7/365

We had another really low key day around here. It was so cold (well...cold for Central Texas) so we didn't get out and do anything. Jaci had a rough morning when she ran straight into a wall and knocked herself out cold. I don't know what she was doing because she was looking straight at it. She came to really quickly and has been fine the rest of the day other then a mark on her forehead. Amazing how they bounce back.

 

You can kind of see the mark just above her right eye. 

Tyler talking to Jacob

The boys playing Wii Monster Trucks...

...and this is what happens when Tyler passes Jackson for the win.  LOL

My bag boy...Tyler has to carry ALL of this around with him EVERY day!  It started out as just a backpack and his silkie blanket.  At Christmas it progressed to a gift bag and backpack and silkie.  Then the gift bag tore and it went to a large Tractor Supply bag which he shoved the silkie and backpack into.  Now we have progressed to the re useable shopping bag with the backpack in it, a cigar box full of lizards, and a silkie.  He is also carrying around 2 John Deere bears and 2 frogs and his Zhu Zhu pet in the bag.  Don't ask what else is in all of those bags...he is a packrat and I am scared to look through it.

Of course he isn't the only one who has to sleep with a stash of stuff.  In bed with Jaci there are 2 Hello Kitty's, her regular orange kitty, one giraffe, one glow worm, a pony, a moose, a Zhu Zhu pet, a Hello Kitty pillow and 2 Hello Kitty blankets.  Don't ask me how she sleeps.

Tyler in bed with his stash.  He takes things out of the bag once he gets in bed and packs it all back up in the morning.  It is ridiculous!

Of course we have to have the John Deere pillow and blanket.

The boys in their bed.

Of course Jackson is the one who started the hauling of stuff around.  Notice the brown backpack hanging off of the bunk bed above...that's his.  Then there the tool box full of lizards as well as a cigar box full of lizards, 2 frogs, a beaver and a Zhu Zhu pet packed into his bed.

Apparently I forgot the wooden lizard and a duck as well.

Don't you wish you were me and got to make up their beds???  :)

6/365

Tonight I was so happy for bedtime to come around. The kids weren't bad today but I have had the worst headache and the noise is just a little much when I feel the way I do. We had a low key day today other than the kids getting their hair cut. We played a little Wii after supper and they took another long bubble bath while I did some cleaning upstairs and put up the laundry. Nothing much to write about so I'm going to keep my post short and sweet tonight.   My bed is calling me.

Jackson hard at work on his homework.

Tyler playing with hotwheels.

Jaci playing with hotwheels and talking to her daddy.  You can see how happy she is to talk to him.

A glimpse ahead to the teenage years...kicked back talking on the phone.

Bath time!

And now we have some crazy hair!

My wild boys!

5/356

Tuesdays are our crazy busy days.  Right after we pick Jackson up from school we have to head off to Luling which is 20-25 minutes away to make it to Jaci's dance class by 4.  I usually have to wake the kids up a little early so that we can get a good spot in carpool and get out of there quickly.  This makes for a LONG afternoon for us all.  The little kids hate sitting in carpool for 45 minutes and Tyler and Jackson hate waiting around for the 45 minutes that Jaci is in dance.  Most days during dance the boys get out and play but with it being cold and them both not feeling great we decided to sit in the car and watch G-Force.  Jackson also worked on his reading homework because once we get home it is a lot to cram into an evening.  I hate Tuesdays but today went pretty smooth considering this was our first Tuesday getting back into the swing of things and this is the first Tuesday that Jacob is gone.  The kids topped the night off with a 45 minute bubble bath  and then hot chocolate.  I am going to top the night off with a bubble bath and a glass of wine.  (after I finish the laundry and doing the floors) ;) 

The kids are still pretty gloomy (as am I) and I know that Jacob is having a hard time being away.  Absence makes the heart grow fonder and I know that although this is really tough on us all it will strengthen us as a family in the long run and make us appreciate each other so much more.

You can tell how much Jaci loves carpool.

Tyler keeping himself occupied with his Zhu Zhu pet while watching G-Force.

Jaci walking in to dance class. (yes...she is still wearing the boots and no it was not raining)

Jackson doing his time in the car.

Taking care of his reading.

Hot chocolate and marshmellows after bath time.

Jackson trying to put on a happy face...he was crying about Jacob moments earlier.

Would you like a little hot chocolate with your marshmellows Tyler?

Jaci mixing hers up.

4/365

Today we started settling into our new routine. Jackson started back to school after being off for 2 weeks and I think we were all ready to get back on schedule. We are creatures of habit here and function best with a routine so it was great to get back in the swing of things. The little ones and I spent most of our morning in San Marcos running errands so at least we weren't just sitting around the house being sad. After we got Jackson from school we came home and decided to take a walk and ride bikes. It was COLD (well...cold for here) ;) so we didn't stay out too long but I think the exercise and fresh air was good for us all. Jaci got a Hello Kitty bike for Christmas from Santa. She got a big girl bike for giving up her baby suckers (paci). So far so good with that. Tonight at supper she did start asking when daddy was coming home from work. She really doesn't understand what is going on but is starting to ask and get upset. I have a feeling that in the next day or two it will really hit the little ones. Jackson didn't sleep well last night claiming he was sick at his stomach. He has a really nervous stomach and doesn't handle change well at all. He is a little better this evening but has still teared up a few times. He is keeping track of the days on his calendar and is counting down until daddy comes home. We are hoping to hear something from the couple who looked at our house in the next day or two. We are keeping our fingers crossed.

Jackson's calendar.

Riding home.
Waiting on a school bus to pass.


Tyler ready to go.

My bike gang.

Jaci with her new Hello Kitty bike. It even has a baby carrier on the back for her kitty cat. She LOVES it!

Tyler and his John Deere bike.

Jackson ready to ride.

3/365 Saying goodbye...

Today Jacob left for Albany. Although we know this is temporary it was extremely hard to say goodbye knowing that things will never be the same around here. Jaci was super clingy yesterday and Tyler was this morning. Jackson is usually the one who is attached to Jacob at the hip but he kind of hung back today until it was time to say goodbye. He completely broke down and is taking it really hard. The little ones don't really understand what is going on but I have a feeling that in the next couple of days things will get really hard for them and they will start to ask for him.


The weather here is gloomy and cold and has added to the sadness today. After Jacob left I decided that the house was too depressing so we went out to a movie. When I got out of the movie I noticed our realtor had called and wanted to show the house on short notice (as in while we were at the movies). Thankfully I had left it clean and the people LOVED the house. She seems to think that they will make us an offer. I am hopeful! This at least brightens up this otherwise miserable day. Please pray that things work out and this current living situation will be a very short one. I don't know that we can take watching Jacob leave every couple of weeks.

(The pictures are backwards in order...I just don't feel like going in and moving them all around right now.)

Watching Daddy drive away.

Bye!

Tyler saying goodbye.

Everyone hugging daddy. Jackson was openly sobbing at this point.

This was tough to watch.

I kind of wish that he was like the little ones and didn't understand what was coming.

Watching as Jacob loaded up and got ready to leave.

Jaci discovered she could see herself in the back window and was making faces.

Tyler playing in the back of the truck. (Ignore the fact that the boys need a haircut in the worst way! I can't get them one until Wednesday.)

Burning off some energy.

Jaci got new Hello Kitty boots and is so proud of them. She insisted on wearing them to the movies today. I have a feeling she is going to be wearing them every day.

Jaci saying goodbye.

Stow aways...playing in the back of Jacob's truck.

Jackson trying to climb in Jacob's truck.

Tyler playing in the grass.

Jaci showing off her new boots. She loves them!