Oooohhh, three months is a long time to not post. It's been a busy three months, though, filled with chaos and sleepy days due to the fact that I don't get a lot of sleep with all of the things I must get done.

I mainly post today because of the sadness I felt when I opened up my email and found that a great lady and one who I am proud to call a friend of mine had died senselessly in a hit and run accident at the Air Force Academy on Monday. Donna Head was probably the one woman I could point to that taught me many necessary pointers in being an Air Force wife. Even though she didn't invest a lot of time in me, she made me feel that I was indeed important to the community of AF wives we were involved with. She was a very classy woman, one I hope to be able to remember in years to come. Her husband was the physics department head when Andy was a cadet. He was also the department head who encouraged Andy to return and teach. When we go back next summer, I hope we can reconnect with him... well, at least Andy.

Sadness still overwhelms me. I also feel sad for the lady that killed her. She is the wife of the Mexican AF officer in the foreign language department (exchange program), and also a young Mom. I can't help but pray for her because she is really in trouble. She fled the scene and hid, not smart, but I can understand why... she probably didn't know what else to do.

If you think about it, say a prayer for Brig. Gen. James Head. I can't imagine having the love of my life taken away as he did just a few days ago.

I love my job. No really, I do. Even though it's teaching 3 year olds... 33 of them to be exact. They are finally getting it. They are finally listening to my instruction, obeying what I say, and learning! AND, it's only been 3 weeks!

Things are getting hectic around here. There are so many baseball practices, dance practices, baseball games, piano lessons, gymnastic practices, school things, my school things, there's just no time to breathe. We've also had company over and over, which I LOVE, but my gosh... I don't even have time to paint my toenails! Ew.

I think when we have our next PCS, we're going to have to seriously consider some changes to our lifestyle. I think I'm starting to get to the point where stress is a key factor in my day and that can't be healthy for one's body. I just don't know how to stop what I've begun. I can't pull the kids out of the activities that they love, can I? Besides, I only have them here for 4, 6, 8, and 11 more years... depending on which kid we're talking about. I'm afraid that they'll look back on their time at home and regret not getting to do this or that. I want to be able to give them every advantage (activity wise... certainly not spoiling them with "stuff", because there isn't any money to buy "stuff") as far as where they feel their dreams are taking them.

But it's making me fat and turning my hair grey. Dang it.

I just read a really good blog in which the author admitted some of her guilty secrets. I wonder what that does for a person... does it free the soul of the gnawing guilt that you do something that most people would scoff at? Does one write such things so as to find another who does the same? In my wondering, I decided to see if my secrets as a Mom and a Wife would be as freeing as it seemed to be for the said author above.

1) I uh... well, shoot, I can't reveal that one.

2) Sometimes I catch myself... um... yeah, that one needs to remain between me and God.

3) In my spare time, I... argh... I can't tell you that...

Okay, forget it. There are some things that just need to stay between me and Andy, me and God, or in our immediate family.

I guess what works for others isn't always the best for everyone.

Thirteen years.

That's how long I've had kids at home... thirteen years. Today is the first day that everyone is in school. All day. Without me.

If you need me, I'll be sitting in front of the tv, crying and watching Little House on the Prairie episodes.

Last night as we had this monster storm blow past our house that woke up no one but me (there are 11 others in this house right now), I lay awake thinking about my little boy. Not only thinking, but also becoming increasingly worried that I'm raising a child with OCD.

I thought about how most 7 year old boys don't wash their hands after going to the bathroom unless you remind them, but how mine will every time... for at least 2-3 minutes. How after just scratching his nose or picking a wedgie, he's in there washing his hands. He's also been having accidents at night and in the day if he has just a little dribble, he panics and has to tell me and change his pants. He wouldn't dream of riding his bike without a helmet on his head. His bed has to be made in a particular way. I'm sure there are other things, but that's all I could think of before falling asleep.

I wonder if I should take him to the doctor or have him evaluated.

I also wonder if other people are faced with this concern when their kids are little like that.

Every night, I fall asleep to the sweet humming of the tv across the room. It's been lulling me to sleep for the past 12 years, and I'm so used to it, that I panicked last night when I turned it on and all that happened was a flash of light and nothing came on the screen.

So I did what any normal suburban housewife with an incurable addiction would do... I ran downstairs and flipped out on my husband.

"Andy, the tv's dead!"

"Really? That's great! I can get to sleep without all the noise!"

"No, no, no... you don't get it, the tv is DEAD! It won't turn on! I can't go to sleep without it! What am I going to do?! I know what I'm going to do... lay awake all night THINKING... that's what! AAAARRRGGGHHH!!!!"

That's when Andy walked with me into the living room, sat at the end of the couch with my feet propped up on his legs and watched tv with me until I fell asleep. Then he gently woke me up, walked with me upstairs and put me to bed ;o).

That is one of the many reasons I love that man.

My kids are loud.

I'm not just talking about child-like chatter or anything of the sort. No... my kids feel as though they need to yell at the top of their lungs so as to be heard by anyone in earshot. Landon especially. If an unfortunate event occurs during the day such as a stubbed toe, a hurtful or sarcastic word by another sibling, then Landon will scream. As though his left testicle has been hammered and his ears are being filled with boiling oil.

Haley doesn't seem to understand the concept of keeping her mouth shut and letting others have a turn to talk. She'll just start telling about how Caleb has stapled a shrunken head to her ceiling or how last year a boy named Steven had this backpack that had a key chain on it that could not only make noise but also light up and that it really irritated the teacher because it was distracting to the class but how Jasmine thought it was funny and they both ended up getting looks.... blah, blah, blah... all while I'm on the phone with the receptionist from the doctor's office.

Hannah has a soft, kind of monotone voice that just blends into the background noise of the house, and if she's not heard, instead of stopping or raising her voice, she'll just repeat herself over, and over, and over until she's finally heard. Her conversations are usually random and pointless (to me) as well.

Caleb will almost yell every time he speaks... I think it's just a habit since everything is so loud around here. He's also the initiator of most of the tears and whining around the house.

All this adds up to one very irritated, grumpy Mom who cannot wait for school to begin! Of course, once they're all in school all day, I'll be posting about how it's too quiet and I can't wait for them to get home!

My kids have been at Grandparent camp for pretty much the whole month of July. I should have started letting them share the... um... joy of my children's presence much, much sooner.

This has most definitely made the summer go a little bit faster for all!

On Tuesday, Caleb came in my room and showed me his knee. There was a golf ball size bump embedded on the part of his leg right below his knee cap. This bump has been there for a few months, but not so large. I just thought it was a baseball injury or something of the sort, because it's been bothering him for a while now. Then he showed me how he wasn't able to bend his leg... at all. When I touched it he screamed. When he walked, he winced. He looked like my arthritic father when he tried to get in and out of the car.

So I decided it must be a tumor. I prepared him for the fact that he would probably have a biopsy, x-rays, and other tests, Doctors, etc.. I thought I had imagined the worst possible scenario with chemotherapy, a year or two off of school, me quitting my job and homeschooling, taking time off of sports until he could beat this thing. Everything went through my mind. Everything that is, except amputation... leave it to my Mom to think of that one.

I took him to the Good Doctor Minn yesterday. I quietly expressed my concerns in the hallway (so as not to freak Caleb out while he was waiting in the examination room) and later found out that Caleb heard every word I said. Bugger. Doctor Minn quickly put my mind at ease by letting me know that this is a common occurrence in athletic boys Caleb's age. It's called Osgood-Schlatter Syndrome, and it happens to kids that are in a growth spurt, or who have just gone through one. It has to do with their bones and tendons and hopefully when he's done growing, it will go away. So much to both of our relief, the kid walked away with a clean bill of health and a sport's physical filled out so that he can try out for his middle school baseball team.

God is so good... and just when I think I've got it all under control, He throws a little curve ball to let me know that He's the one who's got it all covered.

I'm so sorry. It really has been awhile. In the time it's taken me to update, Caleb got better, Haley got a mild case of chicken pox, Landon got pneumonia and had a short hospital stay, then Andy got home and everyone was fine. Go figure.

We went to Colorado for my parents 50th anniversary and it was WONDERFUL!!! All of my brothers were there as well as my sister. All but 5 of my nieces and nephews were there, and we had a fabulous time. I've never felt as young as I did during that week (my oldest brother is pushing 50, and I'm the youngest of all!).

I'll update more later and post some pictures or at least a link to our picasa page so you can see the little people and all. But for now... well I have some serious house work to do.

It appears that our house is the one that all the neighborhood kids want to hang out at.

That's so cool!!!

If you're the praying type, please say a little prayer for Caleb. The poor kid has been sick with a fever and cough for almost 2 weeks, and today he woke up and ran to the bathroom to throw up. He's missing SOL testing at school, baseball games, and has lost at least 10 lbs.

I'm getting worried...

My preschoolers are gone. It's a bittersweet time to say goodbye to most of them, knowing that I'll see them in a few months when a new school year begins. There were a couple that brought me to tears, knowing that they are moving to a new state or to a new school. Some... well some it was sweet to say goodbye to. Those are the kids that challenged every word I spoke, every instruction given. Yeah, I guess I'll miss them... sorta.

I was amazed at the generosity of the parents when given gifts on the last day. Keep in mind that I had 49 children this year, and each one gave me something. I was given fresh cut and potted flowers and plants, cute little pieces of jewelry, lotions and picture frames, a couple of Vera Bradley bags (apparently quite popular here, I don't quite get it, but they are pretty), little figurines, stationary, bath and body works, and oodles of gift cards. I won't have to want for Starbucks, Panera, or unnecessaries at Target for the rest of the summer! As I said, the generosity astounded me... and to be quite honest, I totally forgot that these parents give gifts at the end of the year until they started bringing them in on the last day. I love gifts!
I love my job... the kids, the parents, my coworkers... I couldn't ask for a better place to work.

On a different note... Jimmy's gettin' married!!! Congratulations my friend... remember how I told you that there's a pot for every lid? YAY, you found your Pot, and she's gorgeous!!!

Yeah, this is about right...

Your Birthdate: May 24

You understand people well and are a natural born therapist. A peacemaker, people always seem to get along when you are around. You tend to be a father or mother figure to friends, even to those older than you. You enjoy your role, and you find that you are close to many people. Your strength: Your devotion Your weakness: Reliance on others for happiness Your power color: Lilac Your power symbol: Heart Your power month: June

I am now the proud owner of a teenager.

Thank God he's a good one!!!

Did I mention that Haley got braces? Yeah, I didn't think so...

It was a week ago today. Andy and I took her and watched as they put four little brackets on the only teeth she has that show at this point. They were awesome and put the clear ones on, so really you can't even see them. It's pretty entertaining to watch her try to shut her lips. Her teeth stick out a bit, so she has a hard time closing them over the top of her braces. Her little lips look like they've been pumped full of Botox, which is so stinkin' cute, and now she has the slightest little lisp that probably no one would notice but a Mom.

I'm glad we got this done... she's going to look so great when it's all over. It almost doesn't even matter that we're going to have to sell her little brother to pay for her teeth... just as long as she's happy. Oh, and pretty.

Andy's been in Arizona this week. Again. It's really nice that he's able to go out there, especially since his parents are living half of their snowbird lives in the warm, Arizona sun. His Dad will be 70 this year, and even though he's in great shape, that's old. We're noticing the older our parents get, the more precious our time is with them.

It's cute the way Andy's Mom and Dad are able to dote on him while he's there. He's their baby, and he's truly treated as such. His Mom baby's him and his Dad by fixing their plates for them at dinner, then bringing them dessert in the living room after she's cleaned up the kitchen and their watching whatever game strikes their fancy on the big screen tv.

Yes, it's cute. It's cute until he comes home and expects me to dote on him. Because the 2 weeks of non-adult-companionship can drive anyone to their breaking point. Our last phone conversation went something like this:

"I'm taking the red-eye so I can be home with you guys for the rest of the week. I should be getting home around the time you guys are stirring. I'm sure you'll be up. I should be there around the time you have breakfast on the table."

"Breakfast on the table? Have you lost your mind? The whole reason for the big kitchen with the many child-level cabinets is so that I don't have to serve anyone breakfast. Everything is conveniently located so that it is easily accessible for even the smallest of children. Do you know how long it's taken me to make our children self-sufficient in the mornings, so that I don't have to get up at the crack of dawn and put BREAKFAST ON THE TABLE?!?!? When all four of our kids are out on their own, perhaps I'll THINK about putting breakfast on the table for you. Until then, I am NOT YOUR MOTHER."

I don't think he'll be asking for anything like that for at least the next 13 years.

I got teary eyed as I watched the dentist pull Haley's teeth today. She was completely freaked out but the whole procedure, and even though it didn't hurt at the time, emotionally she was a wreck. Poor kid. She's pouting on the couch right now...

She's getting braces on her top teeth in a couple of weeks, and two of those baby teeth had to go. She doesn't believe me, but her smile's going to be gorgeous and all of the pain of getting teeth pulled and braces is going to be worth it in the end.

God is good. He's provided a way to pay for her teeth, and it's really not going to put a dent into our budget at all. So glad He always takes care of us!!!

"THAT SAYS SEX!"

Yep, that's what my dirt-covered, baseball uniform wearing 6 year old blurted out in the middle of shoving chicken nuggets into his mouth at McDonald's last night. He had his first baseball practice of the season, and I thought I'd stop and have dinner with him, just the two of us.

Then all of a sudden he yells that out. I look behind me and on the tv screen, they have CNN playing, and stupid me... I had him facing it. Across the bottom, it said "sex scandal".

"Mrs. Leake didn't teach me that word yet, Mom. What does it mean?"

"Ummm... it's the way Australian people say 6. Now eat your artery blocking dinner so we can go."

Andy came home from his trip to Arizona with 103 degree temperature. Poor guy, he's really, really ill. He secretly drove himself to the doctor (that is about 45 minutes away) while I was at work. He didn't want me to have to take a sick day, but I would have rather taken him and known that he was safe. The doctor said that it's something bacterial and gave him a Z-pack, but I don't know that it's working... the man is still sicker than a dog.


On a happier note, the kids and I are all on Spring Break. Thank God... I was at my breaking point, and wondering if I would ever get a chance to breathe. Hopefully we can get some much needed house work and yard work done. We'll see.