A full heart

As I sit and write this I realize I have been neglecting my poor little blog and keeping up on Facebook instead. On Wed my Dr. put me on modified bed rest due to my contractions picking up frequency and intensity. Basically it means I need to ask for a lot of help, doing really simple normal things. I have a week where I need help and then I will be good. Today as I headed to my "Presidency meeting" for our primary I walked drove up and wondered why there where so many cars, well lucky for everyone I just figured Gwen invited extra people. I walked in and there were a bunch of my friends all there to shower me with love and gifts. I am so grateful for the friends I have and how wonderful they have all been during this deployment. Taking my kids, phone calls to see how I was doing and all sorts of little things. But mostly I can't believe how blessed I have been with the generosity of my friends in handing down all their baby stuff. I have seriously bought almost nothing and she is fully stocked until she is at least 2! This deployment/pregnancy has really been a lesson in humility for me. I have never in my life had to ask for so much help as I have the past 6 months. It took me a long time to even feel like I sort of liked NJ and now I can say it is really starting to feel like home. When we do eventually leave this place I will be so sad to leave the wonderful, loving and caring people that have welcomed me with open arms and loving smiles for my children and me. I am just so overwhelmed with the amount of love and kindness I have been shown this past week and it makes me want to continue to be a kind and generous person, even more so than I ever have been. To all of the people who help make my life a better one, THANK YOU, truly you have no idea how much I love and appreciate you!

So much to catch up with...

But not today. I am still not quite feeling up to it. Getting there.
school starts this week so I have 5 weeks of house cleaning to catch up on and then I can update the blog. Although I will probably do it sooner. I can do it while we are Skyping Ed.

 So for now, off to make a semi-wholesome dinner(mac and cheese from a box anyone?) and to pack a backpack and lunchbox for the 1st day of all day school. She is not excited, "what about my family" she says. "When will I snuggle you?" I told her, "when you get home". I on the other hand am THRILLED!!! 8:30-4 you will be a blessed break from the one I butt heads with most of the time. I will miss waking up to clean-ish dishes.

No further delay

This summer has been really fun for us. I will update you all in another post but for now announcing:

LONEGAN BABY #3
Should be debuting at the end of March. Right now I am sort of glued to the couch trying to keep as much food down as I can. I will update soon, hopefully!

Random thoughts

Lately I have been thinking a lot about my job. I have always wanted to be a Mom. Sometimes I think that is why I never finished college. You don't actually need a degree to be one :) I love my job. I do miss the "real" world sometimes but then I think of coming home each night to rude, rowdy kids who just want to be all over me and I am so glad I get to do that all day.

This weekend has been a really great one. We spent the weekend in CT with Ed's parents. The only down side is we are all in one room. I have to sit in the room with the kids until they fall asleep so I have time to surf the net and catch up on all my blogs! Last night I was reading Megan's blog I am and I was so moved. Earlier in the blog list she had a 10 day motherhood challenge. One day was to list 5 things you love about being a mother. Here are mine:

1. Newborn baby smell( I LOVE IT, almost to an unhealthy amount)

2. The fact that I can pinch a cute bottom and not get arrested!

3. Reading for sometimes an obscenely long time to the kids.

4. The hysterical things that my children say(there are waaaay too many to list)

5. Getting reminded that I didn't get my luvins today and having 2 sweet children crawl into my lap for hugs and kisses.

There are so many other reasons but I just love being a Mom. Honestly it is my dream job. I would do it forever if I could. I have loved each stage so far( Anya is only 6.5). I can't wait for the rest, to see where it brings us and the fun and adventures we have.

The spring is almost over

The past 6 weeks have FLOWN by.............

We have been so busy, too busy.

I have come to the realization that my kids don't need lots of activities, they need time to play at home, with each other, or with friends. I need to slow down. I am hoping that summer will let us do that. Maybe I'll be more patient if I am not hurrying them everywhere?

On the agenda..........This weekend: Strawberry picking. Let the beginning of canning season begin. Yeah fresh fruit and veggis!!!


On a side note:

Have you ever tried to run numerous errands with 3 kids, nearly impossible. We miss you Papa. I miss your great chauffeur abilities, and the fact that I could run into a store without being a negligent parent.

Absolutely necessary

I have a part time job watching a friend of mine's kids about 30 hrs a week.
I have been sick of my diaper bag for a long time, but I HAVE to have outside pockets for drink cups.
I finally found the bag! Oh and yellow is my favorite color. Thanks to A ( the lady I babysit for) for her manager's discount!

Dead as in D-E-A-D

On Monday after my 4th load of laundry the antiquated dryer in this house died. I had 2 loads left and they were both sheets. I had a wet load in the dryer(never noticed it didn't start) and a wet one in the washer. I decided to make the best of it at 8:00pm and hand the clothes all over my kitchen chairs. Then I remembered that I had a drying rack in the basement. I pulled that out and dried my clothes. They were almost dry by morning. We don't want to buy a new one until we decide what we are doing with the house. For this week I have been line drying all my laundry! It was cold the beginning of the week so everything took FOREVER to dry. I realized that this might not be so bad. I had Ed hang me some lines in the basement and I am going to get one of those square clothes lines for the backyard(you know the kind outside the projects!!) I don't think I'll need a dryer while it is still semi warm out. I am seeing how long I can go without it. This has posed a problem in my schedule. Monday and Thurs used to be laundry day and now I can only do a load or two a day. I am so glad I found this. Thanks Christy!! We are trying it this week. I have stopped cloth diapering in this house, there is something wrong with the septic, so this will make up for the disposables I have to use in $ and in carbon emissions!

In response to Maureen's comment

To do list
1. Get over the flu
2. Find the camera
3. take pictures
4. Post pictures
5. Explain I have had the flu for a week while my husband was gone so that is why my house looks the way it does!

It's that time of year

I am getting ready to send out our family Christmas card. If you would like on please send me your address.
llonegan@yahoo.com

Thanks
P.S. It is a picture of the family!

Over the river and through the woods....

To Grandma's house we go!

Ok, so there are no woods, but it is a jungle out there on the Jersey Turnpike! Hopefully we'll take 87! See you soon!

Book Tag

I was tagged by Crystal but I just haven't gotten around to it until today.

My book is The Rule of Four by Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason

Here are the rules:
*Find the book closest to you with at least 123 pages.
*Turn to page 123.
*Find the fifth sentence.
*Post the next 3 sentences.
*Tag 5 people.

"It's not up there," Charlie was saying. "Hurry up!" I said."They're coming." Suddenly a voice rose from the darkness behind me.

I don't tag anyone in particular. If you want to do it then do it.

Look what I got

As some may know I am somewhat of a bargain hunter. Ok maybe a lot. So I have been wanting a freezer to get more deals on perishable items. Little did I know that the BX is the greatest place for freezer deals. 9 cu ft. Kenmore for 220.00 No tax! I am so excited. Now I may need a bigger house. We are already busting with our 25 boxes of Cheerios and fruit snacks that we are trying to get rid of. (if you are in the area and want some let me know)I love a great deal!

Bag Tag

I was bag tagged by Crystal. Here it is I have a diaper bag purse combo. It is the best diaper bag I have ever had, the Spark bag from Target. I have it is black and red. Red is my color of choice right now. You will see a wallet, brain book, toys to keep the kids busy, a pacifier, nursing pads, keys, phone and hands free kit, pens and pencils and a sharpie and that is pretty much it. Thanks for the bag tag. Here is what I cleaned out of my bag due to this. I was wondering where all the pacifiers and cheerios went

They Won

Enough said.

Go Giants

While the kids were sleeping the Giants won. We live right outside of Philly, (Eagles) you should see the dirty looks I get when Kevin wears his Giants hat. You should have heard the muffled screams from Ed when the won. The dancing around the house and the hugs and kisses. Needless to say we have a very excited Ed in our house.

I miss FL

We got our first "real" snow today it was about 1.5 inches. I hate the cold. Yes it is pretty but I would take heat over snow any day. Not Ed. He lives for this weather. I guess Anya does too. Again pics will have to go in later. Dumb computers. I was talking to my friend in Fl and she said her playgroup was cancelled today because it was too cold, insert big gasping laugh here, 60. I told her it was 30 and snowing and Anya was outside playing and I should probably put mittens on her and zip up her coat, oh yeah and a hat might be helpful. I was inside, my yard is fenced and Annie ( our dog ) was out there with her. Oh yeah did I mention I hate the cold.

We got Elfed

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9633406583

My fried Jess sent me this link to Elf yourself. You should check it out it's really cute. I strongly recommend it if you have any children under the age of 95.

Tag You're It

I have been tagged by Kayla. Six things you may or may not know about me.

1. I am married to Ed. He is 2 years older than me. We both grew up in CT. He worked 10 min. away from where I grew up. We rollerbladed at the same places and ate at the same places yet never managed to meet, Until Aug. 2000(?). My best friend Jess was getting married in a few weeks and was having a birthday party for her husband at their condo. Jess had been trying to set me up with Ed (she didn't want to marry both of them) He was Nick's best friend. I went to the party and met him. He was very quiet but had a nice smile. I didn't think anything of it, I had a boyfriend. We became friends and then my boyfriend and I broke up and we got married in 2002.
2. I only went to 1 semester of formal college. I almost got my certification in Infant/Toddler childcare but had to quit because I was too sick and pregnant. I worked at a small daycare/preschool in Cheshire, near my Mom's house and loved it. I look back on it with fond memories. Before I did that I worked at a Convalescent Center as a dietary aide and as a receptionist. I have also waitressed a few times. I have to admit I am not that good. I am a better hostess. I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up but I do love my current job.
3. I love to read. I have not read a book in a while, I am afraid to go to the library in my town, I know dumb! I will probably go next week or this weekend. I also love the beach, I miss FL!, hiking and camping, rollerblading, pilates and yoga. I love to exercise and to be fit. I am also starting to explore cooking and eating healthy and canning and starting small sewing projects. Can't say I love it yet.
4. I am pretty fluent in ASL ( American Sign Language) That is to say I can have a conversation. Anya is also starting to get that way. I wanted to learn to sign when I was about 6 or 7 so my Mom took me to the Public Library and I took out every book in the children' s section on it, it snowballed from there. I started teaching Anya when she was a baby and now she walks around the house and asks me the sign for almost everything. I love to teach her. The last phone converstation I had with my Dad before he passed I told her how I was teaching Anya her colors, he told me to keep teaching her, it was important to know. He always tried to learn, He would always ask me conversational signs and he made an effort to use them as much as he could. Mallory and Marlene can also sign. Mal may be better than me. Not sure. It is a great way to talk during church.:)
5. I am a control freak, I am just able to admit this. As of a few weeks ago I realized that I am not spontaneous at all and I need to control everything in my, and others lives. I am also a huge planner and my calendar is my brain book, if I do not write it down it won't happen.
6. I did not realize how much I enjoyed having alone time until I had my second child. So far I have had 1 alone time. I ran to the store for salsa. 15 min. YES!!! I am also a t.v. aholic. I have to DVR my shows or I will watch all day.
Hope you learned a little about me.
I tag, Marlene, Mom, Ash, Mallory, and Jess

Gratitude

Last week in church the speakers ran a little short in time. The Bishop was filling in and he said that one thing he has noticed in life is that everyone no matter what their background has one thing in common and that is strife. I have to admit that is where I phased out. I began to think what is the "strife" in my life. I thought the whole week and came up with a big fat nothing. Last night I got a huge revelation that I am so grateful for my life. At this point in my life there is nothing I would change (ok I may put all my friends in one state). I am just so thankful for everything I have. I am a very blessed person.

Some cute and funny things

My visiting teacher Alice sent me this link and after a minute I just couldn't help laughing along. Hope you enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P6UU6m3cqk

If you have not seen this you need to, it is a comedian singing a Mom's day to William Tell's 4th overature. A hilarious tribute to Motherhood.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT365huJ5i4&eurl=http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/10/23/a-brilliant-hilarious-tribute-to-motherhood.aspx

I hope you enjoy.