Wow, it’s been such a long time since anyone has posted.  I, personally, have taken quite a break from blogging all together.  It happens, you know, you get burned out.  Hopefully, I’ll get back into it soon.  Nothing major has been going on.  We had an awesome Christmas!  The older two went back to school today.  Faith and Emma have been walking around looking for Allie.  Faith will come up to me and ask, “Mama, where Awie??” It’s quite adorable, if I say so myself.  She has really surprised me with her speech and how well she is communicating.  Of course, you all know, my older two, had delays in speech, so it just amazes me to hear some of the things that come out of Faith’s mouth.  Emma is talking too, just not quite advanced, but still more than what Allie and Christopher were doing at this age.

Well, just wanted to touch base with you guys, and try to revive the blog a little.  Hopefully, we will all find more time to post something, even if it is just a quick “Hello”.  I stay pretty active on Facebook, Keri, Franca, and Heather are on there now too!  Here’s the link to my profile, is anyone wants to add me, I’m on Twitter too:

Ruthie’s Facebook

Follow Ruthie on Twitter

I heard the kids giggling at each other earlier & that usually means that they are touching one other.  When I checked on them, Angelina was lying on the floor & Frankie was sitting next to her putting his finger in her eye! Angelina was laughing & saying “eye”. It was cute but I had to end it.  Later on I heard them again, but they were standing face to face & Frankie was touching Angelina’s cheek. They think that’s so funny! They were both laughing!

so yesterday, the teacher in the toddler room sent me a text message that both sarah and samantha were refusing their naps and that she tried everything.  so my comment back to her was that i hope they aren’t starting the “terrible twos” early.  This is the response i got back.

“i hope not.  But they thought they were funny. We have nap time music on and when the last song just ended, Samantha started clapping and yelled ‘yay!!’  ”

oh my goodness - when i read that text message, i about choked i was laughing so hard - that is just typical samantha - always a character!

Thanks Ruthie…the blog looks awesome!

Just wanted to let you guys know what has been going on down here. Keri and I have been preparing for Hurricane Gustav. She and her boys will be leaving their home to evacuate (she lives a little over 90 miles northwest of New Orleans).  I think she will be staying with her in-laws, who happen to live close to the border of Arkansas and Louisiana, but unfortunately, from what I understand her husband will be remaining behind due to the nature of his job.  So I’m sure she could really use your thoughts and prayers.

We are staying in Natchez (about 170 miles northwest of New Orleans).  Gustav has been predicted to make landfall as a category 3 hurricane. It just doesn’t look good at all.  We should be fine here, but could still end up with a major power outage. So that will be no picnic for sure. But I’m more importantly worried for everyone else south of us. I just can’t believe that we are dealing with this again. Very scary times.

My sister-in-law & brother-in-law (Marshall’s brother) are expecting twins in April. :-) 

I’m so excited I can barely contain myself!!!

I belong to a great Mom’s of Multiple club.  I have met a lot of great women there and have made friends that will last a long time.

Twice a year, they have a sale.  Members only can sell their gently used clothing, toys, you name it that has to do with a child you can sell there.   Each year I have made out well, buying my girls toys and almost enough clothing to last the season for around $150 total. 

Well this year I was REALLY disappointed.   Seems that each year the pickings get smaller and the clothing or toys are more worn down.  Also, I’m not sure if it is because the sizes are going up but the prices of alot of things were a lot as well.  A fleece sleeper that looks like more than one child used was $3.00.  I would not have paid more than $1.00 for it and even then I would have had to think about it.  Also where the tables used to be jammed pack, they were empty. 

I did manage to get a few pretend toys and some dress up dresses for the girls as well as a few pairs of jeans, some tops and a few sleepers.  But I’m no where near done with their fall/winter clothes.  DH made me sell their coats from last year.  Of course they would have not fit Viviana or Olivia but Cora could have wore one of them.  But no he made me sell them all so as of right now, the girls still need a light fall jacket and a winter coat. 

I HOPE to take them out more often this year so I know it will be needed.  Thanks for letting me vent.   At least with the sale over, I know what I need to look for in the stores.  Before the sale, I was afraid to pay retail for anything in hopes to get it cheaper at the sale.

Does anyone else here buy used for their kids?  Or does everyone by retail and just wait for a sale?

How do you ladies do it?  Last night me and hubby plus the fab 3 went to the local mall.  I had to return some clothes and I wanted to get another pair of sneakers.  We took the single stroller and had the girls take turns in it.  We also had at one point all 3 of them out and running about. 

I was exhausted but the great side was that they were too.  We put them to bed past their normal 8pm bedtime.  I think it was more like 9:30pm and they were out like a light.  They didn’t get up until about 8:30am this morning. 

We used to use them as an alarm clock because once they were awake, they would make noises and wake us up.  Olivia loves to say.  Mami where are you? and after 3 times she tries Papi where are you? lol.  But NOW they are just sitting in their cribs waiting for us to come and get them.  Not sure I want to put them in big girl beds just yet.  I was going to wait until we started potty training which hasn’t happened yet.  

Olivia will pee on the potty when we put her there and tap her belly and say pee pee.  She then says pee pee and trys to push something out.  9 times out of 10 she does something.  The one time she didn’t she said no pee pee.  lol.

Even though every night I go to bed exhausted, they are the highlight of my life.