I'm making myself out to be a big fat liar.

I'm sorry I've been gone again. Apparently my ADD doesn't allow me to keep that whole posting more promise as nicely as I'd like.
I've been up to a LOT. I've been knitting. And sewing. And quilting. And baking. And making candy. Some of that is awful! Because I think I gained like fifteen pounds on my sweet kick. My buns are NOT appreciately, nor are my jeans. I made a beautiful quilt, sewed some blankies & momo (pacifier) clips for baby H, baked cinnamon buns, cookies, bread, shortbread with caramel and chocolate on top (think twix-ish) made caramels, apple dump cake, brownies....basically I went nuts baking and cooking. Not sure what happened. No, I am not pregnant haha.

Yesterday we had our annual family reunion. I brought a huge batch of candied cinnamon nuts, sausage and peppers, and salted caramels. I love going every year and seeing what everyone likes/didn't like so much, and seeing everyone I haven't seen in months and sometimes since the last reunion. It was the first get together since my grandfather passed and it was strange not having him there. I guess it makes me realize that I won't always have that generation and I want to spend as much time with them as possible.

Husband finally found a job. He'd been looking since he got back from overseas and finally found something that "fits" in his field. It isn't his dream but we'll get him there.

I've been on a fall kick and can't wait for everything that comes with it! Apple & pumpkin picking, carving pumpkins fall baking, football games, costumes, cool weather, changing leaves, jumping in them, and hanging out with my family. :)
What are some of your family traditions? Leave me a comment! Thanks!

I'm back y'all

I made this about a year ago..and then I got sick & after that my husband came home from Afghanistan and then I got busier and then I had a new baby. Things are *almost* normal here again and I found my way back. I'm pretty thrilled about it too. & there's an iPhone app?! It couldn't be better. So hmmm I guess I could update everyone. Hubby came home safe & on time [hardest year of my life but it taught me the most.] I'm so proud of him and I think I ooze pride for him and it drives him nuts haha. We had a bouncing baby boy <3 Houston Steven was born December 16th by ceserean section weighting 9lbs 1oz -our smallest babe- and 22in long. He is the happiest baby you could ever hope to meet and we all adore him to pieces. Kaidan starts preschool this year! Someone stop the madness :(( I'm not ready for him to not be a baby anymore. Jaxson is 2 and a ball of energy soaked in super kid strength. He is my "challenge" he likes to do everything his way and as hands on as possible going full throttle all the while. He's also this big sweet sensitive teddy bear of a boy. If anyone in life could just melt my heart with a look it's our Jax. We got a puppy ( I know, you all just gasped and are thinking...WHAT WERE YOU THINKING WOMAN?!? ) her name is Molly & she's a sweet but precocious pup. She loves my husband the most and I think tolerates the rest of us. She's also probably the only Labrador retriever to be afraid of water. Poor girl wants to get in so bad but just can't get her gumption up to do it. We're thinking about buying a house. Somewhere :/ who knows where though! Am I the only one who absolutely HATES moving and renovation? Clearly. I want someone to snap their fingers and have it be done. I also want to win the lottery haha. The likelihood of those two things happening is equal. I'm doing fairly well. I still dread him leaving the house :/ I guess a teeny tiny part of my brain doesn't think he'll come back even though the biggest parts of it know that he's just going to the hardware store or a doctors appointment. I hope this goes away soon cuz' it makes me feel absolutely nuts. Like right now, he's away for a few weeks training and I miss him so much that it makes me angry. Like I'm missing something vital...like a limb. He was hurt in Afghanistan so his training isn't "mandatory" but he chose to go with his guys - which I totally understand but don't always like (cuz' sometimes I'm selfish and want to pout like a 2 year old..) so on nights like tonight when I'm lonely and missing him so much it makes me mad that I have to. I want to tell him about my day and fall asleep with him even though he's a cover hog and sometimes like sleeping with a cook stove. I know I know, awful army wife etc. but whatever. That's our reality.I've taken up quilting. Okay, I'll clarify...I've attempted to. More on that later. Wish me luck & send me love.

Phase 1 of 6

Academy J Rocks :)

It's been a few days ( anyone who cares, I'm sorry haha ) phase one of six of operation tutu is complete and I'll post a picture in a bit :) I'm feeling fabulous this pregnancy. I wish I could say for certain that I'm right about my feeling that this babe is indeed a lil' girl. Today I received my hair clippies from Academy J and they included two little baby head bands just in case this is a girl <3 they are amazing and I love my clips ( I'll also post pictures of these ) - its rare to find genuinely sweet people and they were a few of them! Thanks girls! Academy J Etsy store I'm exhausted so its nap time while the boys nap.
                  *~~* Steph *~~*

Ps. the coffee is half caff. and all you naysayers can kiss it because I have two other children to take care of on 5 hours of sleep. No it is not an every day thing :)

Just ideas. We still have 12 weeks until we find out

Alexander, Caleb, Dakota, Chase, Isaac, Gabriel ( Gabe ), Hunter, Gavin, Patton, Teague, Rance, Keane, Mace, Quinn, Atticus, Evander, Constantine, Justin, Logan, Casey, Logan

Brandie Nicole, Julianne, Ava, Olivia, Alexis, Sophia, Abigail, (Abigail Brandie?) , Sydney, Mia, Lily, Maya, Ariannah, Avery, Isabelle, Caroline, Luella, Montana, Dakota, Abilene, Cheyenne, Addison, Camille, Phoebe, Micah, Laine, Hollyn, Piper, Lorelai, Concetta, Neve, Sonia, Samantha, Halleigh, Josie

Dress challenge

 Talking to my best friend today ( were both pregnant ) I asked for her daughters measurements because I'm MAKING her a dress....now, I don't know what happened to me this pregnancy but for some reason I'm feeling awfully crafty haha. I'm buying a sewing machine. Really, stop laughing, I really am! & if God is willing and the creek don't rise I'm making dresses for the six most important little girls in my life. [[Alana, Jessie, Mary, Gigi, Matty, and Rylynn]] Yes, six dresses. Amanda (affectionately known as Meat) just starts laughing..and she's laughing because she just gets me-and immediately admits that she's got the same insane craft bug. She's living in Texas though and wants to KNIT...REALLY?! Come on Meat. Who is going to need a knitted blanket in Texas any time in the near future?! We both feel overly crafty this time around..and both have two other children under the age of four haha. How am I going to accomplish this dress challenge? Well, I'm assuming lots of nap times and bedtimes..other than that I've got NO IDEA haha! I'll keep you posted. Wish me luck!!!!

First ever blog post!

Well I'm new to blogging and honestly doubt I have anything interesting enough to say to hold anyone's attention anyways. My reasons for needing this are good though so here I am. My first is that I'm pregnant and want to keep a 'journal' that I can look back over to remember, I wish I had done this with my first two. another reason is that my husband is deployed which means a large part of my adult ( read: above the age of 3 ) conversation has gone with him.
He has been deployed since last August and will be home sometime this summer. We really can't wait. Mostly because its just been too too long. Going without half of your heart for any period of time over a week is just not normal...or at least isn't by my standards. Sending them somewhere where on a daily basis people want to shoot at, hurt, and possibly kill him is downright unnatural. The amount of minutes of sleep I've lost and the amount of tears I've shed is a number followed by several zeros. The thing about sleep and tears...you can't get either of them back, and in the end neither make you feel any better. There is still this huge thing in my life that I have NO control over. Let me just give you a glimpse of one of the negative aspects and just inform you that it isn't ALL BAD. Most day's were okay and we miss him something fierce but we function beautifully. Really the thing that drives me insane is that I can't protect him over there or know on a regular basis that he's safe, or fed, or warm. As a wife it is completely foreign and totally unnerving. It brings all kinds of crazy things to mind that are so improbable, but still you think them. You hear about someone...anyone getting hurt over there and it immediately runs through your head like this: "Where is my soldier?" "Is he okay?!" "What if he's hurt ???" "What if he's hurt and they don't call me or can't contact me ?!" and that is the true meaning of irrational panic. Or I think it is anyways. But I can't help it. Until I hear his voice or hear my email bell go off a million scary thoughts run through my head. And when it's someone else's husband you feel HORRIBLE and your heart breaks for them but you can't help but feel that sense of relief that it wasn't YOUR husband. It makes you feel like a monster.  But this is my life. And soon he'll be home and we can move on, go back to the way we were. I'm five weeks pregnant today and can't wait until he's home to run to the store for me at 2 am or rub my back when it aches or hug me when I cry about the ridiculous things that make me cry lately. I just can't wait. And soon I won't have to anymore. He is the most amazing person I've ever been blessed to know. We have (almost hehe ) three beautiful children and two cats-were nuts but it works for us. Thanks for following the crazy roller coaster ride that is our life <3