Saturday, December 29, 2012

Christmas

Christmas this year my parents were able to come done for a visit.  I thought I would try and be a grown up and make most of the meals and thought why stick with tradition lets try some new things out.  I got most of my ideas off pinterest and a note for future reference DON'T EVER DO THAT!!  Throw in one or two new things not entire meals or you might just be sorry.  Also when you have a great cook who makes all your favorite things better than you, just let them make them for you.  For Christmas we had crockpot oatmeal for breakfast which was more like strawberry fermented goo.  For lunch we had a Mexican fiesta with poorly seasoned fajita meat and not so awesome spanish rice.  Luckily my mom thought things might not turn out so she had a few back up plans like cinnamon rolls and chicken fajita meat just in case.  Also we got to have our friend Eric over since he wasn't able to go home with his family like planned when his laundry decided to overrun his house.  Try getting a contractor to work the night before Christmas eve when you have 2 inches of water all over your second story and pouring down your walls into electrical sockets - but at least his son got to see the firetrucks right??  Don't worry his wife took their sons and went to see family since they had to take out all the walls and floors in their house.  Too bad he beat me in a game I was undefeated in until that day!
The girls got some awesome gifts this year.  We stuck with my favorite tradition of opening up one present Christmas eve.  Christmas morning I didn't know if Molly was going to make it because the first thing she opened in her stocking was hand sanitizer and she went crazy screaming and yelling how happy she was.  She was that way with every present and it was so fun to watch her open them from lipsticks to clothes.  Riley also loved opening the presents and would just grin and smile and then grab a present to give to someone else.  Kelly however was probably most happy just eating the wrapping paper.  I know she ate some since it came out in the diaper. 
This year we asked grandparents to give the girls joint gifts since we really don't need that many toys.  Nene and Papa got them an IPad that they have loved playing mickey mouse clubhouse on.  We are looking for more educational apps for them and I am afraid to leave them alone with it since I have heard horror stories of kids ordering things on Iphones in the app store.  Granny and BertBurt got them a power wheels and they are learning how to drive.  Kelly gets to sit in it when the battery is out. 
Also I stuck with my tradition on not getting the baby a present on their first Christmas, instead they get and ornament and will wait for next year for presents:)
 
 
Elf getting to travel the world

Ready for Christmas

Our Jesse Advent Tree - every day the girls would get to put
an ornament on the tree and learn how it related to the
coming of Jesus

still haven't mastered the art of picture taking with 3

Kelly says get me away from them!

opening presents after the Christmas eve candlelight service

Everyone loved the paper - some more than others

Opening presents Christmas morning - I swear Granny and BertBurt
are there I just don't seem to have photo evidence

Learning the art of reversing

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Riley's First Haircut

Tonight we decided it was finally time to give Riley a haircut.  Her hair was getting scraggly and I figured if I screwed up too much then we could get a professional hair cut before Christmas pictures.  She sat pretty well on the chair and mostly kept still.  Big sister also really wanted a hair cut after she saw her sister get one so she was next, we will see how well that went in the morning.  Post hair cut pictures will be posted later:)  We had many conversations on how mommy and daddy are the only ones who cut hair - let's see how long before one of the girls cuts their hair.
 
 
The first snip

Still going

Go Big or Go Home

Riley is my favorite middle child!  She does everything big.  We have had her hearing tested because she doesn't really talk much or say the recommended number of words her age.  I am pretty sure this has to do with her laid back way of life and the fact that big sister feels the need to talk on her behalf ALL THE TIME!  At our campout the other night she pulls out a Dora book and points to the word Dora and starts saying it over and over and over.  Jon and I tried to get her to say mommy or daddy but it was either no or Dora.  Tonight she throws her foot in front of me and starts saying off over and over until I take her sock off.  And then 15 minutes ago she walked in the bathroom points at the toilet and starts yelling poop, so I let her do her business on the toilet tonight.  I don't think she was as excited about it once the whole process started but she was happy to get the candy.  This does not mean we are potty training because until I am sure the girl will communicate with me in public I am not prepared for the frustration of messes out and about with 3 kids.  I guess she has decided she will talk - at least at her next doctor appointment I can say she talks!
 

Friday, December 21, 2012

Movie and a tooth

As part of our staycation we decided to camp.  There was some rain and well we have three small kids so we set the tent up in the living room and watched a movie.  Towards the end of our movie some friends called and their house was being flooded by the second story washer and they had to evacuate because it was coming out of their electrical sockets.  After the fire department came and all the power and water was turned off to their house they came over with their 2 small boys.  We all played for awhile and then sent the kids off to bed.  It is so nice having a "house" upstairs as Molly calls it and getting to have friends come over. 
 
And another monumental moment - Kelly's first tooth has come through.  It is not her front tooth as she decided it was more fashionable to start with her canine to pop out first.  I tried to get a good picture and well I will post the best.
 
Movie time!

So glad they let me stay up

Can you see the white??

Yeah not much better - sorry.  It is a hard shot to get the side tooth

Monday, December 17, 2012

2012 Christmas PJ's

Well it is Christmas time and that means a new pair of matching pj's for the family.  This year we went with small candy canes all over - or as Molly calls then candy cans.  I attempted to get some pictures of the girls and well of the 20 I took Kelly is not screaming her head off in 1 of them.  After the family photo we loaded up in the car and went looking at Christmas lights. Saturday we attempted to carol at some friends houses but one was out of town and the other we ended up singing to the babysitter - whoops, so tonight in our pj's we just drove around. 
Molly this year sings non-stop Go Tell it on the Mountain that baby Christ was born.  Also while going through our Jesse Advent devotional as we talked about Jesus coming to clean our sins.  When reviewing with her she gave us the reason Jesus came was so Santa could come visit us.  I guess we have a little more work to do on that one!
Riley just smiles non stop and loves getting to participate in the advent tree.  The odd days she gets to open the present holding the ornament and hang it on the tree and it is so fun to see her get excited about this.
Kelly - well if she is being held or fed is happy otherwise she is prone to break out into spontaneous tears for no real reason.  One thing she really likes is when we are doing our daily devotional we sing He's got the whole world in His hands and then go through with each kids name and she smiles and beats her fists when we sing to her.
 
The one and only picture where someone is not screaming

Can you feel the love?

Trying to get a happy group shot

What you actually want me to sit next to her?
Don't you see she is still screaming and I didn't do it - promise?
Merry Christmas 2012

They love me, they really do love me!!

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

PRC

Jon has officially finished pre pre ranger and now the pre ranger course. I will give this to Jon's unit and the 82nd - they want to make sure you are fully prepared before sending you off to ranger school. I guess it could be that 50% of the ranger class fails in the first week and they want you to make it past that. Either way we are thankful that this go round he finished and is doing well. Now to get some good family time in before he leaves for Ranger School next year.
Jon met us for lunch at chick-fil-a and was greeted by two very happy little girls to see their daddy. We had planned on me taking the girls to Disney on Ice and Jon staying home with Kelly to get caught up on sleep but the joy of seeing them and Molly asking for him to take them must have been too much because he agreed to go tonight. So after no sleep, a long shower and two meals with the family Jon loaded up on some coffee and took the big two to see the princesses. I think tomorrow will hold a few naps for him and a few errands for me and the girls so he can get more than 3 hours of sleep in a day.



Getting his certificate of completion

The long process of waiting while others congratulate him and the others from his PRC class

Brave man - taking 2 super excited girls to see the Disney princess on ice.
We loaded him up with coffee, this can't be worse than 16 days with no sleep - RIGHT?

 

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Christmas tree lighting

All bundled up and enjoying the night
 Tonight was the Christmas tree lighting on post and some of the girls in our children's church had asked we come and watch them preform.  Oh my way to get out the door we had a visitor that delayed us a half and hour.  We had a rental (our new car had one thing that needed to get fixed when we bought it and the part came in today) and I forgot to get my garage door opener out so I was using the house key to get in and out so I left the girls in the car with the door open and was running in to shut the garage.  In my abscence a pit bull decided to take up residence in the front seat of my car.  Lucky for me my neighbor was out playing catch with his dog and when I screamed to please help me get the pit bull out of my car he put his dog away and came straight over to help.  We thought it might be a neighbors dog but instead it was a stray pregnant pit bull who was getting ready to have puppies.  I guess she thought my car would be a great place to have them but wasn't too keen on me getting the girls out.  Praise God they were very calm during the whole experience, I kept asking Molly to keep her legs folded in her car seat because she was closest to the dogs face.  Once I had the help of two neighbor men - one with a bat and the other with sasuage I was able to get the girls out of the car and into the neighbors garage with the moms watching over the kids.  It took awhile to get the dog out and we had one failed attempt that we got the dog out with chicken but she jumped back in before we could close the door.  The second time we got her out we got the door shut and then all backed up giving the dog space.  She decided the garage with all the kids would be her next space and even with 5 adults blocking the path - some more treats later we got her to move on down the street.  I then got some magazines to cover up the blood and headed out to cheer on the girls in my chapel.  After that we met up with some friends to celebrate their daughters 14th birthday.
On a side note, I called animal control and was told that they would come sometime during the night so my neighbors were willing to help me any non violent way to get the dog out.  2 hours later I got the call that animal control was at my house which I had to tell them I had left.  They wanted to know where I had caged the dog - HA I guess they thought I might do their job but I was a little afraid that the angry about to give birth dog might not appreciate me tyring to cage her.

The stray that tried to have puppies in my car

Molly's first school recital

Happy before leaving for the night


Not so sure about singing but excited about Santa and cookies
Molly had her Christmas school musical.  She has been practicing the songs for the past few weeks on the way home and singing around the house.  I guess she used up most of her joy about singing before the event because she wasn't as joyous to be up singing on the stage.  Her shyness came out for the 20 minutes of the concert but as soon as Santa came in the back door she got  excited while Riley kept shaking her head NO.  Riley has a great fear of the bearded man but she does have the joy of the season.  All the girls were well behaved during the recital and got to eat lots of cookies afterward.

Camera Found

So we took some photos of bubble paper fun


Saturday, November 24, 2012

Thanksgiving and Christmas Decorating

The pictures are in reverse order but at least there are some this time.
 
For Thanksgiving we spent the day at our friends the Morkens who had some other Army family come for the party.  We had lots of food, kids running around and laughs throughout the day.  Will gave driving lessons to the girls in his awesome power wheel and even let Kelly take it for a spin.   The adults started playing catch phrase and lost track of time until Riley started wondering in the game eating a roll and looking like she was sleep walk eating which was followed by Molly asking to go home so she could sleep.  So at 9pm we packed things up and headed home after a great day of being thankful for the friends God has given us along with a nice relaxing family morning. 
Black Friday we went on a family hike on the Cape Fear River Trail where the girls walked 1 of the 4 miles and we learned a lesson in patience!!  Then we got to go on a double date with some of our friends who Molly call her aunt and uncle and enjoy some adult conversation and more laughs.
Today Jon graciously pulled out the Christmas decorations and we got them up.  Then he took the big girls to the movies so I could work on our family tradition of PJ's which I got finished for the entire family.  They may not be professionally done but $15 for the set of 5 is ok by me! 
And this year Douglas Fir the motion detector Christmas tree my mom got for me my freshman year of college is being loved by the girls.  For some reason the girls in my dorm did not appreciate him in all his singing glory especially at 2am when people would walk by my door and set him off.  But for the 30 minutes he is allowed to be plugged in there are 2 little people in this house that can't get enough of him and a third who isn't exactly sure what she thinks of him yet:) 
We have one more day of being all together and then Jon will be leaving for pre-ranger school.  You can pray that he makes it through the 16 days injury free and with a passing grade!
 
 
2012 Christmas PJ's
 
 
All the decorations up and stockings hung

The girls loving Douglas Fir the singing tree


Our elf on the shelf from great grandma Rumbaugh,
Molly gave it notes and presents to send home tonight.
 I guess she is learning to think of others a little

Kelly says hi in Cheerio bling

My Turkey Veggie Tray - thank you pinterest

Kelly getting some driving lessons from big sister

Saturday, November 17, 2012

November update

Well it has been a month since the last entry so it is about time to update.  However due to my lack to technical ability I can't seem to get pictures easily off my phone so instead it will be and update with no pictures - not my normal MO:) 

My parents came to visit and I threw out the idea of going to a conference with Protestant Women of the Chapel (PWOC) the bible study I go to with ladies on post and my dad had some days off to use so they said they would go with me.  So a few weeks later we packed up the car and headed to TN.  Riley and Kelly got to meet my Grandaddy Head who is called Grandaddy Will by the great-grand kids.  They also got to meet all their second cousins from that side of the family while hanging out with my Aunt and Uncle and parents during the day.  During the nights I had Kelly and during the day all the girls hung out with my parents meeting most of the TN family.  At the PWOC conference I got to see ladies who love Jesus and move anywhere the Army (AKA God) calls them to.  I saw a lot of friends from AK who now live all over the place.  There is something special about our time in AK while our husbands were deployed and we all helped each other remember to go to God during those lonely times.  I loved getting to see them and catch up with them and get updates on life.  We had breakout sessions that I really enjoyed and am hoping to implement some of the things I learned. 

On the drive home we had a unique bonding experience as we became close and personal with an 18-wheeler and the van was totaled.  My parents were great and so were the girls.  It took a few hours to get things sorted out and get a rental car but we finished the trek home - all a little shaken up but in one piece.  My parents stayed a few extra days to help gets things sorted with insurance and the rental agencies.

We were by ourselves less than 24 hours before we had more help in the form of the Lewis family moving in while they transitioned to Ft. Bragg.  What a blessing to have friends with teenagers who we would leave all the girls with while we went van shopping and then on a lunch date so we left them with the kids from 9am - 3pm.  We played games at night (I won Farkel if you were wondering) and the girls played all day with Wyatt and Olivia.  Our neighbor boy was so happy to have kids to play football and basketball with that were not little girls.

We had 2 Strong Bond events, last week was a family one and this week is single soldiers.  At the family event Jon did Dave Ramsey since we saw the power of living a simple life when dealing with insurance since our car was paid off.  At my table of 4 couples only one had been married more than 3 months - talk about a great time to have a conversation about finances.  He followed it up with the 5 love languages so that couples could learn some practical ways to love each other.  One girls request for the love language of gifts was a wedding ring - let's hope her husband got the hint and makes Christmas special for her this year.  Now he is in DC with single soldiers and he usually teaches them about character and talks about what kind of legacy they want to leave. 

Well that about sums up the last month in a nutshell.  Hope I am on more this month!

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

My 3 favorite girls

Here is a quick update of my 3 favorite girls.  They each  make me laugh in their own ways and there is never a shortage of laughing with them.  Riley loves to show off and one of her favorite things to show off is her awesome belly.  She takes after her BertBurt but we are hoping before the teenage years that won't be the case anymore:)  Kelly still gets a panicked look in her eye when Riley is near but Molly can make her laugh.

Riley showing off her belly

Trike - A- Thon

Molly's school had a trike-a-thon for the kids at St. Jude.  The school raised over $2,000 for the hospital and all the kids got to ride.  Molly has been very excited about this event, as we practiced for the ride she would ride around the culdasac yelling I ride for five dollar.  She now thinks every time she rides her bike she is helping the kids.  I have yet to be able to get her to understand the concept but oh well better a cheerful giver than nothing.  After this event I realized that my camera phone will not cut it on all events in life - a little too much of a glare but this is the best shots.  I followed up with a video and you can hear Molly yell whooohoo after I cheer her on. 


The start line for the 3 year old
Cheering sister on

Molly and and her classmates riding for the kids at St. Jude's
 
The newest McP - Sally the horse.  Thanks to friends who are moving
 

Sunday, October 7, 2012

5-73 Cav Ball

Jon's unit held a ball this past week and we got all dressed up to go.  He is in a Calvary unit so they wear Stetson's which only look a little funny on a non cowboy but I think he pulled it off well.  Also he has participated in what is called a spur ride where you go to the woods for a few days and others in your unit "smoke you" as Jon told me.  So along with a cowboy hat he wore spurs with his formal.  I met my prince charming at the ball since he had to take care of some things ahead of time.  I rode with another friend since both our husbands had responsibilities and neither of us really wanted to drive to the ball all dressed up by ourselves.  Erica a good friend was able to babysit the girls and brought Cinderella so that they could see a ball while mommy and daddy were at one.  I asked Erica to come 30 minutes early to give me time to get ready - do my hair and makeup without the help of my favorite 3 girls!  The best part of the night was putting on my dress only to notice a small hole where the seam had come apart - praise Jesus for stitch witch!! I took it off grabbed the iron and melted my dress together for the night:)  I was so glad to have a friend lend me shoes for the night so I didn't have to go barefoot- and unlike my last formal I didn't even go to Kohl's to do my makeup. 

Meeting Prince Charming at the Ball

Jon needed a haircut for the ball and Kelly wanted to hide.

Hard to leave these three.
Had Erica come early so I could get ready without their help!!

Hubbs Corn Maze

Since moving to NC we found an awesome corn maze not to far from us.  Each year we have gone and loved our time getting lost in the maze, eating way too much sugar and having some fun family bonding.  The barrel ride is always a favorite - having a grandpa drive kids around on his riding lawn mower pulling barrels is funny to watch.  Molly and Riley did not enjoy the pillow jump but they did like the slide.  Kelly got to eat her first food - COTTON CANDY!! All three girls have had it as their first food but let me tell you that Kelly was not fond of going back to regular food after that experience.  It was a fight to get her to eat cereal or milk and I think we are in for a long road now. 

Our corn maze is now sorghum which makes it harder to cheat since it grows so tall and they don't plant it in rows.  We went with our friends the Ruff's and it was fun to see the difference between 2 boys and 3 girls - let me just say less whining and more running:)  Can't wait until next year but don't worry there will be no more McP additions coming with us this time!!



McP tradition.
Maybe not next year since we seem to bring 1 more kid each year
 
First real food - blue cotton candy

She really liked it - trying to make her eat cereal tonight was rough

Loving the slide


Molly learning how to line dance from the professionals
The barrel ride - She loved it

Molly and her friend Aidan driving


Riley needed her daddy

Preparing for the corn maze
Mirror Maze