Staying busy...

I've taken a few pictures of the last three days, but I left the camera in James' room and I don't want to go in to get it... so, pictures will be coming soon!

I tried to take the kids to the library on Wednesday night for their family story time. It was a rainy, cloudy day and we needed to get out of the house and do something! Of course, I realized at 6 that we had not yet had dinner. So, I gave them a cheese stick, cereal bar, and juice box to eat in the car on the way. (I know...I'll never be in the running for "Mom of the Year" with a dinner like that.) We were walking into the library at 6:31, but noone was in the story room. So, I asked the help lady and she said that they take a "break" between summer and fall and this was one of the two "break" weeks. AAAHHH... I had even called the library earlier to confirm that it story time was at 6:30. We made the most of our outing anyway. Jemma enjoyed playing on the computer while James built with blocks and I read him a book. (It confirmed my desire to get Jemma a desktop to put in the office to play on while I do email/blogging.)

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Thursday was so incredibly nice outside! Jemma asked me if she could ask the two girls from across the street to come out to play, so I told her to go ahead. She happily rode her scooter across the street with James following closely behind. (I was watching from the middle of the street.) Jemma rang the bell, Mary answered, then both of my kids went inside. I waited for a few minutes then went to retrieve Jemma and James. James had the biggest, widest grin and was holding two drum sticks while "playing" drums. He just looked up at me and said, "Drum, drum, drum." I hated to make him stop, but it was not our house and they need to play outside! (He went running outside today toward their house shouting, "Drum, drum, drum!") The four kids played together so wonderfully. It was just great.

When we came inside for dinner, we all went to wash our hands. While in the bathroom, James said "Pee-pee, pee-pee" So, I took his dry diaper off and he went in the potty. This is the fourth time that he has done this and we celebrate every time! I pray for quick and easy potty training! I'm not pushing or making him train now, but I'm certainly praising and encouraging when I can!! :)

After dinner, the kids and I went to the commissary. When we arrived home, I spotted a big frog in our driveway. So, I parked the car and encouraged the kids to look at and play with the frog. James and Jemma were giggling and hopping and prodding the frog when Jemma took a digger and skinned her knees. It was very minor, but our drama queen was crying like she was seriously injured. Then, suddenly she stopped and said, "Mommy, where did the frog go? Can we see it some more?" I said sure... the frog was under the absolute middle of the car... I had to get a baton and convince him to move! They played with the frog until I had the groceries unloaded and he then disappeared into the grass. Upon entering the house, Jemma melted. I had to carry her screaming/crying up the stairs because she saw blood on her knees (it was too dark to see it outside). I gave Jemma a quick bath, very careful not to touch her knees (although I did wash them with hydrogen peroxide first... lots of screams and cries... you would have thought I was torturing her!) and then put Hello Kitty band-aids on her knees and put her in bed. It was one of the rare nights that I did not worry about her getting out of bed... I told her that her body needed to rest and heal and she would feel better in the morning. James was content to play in the tub during this whole drama queen knee incident. I've got to look into swim lessons for him... he is my water baby!!

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Jemma woke this morning and greeted me in the hall with, "My knees don't hurt any more Mommy!" Yeah!!! James woke asking for his Daddy. ("Daddy, daddy... go? Go? Jet. Sky. Boat. Sun. Moon." This is said while looking at me with his head tilted to the side and his arms out to the side with his palms facing up. I just repeat that Daddy flew the jet through the sky, is on the ship, and looks at the same Sun and Moon. We have done this routine several times!)

Today was green day at school. Jemma wore a green shirt and her green leprechaun socks (the ones that her Daddy bought for her). I packed her green grapes, granny smith apple slices with honey for dipping, honeydew melon, sugar snap peas, a juice box and lime jello in a green bowl. She was so happy when I picked her up at school... "Mommy, I had jello for lunch!" I had made it after she was in bed last night and it was a surprise.

James and I played with his train this morning. We haven't played with it for a while and when I asked him if he wanted to play with it, he was so excited that he started to do a little dance while saying "Train, train, train" in a high laughing voice. He just squealed with delight as he "chugged" it around his room. We played with the train for almost 45 minutes this morning. We had to stop to go and get Jemma from school, but I promised more train time soon.

One of the other wives came for a playdate with her little boy this afternoon... he is not even a year old yet and is so cute! Jemma did really well playing with him and I certainly enjoyed the conversation. James napped through their whole visit. After they left, we played outside. I took the kids to the park after dinner (I baked a chicken and we had asparagus and breadsticks... yummy). I am amazed at how much fun both kids have climbing and sliding and swinging. Jemma just climbs as high as she can on everything and James' new favorite thing is to go down on the slide on his tummy while shouting, "Back-ards!" And James went pee-pee in the potty twice today! I wonder if I should start putting him on the potty more often?!? I no longer have babies... where does the time go?!?

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I miss my husband. I really, really miss my husband. We are staying busy and there is a never ending list to keep me busy (Why, oh why does the grass grow so fast?!? It seems as though I just trimmed the bushes and they need to be trimmed again?!? How do we generate so much laundry? Could the kids be any messier or spill more stuff? How did Jemma get playdogh in the carpet in the living room when it was supposed to stay in the kitchen? I think a small tornado may have veeried into my living room...), BUT I still have time to really, really miss my wonderful man. Melissa asked me when I missed him the most and I told her that he is my best friend and we often talk on the phone two or three times a day even when he is at home... I hate not being able to just talk to him. I also really miss him at the kids' bedtime. Daddy reading to them and talking to them is always so special.

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I'm off to bed... we have a very full, busy day planned for tomorrow! :)