on the 24th day of Christmas

My true love gave to me,

ears to hear the sweet sounds of my children's conversations....did I already say that? I don't remember and if I don't, I don't expect anyone else too.

But as we were driving home after a very long very fun all night Christmas Eve Eve's party, the girls were talking about little Two's little wounds.

First conversation:

Bee: Mom, Mom Two has white stuff on her arms.

The girls were looking at it, two was scratching it. Bee was touching it.

Mom: Oh its ok, it is eczema

Bee: Two its Eczema DON"T TOUCH!! It's a nasty disease.

Mom: Don't scratch it.

Bee: Oh Two make sure not to scratch it, cuz it will get worse.

Second conversation:

Two: I have an owie in my toes.

Mom: I am sorry.

Two: Me need a screwdriver.

Dad: Why?

Two: We go to Grandpa's and Daddy can get a screwdriver and fix it.

On the 23rd Day of Christmas

My true love gave to me...



The Gift of Sorrow.....WHAT? you ask, how can sorrow be a gift?



Well with out sorrow how can we know joy and truly experience the true feelings of joy and happiness? And for that reason I am grateful for the gift of sorrow.



Sorrow has brought me back to Texas, with no home, no car and no job. Sorrow has stranded me with a sad heart un sure of the future. Sorrow brings me wondering how we are going to make ends meet. Sorrow makes me sad for all those right now in my similar situation. Sorrow lets me know that sometimes we aren't in control of our life dealings, but we are in control of how we deal with what is dealt to us.



Sorrow lets me feel the joy of knowing I have healthy, beautiful, smart children. Sorrow lets me know that at least I have a loving husband who is working hard to figure out what the future holds for us. Sorrow lets me rejoice in the fact that my in laws have graciously opened their home to us during this not so fun time.



Sorrow lets me know that even though right now its hard to hold back the tears, that there is hope and that everything like always will work out for the best.



Sorrow is today, but knowing that this too will pass, I find the joy in the little moments.



Joy is seeing Two being able to finally communicate her needs, being big enough to go potty on her own, and dress herself.



Joy is seeing my oldest G-Man cleaning off all the leaves off Grandpa's roof, putting them in six large trash bags, doing it on his own and deciding he wants to go door to door to offer his services, and seeing the excitement in his eyes when he talks about Christmas, even if he has the Santa thing all figured out :(.



Joy is watching T-Rex, walking and following verbal commands, and putting his hand over his laughing mouth and running away when he is told not to do something.



Joy is seeing Bee finding words in text that she can read, helping me out with things, and ever wanting to be my constant side kick.



Joy is hearing my husband say "I love you," and receiving a nice warm hug.



Joy is seeing old friends that are excited to see you.



Joy is waking up to a blue sky, cool air, and knowing that each day is new.



I saw a sign at a friend's house that said "Today is a gift that is why we call it the present."



Each day is a gift, and even in my times of sorrow, I can see the every day joys, and know that soon my sorrows will be replaced, and this too will be a distant memory.



Merry Christmas y'all! Two more days!!!



Side note: Tonight is our favorite of all favorite days Christmas' Eves' Eve!! We love this tradition that the Smith's have shared with us, and of which we have participated the last seven years! I am ready to party tonight!!!

22nd day of Christmas

My True love gave to me,

My computer and Internet! I am so grateful for the computer and Internet. I don't know what I'd do with out a computer and the internet, seem to be my life line.

How long could you go with out your internet? Me its like after a few hours I have with drawl...sad I know.

This is my most favorite picture of Two...

And I am also usually tech savvy, but for some reason today I am having a very hard time uploading pictures.

Speaking of Pictures:

I set up a photo blog but for some reason I can't upload pictures the right way anyway if you feel like checking it out: http://corrinescapturings.blogspot.com/

On the 20th day of Christmas

my true love gave to me
the opportunity to go shopping with out kids!!

Eric and I spent the morning shopping for much needed gifts, with out the kids, (thanks to my in laws again)

I even got me a really cool awesome gift, that I am not suppose to know I have, well I do cuz I picked it out, but I will act totally surprised on Christmas morning!!

I loved being able to just browse the aisle of Target--oh yeah baby totally missed target being on the islands---forgot how much I love that store....anyway we didn't do too bad picking gifts and it was fun being able to just take our time.

Now I am excited for Christmas and hope the kids love what we got them....oh yeah and now I need to get something for Eric....any suggestions??? What he wants I can't get him...

Happy Holidays!!!

on the 19th day of Christmas

my true love gave to me

My in laws and their home for who knows how many days....

So we flew to Texas...and until we figure out more about our life and where we will be living, our in laws have graciously opened their home to us.

They are too kind, and I feel bad for filling up their house with some of our stuff and mostly my noisy kids. We are so appreciative to them for all that they are doing for us and for all that they are putting up with in having us with them.

Hopefully we won't be cramping their style too long!

Love you guys....

ps...I am not able to blog hop as much as I'd like, because keeping eyes on my kids here pretty much takes up all my time.....will be back visiting y'all as soon as I can...

My Personal Hell

I don't know much about other's beliefs but I do believe in a Heaven and a Hell, more or less, I could go deeper in to that, but this isn't the time or place...

But I do believe that your Hell might not be my hell, and I think that I have a glimpse of what my hell would be so now I just really don't want to go there...

My hell is:

• Traveling on an airplane for six straight hours
• Departing at midnight
• Exhausted
• Having the first person get on the plane and say under his breath but loud enough to hear "Tell me there are no f'ing babies in first class, on a night flight, oh that p's me off"

As he walks past me heading to first class...he had a glimpse of hell too, almost gave him a heart attack as he walked though the bulk head where we were sitting...hahah...was kind of glad when T-Rex screamed all night, just to tick him off...am I mean???

• Kids fall asleep with a little fussing and thinking this won't be so bad
• The arm rests don't go up
• holding an 18 month hold, who sleeps for a bit
• a screaming 18 month old for a few hours
• an almost running down the hall, stomping flight attendant asking how she can help make the baby quiet!
• Thinking to myself, if I could make him quiet you think I would? I mean really I love having a baby screaming and not being able to sleep myself.
• Having a lady behind you ask if the kids sippy cup is leaking, and knowing that you forgot to put a pull up on your child who wets the bed...sorry lady...when you hold up the full closed water bottle.
• Passing a baby back and forth to only get him back faster than you passed him.
• Wet daughter waking up shaking cold, and dampened peed on clothes that you have to go and change in the cramped small stinky bathroom that someone just left after 20 minutes.
• finally getting the baby to sleep and landing and having to switch planes.
• getting on second flight with business men traveling
• thinking yeah have the back to ourselves
• kids screaming
• kids kicking seats
• thinking to yourself 'I have raised monsters'
• kids switching seats
• kids jumping over seats
• kids yelling their ears hurt
• kids crying
• kids playing with scissors (how did those pass inspection?)
• after getting all the kids happy drawing and playing, having the flight attendant tell you that she has to sit down and can't stand in the aisle.
• holding the screaming three year old trying to explain she can't stand where she was
• and to top it all off being charge two dollars for a bottle of water on the airplane for 6 hours and not being able to bring water through security! No free beverage service?? What the heck??

And that my friends is my own personal hell. Being shoved into a small place with lots of people and screaming kids....and my first class friend, you might think it is bad to travel with kids on the plane but you my friend can put your head phones on, be given hot warm clothes to wash your hands, served free drinks and not have to deal....And so I am sorry to all those that had to fly with us, because as much as it isn't fun for you, it is totally my hell! And to those that smiled your sweet smiles of sympathy THANK YOU!

We made it home, safe but mostly not sound!

17th day gift of laughter

Ok so gift of laughter, or rather the enjoyment or finding humor in sometimes not humorous moments, is something I have been given.

Monday Bee went with her dad for the day while the other three and I did our last minute errands and goodbyes.

Bee had a wonderful time with her dad. When we picked them up, she was covered in Red Hot Cheetos' hand prints. She passed the remaining few of the big grab bag, to her little brother, and off we went back to the hotel.

Bee complained of a tummy ache, and Eric informed me that all she ate all day was that big bag of FLAMING HOT CHEETOS...I don't know how she ate those because I think they are too hot, but she did...so anyway she decided to go to the bathroom because her stomach hurt so much. And then I hear....

"OWIE OWIE MOmmmmy.....owie owie, it hurts..."

I think to myself...wonder if she is constipated...should I go check on her?

"Owie Mommy...mommmy my pooop is red....owieeeee!"

I think yep most likely constipated...poor girl, better go check.

"Mom you got to come quick, the toilet is red" informs G-man.

Eric chimes in "She is too young isn't she?"

"Yes...she is probably constipated."

Then I go in and check....oh no its not constipation, but the attack of red dye number five and flaming hot Tabasco....I started laughing, when I remembered she had eaten the WHOLE bag on an empty stomach, not sure if the empty stomach played a part, but I think it helped.

Her little BMs were FLAMING HOT RED! And the poor girl was getting burned as it came out. And me her mom, just laughed through it all, as I tried to comfort her.

"Mommy it burns..."

"I'm...(ha, ha, ha) so sorry...hahahah"

On the 13th day of Christmas...zzzz

My true love gave to me 13 reasons why I should go to bed:

1. Its 12:22 AM
2. Have to pack in the morning
3. Have to fold LOADSS of Laundry!!
4. I am tired.
5. I need some sleep.
6. I have been up since 4:30
7. I have a fine little worn out futon mattress calling my name.
8. the kids r going to be up early
9. i can hardly type
10. my legs are already falling asleep
11. I have only a few more days to enjoy Hawaii- need to be well rested to soak up the last of the sunny rays, that is, if it stops raining.
12. i am tired and can't think of any more reasons
13. been writing a book in my dreams and need to go finish it, thats how that twilight lady got started :)

Have a great day!! Hope you had a good night sleep!

On the 12th day of Christmas...

my true love stopped giving me gifts!


Ha ha! Not really, but I just don't know if I can think of things up in numbers after twelve. So I am just going to list things, gifts of life that I am grateful for, the true gifts of the holidays.


So on the 12th day my true love gave to me,

C h r i s t m a s L i g h t s!

Being in the tropics, it doesn't feel much like Christmas! Moving in a few days, and no tree, no gifts yet, make it not really feel like Christmas at all! I have been kind of wishin' my kids didn't know about the holiday this year, cuz I would be so tempted to not to do anything.



HOWEVER!!!!





... last night, in one of the heaviest rain storms we have had on the island, my little family and I walked through the puddles and looked at the lights down town.

It was gorgeous.
It was wet!!!
and it was FUN!
And now I have the Christmas bug and am excited.

Now if presents for the kids would JUST fall into my lap.


Side note, happy 1/2 birthday T-REX!!!
Isn't the little monster so cute?!!

Thousand Word Thursday: 11 Days of Christmas

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas my true love gave to me,

ELEVEN REASONS why I got Jack Squat Done yesterday...well not Jack squat because I was able to post, read a few blogs, order some books, work on some books, but yeah....I didn't get much done in regards to packing and cleaning....Eric came home and asked me the first time in our 9 blissful years of marriage "What did you do all day?" and one word, well a few more than that "T-Rex our little Texas Tornado"....

Here are the ELEVEN REASONS in no particular order:

You may recognize some pictures from previous posts, because well I wasn't in a photographing mood yesterday, but there a few already from this morning, after he spilled my slim fast all over the floor, and then dumped cheese (pre grated stuff on the floor) he thought he was still hungry and went to the trash can and dug out of there, and then I guess he decided to give someone a call! He is one busy BOY!

And since posting he has doodled on the wall!!!

Someone Help ME!

For more thousand word Thursdays check out Cheaper than Therapy!

Wordless Wednesday: On the 9th and 10th Day of Christmas

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, my eyes to see the beautiful world around me:

On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, ten hours of peaceful (well mostly peaceful and mostly uninterrupted sleep) sleep, what more could a mom ask for:

And for more wordless Wednesdays check out www.5minutesformom.com Happy Wednesday!

On the Eighth day of Christmas

My true love gave to me ERIC....ok so that isn't eight things, but today is the 8th, and his birthday! And so I will post eight things I love about my Eric, mingled with some things we have done recently!

1. Eric makes me laugh! He is always doing silly things and we can sit together and laugh for hours. And yes sometimes I think he is "so immature" but that's Okay, I still laugh!





2. Eric loves adventures. Like today we went scuba diving!! Swam with sharks!! The boat was not quite circled but kind of with a school of about 200 dolphins..too bad I don't have that really cool camera, and that they all dive down too stinking fast... It was so awesome, I so didn't want to go and am so glad I did.

Ok so you can't see them well in this at all but there are several in the water, the dark shadowy parts.



3. He is always willing to do anything. Kind of goes with adventures, but if we are sitting around and I say hey lets go hike to the top of whatever (as if I say lets hike much but anyway all I could think of) he is always like "Yes lets go do it." For example back when we were free with only two kids (yeah when you have enough arms to each take a child, it feels care free), it was Memorial Day, and I said to him at 7 in the morning, lets drive to Florida for the week and visit my parents. He said "if you pack the car, I'll go." So I packed the car, we had friends over for our scheduled BBQ and left and drove through the night. Surprising my parents, by calling them and telling them to check the front porch for a package we sent! It was awesome.






4. Speaking of surprises, Eric likes to plan little surprises for me. He will schedule a babysitter and just take me away. I love that.





5. He is an awesome planner! I think he should open up a tour guiding/ travel planning company here in Hawaii and then we would never have to leave and we'd all be so happy...and poor! But that is ok, though he would be so awesome at doing that.



6. He remembers things about people that most people don't remember. For example if you mention once sometime in passing that Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream is your favorite, then he will just one night bring you home some mint chocolate chip ice cream. If you like yellow roses or you really want a cool coral colored shirt, he will just show up with it one day.



7. He is always willing to take all four kids away for the day so I can stay home and clean (if I knew how to slash out words I would have put blog and check email cross it out and put clean....but I don't know how...) But side note here I love cleaning the house, especially when I am all by myself!






8. He loves me! I am so not perfect and probably difficult at times to live with. And he still loves me.

and he is Handsome!

I love you Eric!! Happy Birthday!!!

PS, don't forget to sign up for my give away! Ends tomorrow night at 6 PM Pacific....

On the Seventh Day Of Christmas...

my true love gave to me,

the seventh day of the week, some call the Sabbath, others may call it Sunday.

As a Christian, I believe that the 7th day was created for rest. It's a day of worship. A day to reflect on the rest of the week. A day to rest from our worries. A day to sing and to pray. A day to go to church.

This morning didn't start off much different than most Sundays lately, you know go get dressed, try to get some breakfast for the kids, do we have any toys or snacks?, some protests from going, however it made me think: Why the heck do I bother? The kids didn't want to get dressed, didn't want to go to church. Once we got there, they did ok at first and then....oh man lets just say the man that sat behind us last week that mumbled under his breath, loudly to his wife "Could we have picked a worse seat for church?", was certain to not sit behind us this week, and I am sure he was glad. Between T-Rex screaming and Two and Bee running in and out! It was just so not good.

I even left the meeting room and sat in the foyer, with three out of four of my naughty little ones. I finally went out and sat by the car, with Two screaming behind me the whole way leaving the building...so much for keeping the spirit there for others.

I was in tears. One mostly embarrassed at my inability to parent and reinforce positive proper behavior. And then two because my kids were so out of control. Not sure how it happened. Not sure what to do.

I could just stop going but I can't. Why? Because I believe strongly in the importance of torture!? No because I know that regardless of their behavior and regardless of what others may think, that is where we need to be.

I know that God lives. I know He loves us. I know He knows our struggles. I know He wants us to be happy. I know that life isn't always easy. I know that we gain strength through the hard times. And I know the knowledge they gain by being there will help them be better people.

And plus don't we just all look so cute dressed up and at church?

On the Sixth Day of Christmas: Kind of Grasping at straws to remember!

My true love gave to me,
The ability to communicate, with some Six great, or not so great conversations this week:


First: As I was getting out of the shower, my little TWO was standing there, looking up at me with her big brown eyes, wide smile and says "Mommy what in your tummy?"

"Nothing."

She lifts up her shirt, fills her belly with air and says "well it looks like this, is there lots of fat in there?" Um yeah thanks!

Second: Eric comes home bags in his hands. I see several bottles of soda.

"Was the soda on sale?"

"Well no. I bought myself a DR. Pepper and knew I couldn't just bring one home for me. So I decided to get you a Diet Pepsi (yeah to fix the belly problem from above). Then I realized if I had a soda and you had a soda, I had to get a Sprite for the kids."

Ever so thoughtful.

Third: After getting frustrated with my children this afternoon, I know surprising you could hardly imagine me getting frustrated, but it happens, probably more often than it should. Anyway G-Man says to the girls:

"You have to stop going into Mom's bed at night and waking her up. She needs a lot of sleep so she doesn't wake up in the mornings all mean and grouchy."

He has me figured out!

Fourth: I was slowly browsing the aisles at Costco, yep no kids, so I was going so slow. Though it was later at night, my shirt was covered in snot and kids dirty hand prints. So feeling kind of gross but alone and enjoying my shopping. I smiled at one of those tester sampler guys. He walks away from his table and stops me. He says "I just have to tell you, you have the most amazing eyes." Gulp....ummmm "Thanks!" Made me feel good.

Then I related this story to some friends, enter another comment "Yeah it is amazing what people will say to sell you something." Gee thanks!

Fifth: This one has been deleted to keep this blog family friendly....lets just say it has to do with me saying something to Eric and him thinking I said something else, and then me getting bugged, and then today I mentioned it and he said "Oh I thought you said.... now I get why you were upset at me...." Believe me it was funny!

Sixth:
Last night we went on a sunset sail boat cruise, it was fabulous!! We sat and talked with a bunch of strangers. The last little bit, after the fabulous fireworks, we spoke with the captain's wife. She was so sweet. And I know, maybe I am relying too much on outside verification or something, but she mentioned how wonderful our family was, and how she admired us....I just thought I'm just glad we didn't lose a child to the sea, or make the captain turn around cuz a little someone we like to call T-Rex screamed a lot of the time. She just was happy to see a family like ours and impressed by our adventurous nature.

Anyway kind of boring, but it was a nice conversation. I love talking to people. I like hearing their stories.

I also love hearing my kids talk and every day they do say something I should record, but I don't. But they do say quite a bit and I am grateful for their little minds and all the thoughts that come out of their mouths....well most of the time.

On the Fifth Day of Christmas

On the Fifth Day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me,

five typing fingers....

You know I am so grateful for my fingers, that they work so well together to type. With out typing, well I guess I could write, speaking of writing.... have you tried writing with your pen lately??

Man my hands are out of writing shape that's for sure.

But I am grateful for my ability to type, with all my fingers and am able to express and share my thoughts, feelings, and life with others.

My question to you....do you chicken peck or use all your fingers on all the right keys??

Happy FRIDAY!

FYI-I appreciate all your comments! And love to be able to comment on your blogs.

Sidenote: Have you become a follower? What's stopping you?

On the Fourth Day Of Christmas....

So, I am just on day four and I am having a hard time finding something of four that I am grateful for....my first thought was...

On the 4th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
FOUR hours of sleep!...Yeah not a lot and yes it was a miserable night.

You know one of those nights, you get everyone in bed, you straighten up a bit. Then you check some email, catch up with your DVR and then think I need to get to bed, kind of night. And then the second you log off your computer, turn off the TV the baby starts screaming.

So I think to myself, I will just brush my teeth and he will stop. And he doesn't. So instead of waking up the whole house at 10:45 I decided to go for a walk. After about an hour I decided to come back home, actually ran into some neighbors and talked for a bit, I came back inside with a screaming child.

I did what I could to try to get him to go back to sleep. Then I passed him off to the hubby. Who T-Rex wanted nothing to do with. After a few tosses back and forth he finally left with his dad to watch the Lifetime Movie Network! Things got a little quiet. I snoozed a little. Then the little guy came running in screaming!! Anyway at some point I fell asleep. At some point he fell asleep.

And all said and done, I got four hours asleep. Better than none! (I took T-Rex to the doctor, no ear infections, but a sinus infection, so poor baby.)

And then I thought what kind of Gift is just four hours of sleep.


Then the thought occurred to me:

On the Fourth Day of Christmas my True Love gave to me
Four healthy beautiful babies!

Yes that is it! Four Beautiful Healthy Babes!

I love my kids. I have my moments of frustration, some days more than others. But I am so grateful I have these wonderful little kids.

G-Man: He is so compassionate and sensitive to others feelings. Sad, funny and true story. Today Two went to work with her dad. After school, the three other kids and I were in the elevator.

I looked around and said "Oh my goodness, we are missing one."

G-Man "Missing one..what?...TWO??? Where is she?"

Me: "Oh my goodness, I must have left her at the store."

G-Man with tears in his eyes and true sadness in his voice "Oh Mom we have to go back! Quick."

I was getting all teared up and sad even though I knew where she was...and then I apologized to him for teasing him. I had know idea how upset he would become.

He is also very smart and has developed a keen ability for art.


Bee: oh she is quite the observer. Often she will just sit and stare and watch people. She notices things and on top of it she remembers it. She when she wants to can be very helpful and sweet. And some how she always gets me to take her on my girls night out. She is a fun little buddy for me. She is imaginative and loves to just talk on her phone....to no one.

Two: She is so happy and friendly. It is hard for her not to have a smile on her face. She is three and has developed that ever so contrary personality of typical three year olds, but she sure is fun. We have a great time hanging out during the day. She loves to get away with things by say "but mom me love you!"

Then there is T-Rex, he is so busy and active and so gosh darn cute. He is a climber! I spend most of the day getting him off of counters. He is easy going but has learned the great trick of squatting on the floor when someone tries to pick him up. Though he is slow on his speech, he understands so much. Like if someone in the next room says "let's go swimming," he will show up with swim suit in hand.

So there you have it.

Four Beautiful Healthy Kids! I am so lucky.

The Third day Of Christmas: Wordless Wednesday

On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me
a wonderful camera to capture my memories (ok it isn't that great of a camera and hoping Santa brings me a really fancy one this year), but this amazing camera is on its third life, it had been left to die in the toilet a couple of times by T-Rex.

But I am grateful for my camera. I love shooting and capturing the candid moments of life.

I love taking pictures.

I love looking at pictures.

I love creating books from my pictures.

I'd love to make a living with my pictures.

For more wordless Wednesday's check out Five Minutes for Moms

or here and here