Happy Saint Patricks Day!

Happy St. Patricks Day from the Kraus Family!

Here are just a few pictures of the kids wearing green today. Mommy was wearing green too, but no picture. Daddy is always wearing green, its part of his uniform (even though he is in HI) So all of us were wearing green!

I had to run to this store to pick up some food for dinner and Chase wanted a toy. The whole time we were at the store he was telling me "I want that toy" "But it's st. patty's day". It was funny and very clever. He is one smart boy. He has alot of psychological tricks for a three year old. :)

Now Spring begins in three days. It's finally getting warmer outside. I just need to find some parks around here. Driving around you see none, but there has to be some. Easter is April 12th. Yay for Spring.

Happy St. Patricks Day

Miss Trouble!

Madison is quite the rebel lately.

Within the last two days, more than once every day she has;

-Opened the dishwasher and climbed into it

-Lifted up the toilet seats and goes head first into the toilet..such a water baby

-Opened the fridge, took out the mustard and squirted mustard all over the floor

-Pulls out the dining room chair, climbs onto it and then climbs on top of the dining room table

-Opens the silverwear drawer (we couldn't child proof the kitchen drawers) reaches in while standing on her tippy-toes and grabs what she can grab.

-Goes into the pantry and gets into all of the food

-She now knows how to open the doggy door on Yogi's kennel (and its a tricky lock) crawls in and puts all of the food into the water bowl

Is there anything she hasn't done???

I have had my hands completly full with her. My nickname for her is Pistol...I always say. .."You are being such a pistol" I have no idea where I got that from..but now can't stop. :)

Time-outs do not work for her and when I firmly tell her NO she smiles...the biggest smile, laughs and runs away from me!!!

Miss Trouble!

Another Snow Day

We had another snow storm on March 1st. It actually was raining for three days before the snow hit. We recieved about 4 inches of snow, maybe a bit more. It was a beautiful blanket of snow. I really love being out here on the East Coast. You actually get to see the seasons and enjoy it. Tornado season is starting. I looked at our forecast for the next week and starting monday (March 9) thru friday, we are going to have thunderstorms and rain. I went online to redcross.org and purchased a survival kit, just in case. Thank goodness we have a basement.

I still need to get a NOAA radio. I am not online all the time and the tv/news is not on all of the time, so the radio would come in handy. - The snow lasted about three days and then it was all gone. Now today almost a week later, we are in almost 80 degree weather. Its nice that it is warm now. We can actually enjoy the outdoors.

My spring cleaning is also starting this weekend. I also need to get the kids Easter baskets going.

Maddy is 18 months now. I can't believe it. I can actually put her hair in mini pigtails now, thats when she lets me touch her hair. The past couple of days she has been into Barbie. Brushing her
Barbie's hair and pushing Barbie in her baby stroller. Too cute!

Also anytime there is music on, you will see Maddy getting her groove on. She is quite the dancer! As you can see in the picture she loves crafts and drawing/coloring. Coloring! When she colors, she tends to draw on herself. She likes doing artwork on her legs.

No tattoos for Maddy though.No Kate Von D! I posted a video of Maddy dancing on her aboutmybaby page, so you will have to check it out.

Chase is doing great! His imagination is very wide and open. He talks about everything and anything. Yesterday I was watching the news and the news anchors were talking about a man that was missing, and Chase said "That mad dissapeared, daddy has to find him". Chase believes any man in uniform does what Daddy does or the other way around. Also yesterday I was going through all of my clothes, cleaning out my closet. I had tried this dress on and Chase tells me "Your a princess. I am a cowboy, Madison is a monster and the dog is a Bear". It was so funny. He is my helper though.

This morning I had slammed finger so hard in the door, because I was in a hurry that I was yelling and I said a few bad words on accident because I was in so much pain. It HURT!!! I thought my finger had fallen off. It is now purple, but Chase helped me and was then cleaning up the water I spilled on the floor. He is such a good boy.

We are now through our first week in March. My mom, sister, grandma and pops will be moving here at the end of April. Even though the kids and I will spending Easter alone, it will be nice to have family near until Andy gets home. 3.5 months until he is home. We have gotten through the last two months so the next 3.5 will go by fast especially once my family gets here.

We do have a new additon. We now are a family of five! Yogi is our new Aussie Pup. Right now he is 14 weeks old. Potty training is difficult, but when I put him outside he does go. It will take time, but my patients are running thin some days with picking up and scrubbing the carpet.

All is well over here though. Can not wait to have our last move for the next 3.5 years over with.

:)

VA Here we come

Andy got offical orders today! We leave and pack out for Norfolk, VA in mid-July. We will be there for 4 years. Andy got his dream job there, and he will not be returning to Iraq for the third time at all while we are there in VA. The lord has been answering all of our prayers and everyone elses whom have been praying for us. Andy starts work in August. So we have another 5-6 months here in N.C.
I can't believe that when we leave VA in four years that Chase will be in second grade he will be 7 years old and Maddy will be almost 6. Time will fly as it is now.

Such great news and we are thrilled. My mom and grandparents are going to watch the kids in July while Andy and I chose our new Navy House. I love the navy housing so I can not wait. We will be down-grading from our current 5 bedroom 3 full baths to 3 bedroom 2.5 bath, but its better that way. This is house is just too big for us. VA here we come this summer. Woohoo!

Not the flu

Yes my babies had/have the flu. All the times when I wished they wouldn't get sick, they got sick. It all started on the 7th. I took Chase to the ER on the 8th because his fever was almost 104. The nearest hospital south is 20 mintues and north is also 20 minutes. I chose the hospital south because there were the "H" signs with arrows posted saying which way to go. I really need to invest in a GPS. I got there and there was a line out the ER door just to check in. It was just the kids and I and both of them were crying. Well there was a lady in front of me, she gave me a dirty look and said "Well, it looks like you didn't go to church today". Yes it was sunday and Whoa!! My day was already going downhill and she has to open her mouth. I didn't say anything, I wanted her to look like the dumb one and I knew later on it would come back to her. I am a strong believer in Karma. Everyone around here goes to Church on Sundays. There are only two Catholic churches in my county and they are not very close, plus I have two kids and I am by myself and to top it off we are moving soon again. As much as I pray everyday and as much as I believe in the lord and god, church is just not an option right now. Anyway, I still can't believe she said that to me.
So Chase had the flu. It started with a fever, than vomiting but only once and then the cough and nose stuff. He is FINALLY getting better. Madison has only been vomiting, but only at night. I am thinking she is not a dairy girl, so I am putting her on Lactose Free dairy. We will see if that helps. She might just have the flu, but vomiting is her only symptom and its every night. If she is not better in another week, I will take her to the ER. I wish we had closer doctors on our insurance. Thats another reason to why I am glad Andy is staying in the Navy, we will finally be on post again and everything is right there.

Which brings me to, we are going to Virginia? Thats what is planned for right now. Andy's Masters Chiefs are sending us there. There was also a billet for Greece, Mississippi, San Diego and Port Hueneme. If something does happen in the next few weeks, to where VA is out, than we are going to Mississippi. Andy has 12 more years to retirement, so we will be moving at least another 4 times. Another 4 states to go to or even other countries like Greece. Greece is just oo far right now, and our kids are so young. We will go there later. :)

Today is friday the 13th, and I had my strike of bad luck today.
Madison was asleep, Chase and I went to get the mail. I saw that it was windy and that my front door was barely open, so I rushed over and BAM. It slams shut, with the door locked along with every other window and door in the house and my Maddy was in there. I didn't panic, because when I panic my brain shuts down. So Chase and I laughed and we went too the neighbors house. Thank goodness they were home and very nice. I asked the lady there for a credit card or a gift card, some kind of card. She gave me her DL and with the trick Andy had taught me before he left, I unlocked the bottom lock. If the dead-bolt had been locked, I would have had to call a locksmith. So thank you to my neighbors. I am staying in-doors the rest of the day now. HaHa.

Chase was born on Friday the 13th and I had goodluck that day. Everyone be careful.


That is our mini-but long update for now. I can't believe March is already around the corner.

The Loves Of My Life

An Award for my SAILOR....

More of a Seabee than a sailor.....Andy is now Sailor of the Quarter. He recieved the award and I couldn't be any happier for him. Andy really deserved this award, so I am glad he has gotten it. He has won and recieved so many medals, I think there is about 15 right now and many plaques and paper awards. We already have several on our walls, there are more to put up, but I am waiting until Andy is back so he can help me make his Navy Wall.

Now that Andy is SOQ he will now be nominated for Sailor of the year. WOOHOOO!

I have been helping Andy out by filling out applications for him online for jobs that he wants. I put in 2 yesterday and 3 more today. He is really wanting the job as a Construction Worker that helps make decisons for construction work along with helping. He meets all of the requirements plus more and he would be making at the minimum of $25 an hour and the max at $30 hour, full time job. Plus medical and dental. Quartly bonuses. Advancement opportunities, paid vacation and holidays.

There are a few others, but this job pays the most and that would mean we would be able to keep our new home and to possibly buy it.

I would go back to work, but daycare is very expensive and my job would even be paying for it, so there really is no point. Andy says he will be the money maker. :)

On top of Andy and his great success with the Navy, the master cheifs have been giving him crapt about his decison to quit the Navy when his contract is up in July. So Andy's mind is very "iffy" right now. That scares me, but I kow he will make the right decison. I told Andy since I moved us here to N.C and we had plan, and that plan will be cancelled due to you staying in, then you are planning the next trip and having movers pack up EVERYTHING. He said okay. :)
I love our new home and Andy does as well, but the Navy has 100% stability in everything. From a home to medical to food on your table. He would be returning to Iraq next year, if he does stay in, so we are hoping he gets the job he wants with all of these applications running through.

Pray for us and please keep your fingers crossed.

All is well otherwise and Chase is looking like Andy more more everyday. Maddy is quite the dancer now too.

SNOW at the Kraus House!!!

SNOW!! We finally got snow. It was in the forecast for last night and today. Last night before I went to bed I had decided to check one more time to see if there was snow. There was and it was coming down pretty good. It felt like I was in a dream. I woke up Chase and we both went outside to catch the falling snow. The fresh fallen snow felt like powder, so soft and beautiful. I put Chase back to bed and tried to stay up. I could have watch the snow fall for hours, but I got sleepy.

When we all woke up this morning, there was even more snow. It was everywhere. The kids couldn't wait to go out, and I couldn't either. We ate breakfast and got all bundled up. The kids were outside for about 30 minutes and then it just got too cold to even be outside. Chase had fun making snowballs and throwing them at me. Maddy is such a hawaiian baby, that she didn't want her gloves on, so with her playing in the snow bare-handed, her hands started to freeze and she started to cry. But everytime I put her gloves back on, she would take them off. :)

Here are some pictures and a few videos.

This picture is of our backyard.

Link to pictures of the house

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ViewSlideshow.action?&collidparam=75800855915.73992855915.1232402203951

Will there be snow???

I wrote a recent update on Chase's aboutmybaby page, but here is a little recap of the past few weeks.

We left CA on Dec. 29. We went through CA, Arizona (Flagstaff had a ton of snow), New Mexico all in our first day. We slept in Albuquerque that night. Then we went through the rest of New Mexico, Texas and arrived in Arkansas were we slept our second night. We had to cut that day short because Maddy got sick. Our next day we finished Arkansas, Oklahoma and spent our New Years Eve night in Nashville TN. We had a good time seeing Nashville and ate at a nice Sushi resturant with kids for dinner. On New Years day we finished TN and Welcomed ourselves to our new home state of N.C. We arrived at our new home, met out landlords and we just love it here.
Our Home is gorgeous and same with our half acre and yard. Andy loves that he has 3 garages to pick from and mess around with. The kids love their rooms. We love everything. It all worked out great, thanks to me. I planned the trip, saved the money, got us the house and arranged it all. I have to say I did a darn good job.

Andy went back to Hawaii 5 days ago. Everything is unpacked and where it all needs to be. Andy and I both took our drivers's license tests and got our N.C drivers licenses along with N.C license plates for the Van and registration. The saturn will get done once Andy gets here. I felt a huge block of relief lifted off of my shoulders once all of that got done. Andys contract ends for the Navy/Military on July 09. He leaves 30 days before that though. Andy will be shipping the saturn at the end of May, meeting the car in CA and driving all over again by himself from CA to N.C. Its way cheaper that way, so thats the way we are doing it. Andy should be home for good around the middle of June. Just before our 4 year anniversary.

My mom, sister and grandma and pops will be arriving here on my birthday (I will be 23). May 3rd. So I will have family to spend that with. Easter the kids and I will be alone. Since I can't buy the kids easter baskets at the store (they will want them right then and there) I am going to have to order them online. :)

I joined another mommies group out here in our county, just like honolulumommies.com.

I don't think I will be going to any activites or meetings until summer or late spring. I know my way around town to get to where I need to go, all of the important places, so thats not it. The doctors on the insurance that we have are pretty far. The nearest doctor for me is 30 miles and for the kids its 39 miles. The insurance told me if the kids get sick I can just take them to the ER. The hospital is 10 miles away, so thats alot better. Madison's next check-up isn't until March for 18months which is good. So by the time Andy gets here and we are on our new insurance for the Navy Reserves madison will have her 18 month check-up. March to June is 3 months, but she will be fine. I dont think she even needs anymore shots until her 2 year check up because she just had her last shots at 15 months and they either do those shots then or at 18 months. Chase will be about 6 months late on his 3 year shots. They just checked his blood at his 3 year check up in late december and he was fine. Even when your child gets the common cold or flu, the doctor can't give any meds for it anyways, because its a virus. If the kids are sick for more than 2 weeks, running a high fever or just down right sick sick, I will take them to the ER. But that is why no playdates until summer until we are on our new insurance, because the kids have a higher chance of catching viruses when they are around other children. Madison and Chase have great company in each other anyways. They get along great.

I miss Andy terribly, but he will be home soon. We have done 2 other deployments before. Chase has been helping me out alot. Watching Maddy while I take a shower, helping take out the garbage pails and recycling on the days that stuff has to go out, helping me clean and wash dishes. He is such s good big boy.

I will put up pictures soon i promise. I have been super busy, and haven't had time to make sure every room is sparkling to take the pictures. Give me awhile.

We have been in this house 3 weeks now, and we all love it. It is so peaceful. You never hear traffic or cars, loudness. It is so quiet. We live very close to the river/lake. They allow boats and fishing. About a half of a mile if walking. It's beautiful. We are surrounded my woods...deep in the woods people go hunting. I have never been around that before but thats how it is out here.

It is has been very cold the last few days. Our lowest was 7 degrees. They say its going to snow tonight and tomorrow so today I made my last trip out for about another week or so. I hope it snows and if it does I will post some pictures of the snow.

We love and miss you all. Happy new year!!!