Blogiversary (II)

Happy Father's Day to Seth! And to my Dad. And to any other Daddy's out there. I've got a quick, rare midday post for ya'll. I have loads of posts in my head that I've been itching to write up but the free time I've had has gone to other things. I'll be back tomorrow with more! Enjoy :)

Guess what ya’ll?! My babies are home AND it’s my little ol’ blog’s anniversary (well, last Friday 8 June was). How sweet is that?! Yep, I started this blog two years ago as a way for my family and friends to keep up with us when we moved from New Mexico to Florida. In all honesty I don’t keep up with it as much as I’d like. And I’m sure my parents would love more photos and updates, especially since I hate talking on the phone and this is one place they could turn to see what we’re up to. I guess there’s Facebook but I don’t even upload photos there as often as I used to. I mean, I never even shared photos of last summer’s shenanigans. I made my parents this book so they got a lot of the photos but everyone else was shit out of luck because it simply slipped my mind. That’s been happening a lot lately. A lot of forgetting. A lot of putting important people and things off. A lot of failing. I’m failing.

I’m failing to maintain my weekly conference call with my parents and brother, I’m failing to keep my house spotless like I used to, I stopped taking classes for my Master’s degree months ago and have yet to enroll again (I don’t think I’m going to), I’m failing my friends by bailing on them when they invite me places or when I do show up I’m spacing out and my mind is somewhere else, I’m failing in my work because even though I smile on the outside and get my shit done I’m so bitter on the inside that they won’t move me to be with my husband, I’m failing as a mother because when my daughter needed me most over the last few weeks I was on the other side of the country and couldn’t be with her to simply hold her and reassure her that everything would be alright, I’m failing as a wife simply by being the train wreck that I am, and I’m failing myself for reasons those closest to me are already aware of. And so it should be no surprise that I’m failing at this blog too.

However, with my kiddos back and therefore our family of five only having 10 short days together under the same roof before we are, yet again, split up thanks to the military, I’m determined to do better.

I determined to focus on these four funny, loud, and rambunctious people that I share a home with because they are the most important things in the world to me. Without them nothing else matters. And while I may not give a shit about a obtaining a Master’s degree anymore I’m still determined to be a kickass wife, mother, and friend. And my fucking house will get back in tiptop shape soon enough, just you wait. And this blog will be updated at least weekly. No, no, let's say bi-weekly. Now, shall we move on the good stuff? With the brood back I have loads of photos and stories for ya'll so let's dive right into this, shall we? Perhaps I should stop saying 'shall we.'

The brood got here on Thursday (7 June) and it's been nonstop chaos ever since. And me likey. Seriously, I'd have it no other way. Talk to me in two months and I may have a different outlook, but currently I'm diggin' it. And I'm not joking when I say it's nonstop around la casa de Rumbarger, you gotta remember that I bred three of these things so there is always someone talking or asking for something or wanting me to watch a new trick or telling me a story or doing some daring stunt or making a mess or playing music or needing a band-aid...seriously, something is always.happening.ALWAYS.

I wake up "early" and that is my only quiet time. And by early I mean 0830. Don't hate. And the brood sleeps until an amazing 1100ish. I'm not that parent that walks back to their bedrooms and bitches them out for sleeping in. I looooove that they sleep in because first and foremost it means that I get to sleep in as well. And I'm a night owl so the morning is not my friend. Secondly, it's my only 'me' time. I wake up and make my coffee or tea. Putter around the house. And just enjoy some awesome quiet time. I'm even motivated to clean off our balcony so that I can enjoy the mornings out there with a cup of coffee, but for now it looks like this:

...don't judge.

So without further ado here are a few of the shenanigans that have gone down since my triumphant trio has returned...

We wasted no time getting a sugar high. On the way home from the airport we stopped at Bruster's and snagged some ice cream. It was a gloomy day with dark clouds and rain on and off but Owen brightened us up with his messy ice cream eating shenanigans

I made this chalkboard for them, it lives on the wall in their hallway. Seth christened it by drawing a funny face on it (this photo is super blurry, oops).

Then I wrote them a message so that when they got home from the airport they had an official welcoming :)

If you look closely you can see that the chalkboard isn't officially done yet, can you see what's missing (look in the first chalkboard photo)? I'll write up a post when it's finally complete and then you'll see then if you don't already.

Jersey was excited for the brood to arrive...

...so were Salt and Pepper.

Ari wasted no time in digging to her crafts and whipping out tattoos - she's brave and put one on her face and then made certain not to wash it off in the shower and bath over the next few days. Day three of her having said face tatt I told her enough was enough and she needed to wash it off - Lord knows I don't need people thinking my child hasn't bathed for 72 hours. 

Then the older two made Facebook pages and of course they had to do a photo sesh for a proper profile pic. Tweens, they make me nervous.

The Facebook thing came about because Seth and I surprised Ethan by replacing his old flip phone with a Samsung Galaxy S2 (I think that's what it's called). He was stoked. Ari used the moment to ask for her own cell phone and when I told her no she quickly replied with, "Well then can I make a Facebook page?" When I said yes she gasped, "Really? Wow, that was way too easy."

Our once quiet house quickly became nonstop noisy with preparations for WII dance competitions crowding the small living room and one monster puppy trying to be part of the fun.

The only time it gets anywhere remotely close to calm is when the 'glowing rectangles' (as my brother refers to them as) are in front of their faces (think smartphone, ipad, MacBook, TV, and the like).

So there's just a small glimpse of life 'round these parts lately. I have a lot more photos to upload from our vacation, funny kid stories to share, and what we made Seth for Father's day just to name a few but I've gotta get off this glowing rectangle now and tend to my crew - Owen literally came up to me just minutes ago with a hat on his head, sunglasses on his face, and a handful of toys and said with great excitement, "Good news Mommy, I found my power rangers can you take a picture!" Then he threw down the power rangers, chucked up the deuces, posed, then ran out of the living room.

And yes, I sit on my couch, bare feet on the ottoman, writing blog posts while my pajama wearing six-year old sports a hat and sunglasses indoors and my balcony begs for a make-over. Priorities, ya'll.

So here's to getting my shit together (otherwise known as no longer failing), fixing my embarrassingly messy balcony, and enjoying the chaos of three small humans (aka our crew).

Happy Sunday ya'll,

Lor