
airplane flight dreading,
smile faking,
genuine happiness showing,
family loving,
book reading,
bath time playing,
bubble face making,
Scentsy selling,
party attending,
BBQ eating,
budget hating,
gas saving,
praise Jesus singing.

It's been a busy busy week!
Sorry I haven't been blogging much, hoping to get some stuff up soon, but for now, I'm just trying to get things ready for our trip to Oklahoma. Yup, just the kids and I are visiting my parents for seven days! We leave on Monday morning, bright and early and naturally, I have left myself a TON of stuff to do!!

So long for now!

Here and there

Our turtle, Gerks

Hey, you got some stuff hanging out of your mouth :/

Hello Kitty is getting the job done for Daughter's lunch this year

What she's enjoying: Pb and J, strawberries, sunflower seeds and chocolates, Bunny Grahams, Carrots and hummus. And of course a note to remind her how much I love her. They're mostly stick figures right now ;)

Dinner last night, a bigger success than I anticipated

Won ton soup

 Edamame (I knew they'd love this, they always do!) and leftover garlic bread

 Eat it up!

 Baby LOVED the won tons

 Son was pretty happy with the whole thing ;)

I love that they are getting used to veggies and healthy foods...from early on I've always had something on their plate that I wanted them to eat but wasn't sure about. I hoped that in time, they'd just learn to like things from watching us and really from having no other choice. I've said it before, but I only make meals one time. So if they don't like things, they wait until the next meal or snack time. They have opted to skip meals before, but it's rare. It really pays off though when my kids are happily lapping up soup filled with spinach, green onions, cilantro, soy beans, and carrots or scarfing down zucchini, basil, tomatoes and asparagus. It really pays to keep trying, keep a big variety and of course show your kids how tasty veggies and healthy foods like nuts and fruits really are! If you have picky eaters, take my word for it and just keep trying and offering a variety of those healthy foods. And accept no other options. If they won't eat it, then hopefully they'll like the next meal better ;) 

Disclaimer: Obviously I'm no doctor or nutritionist (although I've always thought I'd love that job) so I know there are extreme cases. I am not suggesting starving your children or refusing them anything other than the broccoli they hate when they are not growing or thriving well. 

Weekend Fun

Now that we have a fairly scheduled week, the weekends have brought on a whole new meaning. A time when we can sleep in (HA!), stay in our jammies and go nowhere all day long! And man have we been taking advantage of these last couple lazy Saturdays. We've spent a lot of time playing forts, coloring, painting, and playing outside in the blow-up pool. We were fortunate to snag a couple hours with Hubby before he went to work one Saturday and we set up the little pool and put a bucket of water balloons out for some simple fun. 

I love this picture where you can see Son's balloon exploding...lol

 And him laughing here

Ready...

Aim...

Fire!! As Son is mourning the last balloon... ;)

Reflections

The sun was lazy to rise this morning.
It hid behind big clouds, heavy with a late summer's rain.
The sky however, was a magnificent testament to the Creator's work. Jesus was not lazy this morning. He was hard at work, pulling the clouds, the rain, the soft breezes together to portray His glory.

To remind weary souls upon waking that He is there.
He is always there.
Here.
Around.
When we are sleeping, He is not.
He is at work, steadily, quietly.
I opened the door and smelled the rain, felt the breeze on my face.
I stepped out into the soft wet falling from above, still in my sleep shirt, not feeling or seeing anything but holiness.
Everything was being gently washed, the quiet drops taking the dust and grime away.
I closed my eyes and felt them fall on my face, my hair, my shirt. My toes felt the cool, damp ground and then the soft and warm breeze kissed my cheeks.
What a beautiful morning.

I returned inside, opened all the curtains and blinds to share with my family this serenity just outside.
I could hear the birds calling quietly to one another. Almost whispering. Perhaps they are also exclaiming God's glory.
No cars drove by, no dogs barked. The children slept in late, cozy in their rooms darkened by the clouds.
As if the entire world has stopped moving, creeping softly about, holding their breath, barely uttering a whisper.
No one wants to break the scene of peaceful majesty we have been gifted today.
Thank you for this morning.
This calm.
Beauty.
Quiet.
So much is said in silence.
So much is communicated when we stop talking, stop thinking.
When we barely breath.
Sit, waiting, listening, feeling...
Knowing that He is our God
Father
Maker.
We wait on Him,
stop looking within.
Stop trying,
keep praying.
Give up on ourselves,
Never give up on God.
When our voice is quiet,
when our spirit is hushed,
that's when His still, small voice
becomes obvious and impossible to ignore.
When we stop moving and struggling,
stop fighting, that's when He can move, work, fight.
When we get out of His way, He becomes our way.

Thank you for this morning.
For these thoughts.
For this stillness.
Help me to seek the quiet,
to find the calm,
to meditate in the silence.