stress and fun

Well, we're still alive!  That's good.  It's been pretty stressful lately and everyone seems to notice it.  This last week was probably the worst I've noticed in a long time.  Just a lot of yelling... me and the kids. A lot of getting on each other's nerves.   It's just a combination of moving, living in a small place, not having any friends to hang out with day to day, a new tighter budget, etc.  Just a lot and it's taking it's toll. We are really excited to have a break in our stress by going back to Gurnee for church tomorrow. Svend is standing in the circle for our friend's baby blessing.  We are so excited to sit with the Bowkers while she passes treats to my kids... :) Seriously, I'm teary-eyed just thinking about it! So homesick. We are so excited to see our neighbor, Diane, as well!! Though, I'm scared how Tabitha will react when we can't go into our "home." She still calls this place a hotel and wishes we were living with Grandma and Grandpa in Texas.  She has struggled the most outwardly...but each of the kids are struggling and it's hard to watch.  The kids in the complex can pretty much be summed up as jerks.  They laugh at Tally when she walks by and I've told her she can't play with them...not that they will play with her...but it hurts watching that.  Excited for school to start on August 20th. Both kids have been registered. Bergen is in afternoon kindergarten which kind of through me for a loop... but it'll be good when we're just trying to get Tally out the door on those super snowy days!   

Despite all the stress... we have had fun.  I feel a bit of cabin fever during the week, so as soon as Saturday comes, we explore like crazy.  During the week we just hang around or go to splash pads... here are some pics showing we really are having fun-when we're not stressed. I just need to chill out :)

Bergen has been obsessed with NINJAS lately and wanted his sisters to join in as super heroes! it didn't last long...because of "leadership wars" but it was fun while it lasted :) 

 Ninja's DO NOT smile, mom.

 Brooklyn's favorite thing to do! miraculously we have all the toys upstairs in the kids' rooms!!! EXCEPT the blocks...and she loves to dump them, throw them, destroy towers...you get the point!

 Last weekend we found an 1820's working farm. FUN!!!! Just so you know, these are "sparkly girl horses."

 checking out the sheep :)

 the cow... Tabitha is a little nervous... haha

 King of the HAY PILE!!!

 Oh wait! that's more than HAY!!! GROSS!!!!

 Learning about blacksmithing.

 what a dirty boy!!!!!

 This is Tabitha saying to me "mom, don't waste your pictures." She hates when I take her pictures. :(

 Svend put on "The Letter Factory" and Tabitha sat like this LITERALLY the entire 20 min!

 Our girl craft from Left to Right: Tabitha, Brooklyn, Talia.  Now to find a boy craft....

 We found a nature center today!! wAHOOO!!!

 Me and my Brooklyn AKA the terror.... Just a note about this little girl. She's 15 months old and towering over most kids 18months-2years old.  She loves to copy us with noises and knows where her "stinky nose" is.  She can copy us saying mama mama, bababababa, hhhhI, and dadada.  Pretty much it.  She pinches and bites when she's being ignored...or just feels like it.  Tabitha, Tally, and I are usually the ones on the receiving end.  Her favorite foods are cucumbers, tomatoes, hotdogs, cheese, corn and most fruits.  She screams a lot and is very loud.  She smiles whenever she bites or pinches and laughs when she is punished (stern no, squeezing her hand, even a small spanking!).  The terrible twos have begun and we are looking forward to their end!  She can be really sweet but even then it's rough.  When Tabitha is hurt Brooklyn will go over and hit her back HARD... trying to "comfort her" with a "pat." Tabitha does not appreciate this.  In fact, Tabitha says she's Bergen's sister, not hers. Sad.  Someday they'll be better friends...when Brooklyn learns to talk and Bergen and Tally are gone all day...and they have no other choice! BUWAHAHAHAHAH!!!