8 Things about 8 Years Together

Today Paul and I are celebrating our 8 year anniverasary. It's hard to believe we've been married that long. I guess we can no longer be considered a "young married" couple. Here are 8 things about our 8 years:

1 - number of times Paul has sent me flowers - today!! (he's brought me flowers home before but I don't recall any ever being delivered)
2 - number of kids Paul originally wanted before we actually had kids (ha!ha!)
3 - number of states we've lived in (NH, NC, and MA)
4 - number of children I always wanted
5 - number of times we've moved in 8 years and the number of homes we've lived in
6 - number of cars we've owned together
7 - number of times per month my husband complains about the number of black shoes and/or purses I own
8 - number of years that I am so very thankful for. I feel blessed every day to have a great husband who is a great provider and a wonderful father. Paul has made so many of my dreams come true and I really am so thankful.

5 Year Old Girls

Five things I've recently learned about 5 year old girls:

1. They do NOT stop talking
2. They really, really like the sound of their own voice
3. They will talk about anything, really anything if it means they can just talk
4. They will ask you random questions about anything and everything just so they can talk
5. They wake up talking and the talking continues until they go to sleep

Really. I've warned you.

Pajama Day

My 5 year old had an ABC Pajama Party at preschool this morning so she got to wear pajamas to school. I can not tell you how excited she was to be wearing pajamas to school. She's been talking about it for weeks and finally it was today. Apparently all the kids were super excited to wear pajamas too. One mom said her kid was up at 6:15 ready to go to school! It's so fun how kids get excited about these kinds of things. Emma proudly said she just has to wear her pajamas all day today. I wish I had a day that I just had to wear my pajamas all day. Of course, I guess I always could...maybe we'll have pajama day again tomorrow!

Bye Bye Birdie....Please!

So there is a bird living in my chimney. I know I'm supposed to enjoy the singing of the birds and their happy chirping. But, it's literally driving me crazy. I'm not a horrible person but I don't enjoy birds. From afar they are OK but in my chimney it's annoying the mess out of me! My house is rarely quiet but when it is during the day all you can hear is the bird...chirp, chirp, chirping away. I wish I had some fireworks that I could set off in my fireplace that would scare the bird away. Sadly I don't. So if anyone has any ideas on how to relocate a bird out of your chimney...I'm all ears! Help!

What day is it?

This week has been a big blur. We've had so much going on that I can't even remember what day it is! I think it's Wednesday....right? We've had company the last 2 nights so my kids have gone to bed ridicously late. I'm waiting for the meltdowns to start late this afternoon.

Not much to say but I haven't posted in a few days so I wanted to write something. Yesterday my 5 year old tried out a new gymnastics class. She's ready to move up to the next level but I'm not sure I'm ready to move out of our preschool schedule where everything happens in the morning. She loved the new class so my choices are Tuesday at 4:30 when we already have another commitment (neighborhood playgroup) or Saturdays at 10am. I hate Saturday classes. It's not that we do much on Saturdays, I mean my hubbie works every other one anyway, I just hate the commitment of doing something every Saturday. But, I think that will be better for our schedule. Of course in the day that I've thought of committing to that we've gotten 2 birthday party invites for my middle daugther for Saturdays at 10am...go figure.

On the Road to Independence...

We've hit 2 exciting milestones recently with my big girls. First, my 5 year old has learned to pump so she can swing herself! Folks, I can not tell you how many hours of my life have been spent pushing that girl in a swing. Ever since she was a baby she loved to swing. She loved to swing in her baby swing at home as an infant then she loved the swings outdoors at the park. And now, thankfully, she has learned to do it herself. Yesterday she actually uttered the words "Mommy, that's enough pushes, I can do it myself" to me! Hallelujah!

Our second exciting milestone is that my older girls will now get up and go watch TV on their own in our bonus room. That may not sound exciting to many of you however, for me, that is pure bliss. You see, I am not a morning person. I love to sleep and having so many children has clearly interfered with that so I have adjusted. I do cherish the few mornings I am able to lounge in bed and take my time getting up and they are few and far between. We really don't let the girls watch very much TV but I'm all for 30 minutes of Playhouse Disney if it will buy me 30 more minutes of peaceful morning sleep. All for it.....

Wednesday

It's Wednesday and in my house that means American Idol. My 2 older girls are obsessed with American Idol so we DVR it and watch it together on Wednesday evenings. Emma, my 5 year old, loves to watch the singers and critique them. Two of the last three weeks she's correctly predicted who will go home. Emma and Lily both love to play American Idol. One sings and one pretends to be Paula and they use dolls and/or stuffed animas to be Simon and Rndy. They sometimes use the bed as their stage. It's actually quite funny. I'll have to see if I can get some video of them doing it sometime. So far we're rooting for David A. and Brooke (and I'm also a David C. fan). How about you?

goodreads

One of my new friends shared this website with me www.goodreads.com. It's a cool place to check out books, read reviews and see what your friends are reading. I have to pick a book for my book club so I think this will be a great resource. If anyone has a good book selection feel free to pass it on....

Free Will

In the car this morning on our way to gymnastics talking to my 3 year old....

Me: Lily, are you going to be good listener for Ms. Vicki today?

Lily (looking down reading a book): Maybe....

Then she shrugs her shoulders....

Ah, the free will of a 3 year old...

Turns out she wasn't such a good listener...at least she forewarned me...

They just don't make things they way they used to...

I just need to rant a little about my washing machine. It. still. doesn't. work. Ughhh!! I just want to scream about it. You see when we moved last year my husband talked me into getting this new, fancy washer. It's a Fisher & Paykel - all electronic - this should have been my first clue that something would go wrong. I was unsure but Paul convinced me this was the best thing. So, we shopped and shopped for a new washing machine and found this one that we thought would be good. Fast forward 10 1/2 months and I have a washer full of dirty water and ridicously wet clothes that will be drying until tomorrow that I probably need to rewash. Needless to say I can't get a repair person until Thursday. Four days from now. Seriously. There are only 2 authorized service dealers for our washer in the area. Really, just 2 - I mean I don't live in a small town! So the piling up of the Potter laundry begins. You know I got a Kenmore when I graduated college, had it for 12 years, not one single problem. They just don't make things like they used too. Not at all.

On another note, my heart is breaking for one of my dear friends who just suffered her 2nd miscarriage in 6 months. This is one of the kindest women I have ever met, she just has such a sweet spirit. She and her husband have a beautiful almost 2 year old and are trying to add to their family. My heart and prayers just go out to her as I know this such a rough time. I had a miscarriage between my 2nd and 3rd and it was honestly one of the darkest times of my life. I couldn't fathom how a baby we wanted so badly had died. I'm hopeful my friend can rely on the Lord to get her through this dark time.

One of THOSE Days??

Ever have one of those days where you just want to crawl under a rock and wish the day away? Today is one of THOSE days for me...

sigh...my washing machine is broken with a full load of clothes soaked in it...my husband had his "procedure" yesterday so he's grouchy...my kids won't stop fighting...one of THOSE days....sigh....

Politically Incorrect (but very funny)

Over my friend Jennifer's blog - saved by grace (link is to the right) she posted a hilarious article called 22 Ways to be a Good Democrat. It's a bit politically incorrect but very, very funny. So, if you lean to the right or are a good natured democrat you should take spin over to her blog and check it out. You will get a good chuckle. I especially like #16...ha!ha!

Oh Yeah...We're having another baby!

So, some of you who read my last post are surprised to find out that yes, I am pregnant again. It's our 4th and yes, it was planned (well sort of ), we (specifically me) always wanted 4 kids. And NO, we are NOT "going for a boy". We'll be thrilled and excited about whatever baby God chooses to give us.

I'm about 14 weeks along, due the beginning of October. We haven't decided yet if we're going to find out what we're having - I guess we still have a few weeks until the big ultrasound. We didn't find out with our 3rd but did with the first 2. Part of me really wants to know so that if we are having a boy I can start to "de-pink" our house a little and blue it up. But, although I hate to admit was husband was right, it was kind of fun not knowing what Julia was. So in the coming 4-5 weeks I guess we'll decide and go from there. Any thoughts?

You want to get fixed?....Sign Here....

Now that we're expecting our 4th child my husband and I have decided it's time for him to get "fixed." So, he goes for his consult yesterday and he comes home with a consent form that we both have to sign in order for him to get the procedure. A consent form that I have to sign...

So let me get this straight...my husband can't go in and get a "snip, snip" to keep me from getting pregnant without my consent BUT, I can get pregnant with said sperm, go get an abortion and he can be none the wiser? I think there is something seriously wrong with that. Seriously wrong.

Lessons from Disney

Our family just back from an amazing trip to Disney World in Florida. We really had an awesome time. I'll blog more about our trip soon but these lessons have come to mind and I wanted to share:

1. If you think the US economy is in the dumps go to Disney World. People are spending money like crazy there. Seriously.

2. It's HOT in Florida in the beginning of April.

3. If you think it's a good idea to visit WDW during Spring Break then so do about 2 million other people.

4. If 6 people are staying in a place that has laundry facilities then do laundry every day.

5. Character dining experiences actually are worth it.

6. I paid approximately $30 for each of the 3 bites of food my 3 year old actually ate at said character dining. experiences.

7. It's really not worth it to a parent to wait in line for an hour to see Ariel but apparently to a 5 year old this is a highlight of the trip.

8. There's a great dad out there who took his little girl to the My Disney Girl Tea Party. To that dad - you rock!

9. World of Disney at Downtown Disney has the SAME stuff as all the other stores at Downtown Disney. Really. The. Exact. Same. Stuff. Believe me.

10. Going to Disney World will make you feel like a kid again and that's a really great feeling....