New Year's Eve 2008

So the end of 2008 has come and I'm sitting here in my office (craft room, really, but we call it "mommy's office"), getting ready to put the older kids down for the night and trying to decide if I'm going to spend the rest of what use to be fun-party-night-but-now-I-can't-keep-my-eyes-open-past-10:30-night trying to refinsh the hutch, or cleaning out my office. Wow...we have really turned into parents of young kids, huh?

Anyway, New Year's always seem to be the time for resolutions...change...starting fresh...a clean slate. Last year I vowed to set weekly resolutions, change 1 thing (big or small) every week, that way it didn't seem to overwhelming all at once. It worked really well until about April, when we caught a really bad cold and that took me down. (I type this as after two weeks I'm still recovering from what seems to be the worst cold of my entire life.) I think I might try this method again. Not that I need a new year to make changes, but it seems like a good time...plus...its tomorrow. =)

So...this year I'm going to take a little more time out for me. Like reading. I really use to enjoy reading, now I can't keep my eyes open long enough to get through a paragrah, or the guilt that there is a load of laundry begging me to fold it gets to me and I can't enjoy the book. I'm also going to set aside scrapbooking time. A hobby that I love to do (daydream about, really) but haven't done one bit since we moved 17 months ago...way too long to go without. And who knows, maybe I'll even take a few moments once in awhile to paint my fingernails. But mostly, I'm vowing to make the most of everyday. Enjoy my kids...my husband...my family...my friends...my wonderful life.

Happy New Year's to you all!!!

December pictures

Snow Day

Yes, we had a sprinkling of snow, an inch or two maybe, and the schools are all cancelled. As I did not go out today, I cannot attest to the road situation (yes, I'm aware there are more things that go into cancelling school then a few roads), but Joe said they were fine. See, we come from Alaska (Joe does anyway, I just lived there for 5 years), so this light dusting kind of makes us laugh that school was out. Didn't matter anyway, since Ellery is sick and Goggy (Joe's dad) just got here last night so the kids were happy campers playing with Grampa and I had a babysitter!!!

How did we find out that school was closed you might ask? Well, WCS has an emergency alert system. They ran a test a week or so ago, otherwise I would have been a bit urked. You see, our home phone rang at about 6:23 this morning. "Who in the world is called this early," were the words coming out of Joe's mouth...right about the time my cell phone rang, then his cell phone...you get the picture. Luckily I knew that the world was not falling apart, but it was just a little snow. (Neat system in the event of a real emergency!) In addition to all our phones ringing at the crack of dawn, I got a text and an email, as did Joe. We're covered....and awake.

New carpet???

So I'm tidying up a bit today, mostly in my office. It seems that with my sisters wedding invitations, guestbook and thank you cards, our massive trip, and the holidays, I've been a bit neglectful of my office. This is supposed to be a creative space for me (oh, and a place where I can do some accounting occasionally...hence office), but lately its been, well...a place for all things without a home. Paperwork, toys that need glued/taped, magazines, scrap paper, kids drawings from school, the umpteenth project I've started...you get the idea. Anyway, today I lifted pretty much everything off the floor and put it on every inch of available desk surface (except for that one box I've been meaning to get to since we moved...yes, its still in the original spot the movers put it in the day we got here, yes I know we've been here almost 16 months...) So, since I can now see the floor, I decided to vacuum. Nothing is going back down on the floor. I must take care of it all and put it where it belongs. It might take a month to clear off my desk, but I will do it.

My point...well, after I had vacuumed, Ellery walked in and said, "Mom...where did you get all this carpet?"

Note to self: keep floor clear...less to trip on.

November Pictures

Good Girl

This morning, Ellery and my dad (Poppy) were upstairs with my parents dog (Coby). My dad was petting Coby and saying the usual "you're a good dog" while talking to him. Ellery was sitting with him and he turned to her and said, "and you're a good girl, too." Well, Ellery thought about that for a minute and said, "No, I'm not a good girl." Poppy asked her why not? Ellery answered, "because I don't always listen to my Mommy."

Our ostrich

Grady is an ostrich. His motto..."if I can't see you, you're not there." It's actually kind of embarrassing sometimes. Like when we're at the store and some wonderfully nice Grandpa looks at him smiling and says something about what a handsome young man he is; Grady just turns his head away and looks the other direction. Or I'm at the post office and nice lady says what a cutie-pie; Grady's cue to look away. "If I can't see you, you're not there." Well, we're up here in Alaska right now, Joe's whole family is here at his dad's house, just hanging out and having fun. We've been here for a couple of days and Grady's been doing the head turn a lot. (New people...to him anyway.) Joe's brother Jim (currently referred to as "Silly-uncle-Jimmy), cousin Chris, Pat and I were all chatting about how Grady does the ignoring head turn thing. Well, aunt Karen came up to Grady (who was in his highchair eating) and said good morning, and what do you know...head turn, pause, peek to see if she's still there, head turn, wait, peek, head turn. Big time ignore! The thing is...he doesn't make a big deal about it, just turns away. Doesn't say anything, doesn't cry, just the head turn. My Ostrich.

This is what I did yesterday in my "free" time...

I made this shirt for Molly. Love it!!! Well, I didn't knit the shirt, that came out of her drawer...I just added the flower to it. I bought the polka dot fabric for a onsie that I sold on etsy and I thought...ooohhh, sunflower. Perfect. The yellow fabric were some scraps that I had in my scrap bin. (See...packrat...comes in handy!)

You see, now that Molly is in kindergarten, I realized that keeping her clothes free of rips/stains/tears/holes/paint is nearly impossible! She is going through the knees of her tights, ripping and staining shirts, and tearing holes in the knees of her pants. I decided that I'm tired of buying nice clothes for her to ruin. Instead I'm sending her to school in jeans pants and t-shirts. But plain won't do, so I'm going to add a little something to the plain shirts you can get from Target. They come in lots of colors, so I'll have a lot to pick and choose.

Anyhoo...because I need more to do, I'm thinking about selling these as well, along with other shapes that I've collected...holiday stuff like Christmas trees and ornaments, 4 leaf clovers, pumpkin and candy corn (a bit late for that!) and your everyday things like butterflies, flowers, and birds. Now I just need to work on some boy stuff! =)

October Pictures

Molly lost her 2nd tooth today

Really...it just fell out. We've been trying to get her to let Joe pull it out (I have no desire to remove teeth), but she won't let him near her mouth. Anyway...2nd tooth gone.

I'm a pack rat

Admittedly, I'm a keeper...hoarder, really. I can't help it. I'm a "just in case" kinda gal. Ask my friends...if they need something, anything...kitchen utensil, craft supply, laundry item, miscellaneous gadget...I've got it! You never know when the "in case" is going to happen, right? Well, it did happen just the other day and guess what? Apparently my husband had caught me in a weak moment a while back...must have had something to do with sleep deprivation, a newborn, and moving...and I purged. I purged the extra coffee maker that I've been keeping around in case we loose our minds, throw a dinner party and I need to make both caf and decaf coffee at the same time. You know, a whole cubic foot of space in the attic that was gained by my purging that coffee pot, but it was well worth it, right Joe? So...what happened? The other morning as I was getting ready to make coffee? The carafe broke all over the kitchen. Well, I am not only a pack rat, but I'm also pretty creative and pretty handy. This little diddy is what I came up with to solve my caffeine addiction. It took a little longer than normal, but I was able to get my fix and avoid the withdrawal headache! =) My new machine arrive yesterday, so I had a real cup of brewed coffee this morning. Thanks Gevalia!!

Sleepwalking

Well, we've discovered that we have a sleepwalker. For me, this makes it a littler easier to forgive the child who ends up in our bed every single night. We know that she talks in her sleep, and occasionally has night terrors, but we were unaware of the sleep walking. We found Ellery sleeping at the foot of the stairs to the playroom the other night. We were alerted that she wasn't in bed, because we heard some coughing...which sounded more like choking....so Joe ran up and found her face down, sleeping on the floor. I heard him chuckling and had to find out what was so funny. When he woke her, she climbed up the steps and stumbled slowly into the playroom, looking dazed. She had turned around by the time I got up there and I could tell that she was still asleep. This also explains why Ellery navigates through the house every night without the lights on, while Molly has to turn on every light on her way when she joins us in bed.

Singing

The girls LOVE to sing. They sing in the car, they sing at the table, they sing in the playroom, outside, everywhere. That's why I was so surprised that when I asked if they wanted to join the kids choir at the church, they both said no. When they saw their friends doing it though, they jumped right in! Anyway...we were in the car the other day and Ellery was trying to sing a song. Molly kept singing a different song. Finally Ellery had had enough. She turned to Molly and yelled at the top of her lungs, "Stop it Molly...you're making my song go away!!!"

All Boy

In the same way the girls tend to gravitate towards the dolls and dress up clothes, Grady goes for the cars and balls. We have this car wash bath toy set. I was amazed the other night, when Grady (at 15 months) grabs the car, starts driving it on the side of the bathtub (wheels down) making car noises. Where did he learn that? Last night we were outside raking dirt (yes, another home improvement project) and Grady was having a blast running around digging, collecting dirt balls, and even tasting one...but only one. =) I know pretty soon, I'll have all the "Thomas" characters memorized and have a collection of hot wheels to counter the girls "My Little Pony" bin.

Busy, busy, busy

Ok...so I know its been over a month since my last post...I cannot believe that its been that long...but it has. I guess things have been a bit busy here. I've been working on my sister's wedding invitations, which I will post a pic of. I've been organizing the MOPS crafts, which I will post pictures of. I've been landscaping the front yard and planting the back now that the pool is almost complete. I've been being a mom and wife (which includes nurse, taxi, cook, maid, etc...). I guess we've just been....well...busy. So...don't give up on me. I promise, I will get better.

Grady's fist haircut

I finally did it. I had all his cute little curls cut off. It was getting to the point where people were asking me how out "she" was...even though he was obviously dressed in boys clothes. So, I took him in to this cute little kids haircutting place (Kidooz) and watching him scream through the entire thing. Even though Elmo (or something like that) was playing on the TV in front of him, I ended up holding him the last half of the cut. Now he looks like a little boy...no more baby. What is it with mom's delaying their baby's first hair cut??? I did it with Molly (even though she very obviously need a cut after she rubbed off half her hair in random places), Ellery has yet to have a haircut, and now poor Grady had to have long locks before I'd take him in!?!?

September Pictures

Homecoming Princess....already???

Molly was chosen to be the Homecoming Princess at WCS's game and parade. She got to ride in the back of a convertible around the football field before the game with one of the candidates for queen and carry the queens flowers. Too sweet! I think her favorite part was wearing this sparkly pink dress. She did not want to take it off!

He finally said Mama

He's 13 months and FINALLY said Mama. Of course food came first...I understand its importance and was trying to not get my feelings hurt, but he finally said it!!

Grady said "cracker"

Well...it applies to all food actually....and sounds more like "ka-ka," but at least he's saying something. He gave us a little teaser a few months ago, but has since reverted to caveman like noises...grunts and crys...but, it works and he gets what he's asking for, so why fix something that isn't broken?

Crickets

You know the 'Eric Carle' book, "The Very Quiet Cricket?" I use to think that was the neatest little book. The girls love it, especially the part at the end, you know the part where you turn the page and cricket chirps? (Oh, did I ruin the ending! Oops, sorry!) Well, now...not so cute. See, we live in an area of the country where crickets are abundant. I seem to have one that lives right outside my bedroom window and despite the noise machine that churns out a white noise throughout the night and the baby monitor through which I can hear Grady's noise machine, I can still hear the cricket. He is a loud cricket. He chirps all night long. Every night. When I woke up at 2:30 this morning because of two little girls in my bed, I tried to go back to sleep after I returned the cherubs to their room, but no...that darn cricket. Chirp, chirp, chirp. So, I got up. And stayed up. If anyone sees me today, please do not comment on the circles that seems to be darkening under my eyes. You see, I have a cricket problem. It's been going on for a week now. I am so looking forward to the Orkin man's visit this week, because soon, I will be sleeping peacefully through the night. Now I just have to figure out how to change my husbands blackberry alarm from the cricket chirp to something a bit less irritation like a fog horn.

Molly gets glasses

Is she too cute or what? I love them on her. I was really surprised at how much of a non-issue this was for her. (It was probably more of an issue for me, who knows nothing about glasses or contacts, than for her.) I think she really likes them and has, so far, taken really good care of them. It's my understand that they might not be permanent. Apparently she has lazy eye, which kills me because one of my best friends is a pediatric optometrist (did I get it right Amy?) and I should know better. So to all my loyal readers...all 5 of you? take your kids in to get their eyes check by an actual eye doctor, not just the pediatrician. The earlier you diagnose the easier it is to "retrain" the eyes. We're hoping to strengthen her eye so that she won't have to wear them anymore. For now, all her drawings of our family include glasses for daddy and Molly, and mommy needs to figure out how to take pictures that won't "glare" off the lenses. (Any tips, Betsy?)

Creative Activities Coordinator for MOPS

I know...shocker...me taking on more stuff to do. But hey...this is a way I can guilt free do crafts and its for a wonderful cause, MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers). I love this group. Actually, its how we found our church and our preschool. When I found out we were moving to Bartlesville, one of the first things I did was looks up on the MOPS website to see if they had a local group here...and they did! YAY for me. Anyway, back to my post...I have joined the steering team as the Creative Activities Coordinator for this year. A bit more challenging that I thought. Come up with two crafts a month that you can do in a short period of time for 50 women without spending a lot of money. After brainstorming a bit and narrowing down my list of crafts, I come to my biggest stumbling block...small town USA. Not a lot of options here, so I'm spending a lot of time online researching and pricing. Oh well...I do that with everything! =) We have our first meeting in a week and I'm really looking forward to it. I've spent the last few days cutting paper and sorting to prepare for the first day. I'm sure I'll be posting the outcomes of the crafts and hopefully some pictures...of the ones that turn out. If you just happen to be in the area and want hang out with a bunch of fun moms, have you kiddos lovingly cared for in MOPPETS while you eat a yummy breakfast, listen to a speaker, enjoy time with friends, and be a little crafty...we'd love to have you. Our first meeting is Sept. 8. First Baptist Church of Bartlesville 405 SE Cherokee Ave Bartlesville, OK 74003 (918) 336-6172.

Tag Pocket Card

Fun! I was finally able to squeeze a few minutes here and there (quite literally) to do a quick little project that I promised the MOPS Steering team I'd do. (Sorry they're a bit late, ladies!) Once I figured out the dimensions, colors and embellies...super easy to make. I'll post a quick tutorial later...after the kiddos are asleep and I have some quiet time! Meanwhile...enjoy!

How to make a Tag Pocket Card

Materials needed:
1 sheet of 12x12 cardstock for pocket (I used textured cardstock), 1 sheet of white cardstock for tag, Scrapbook paper scraps, Punch, Button, 6” ribbon scrap, Scissors, Adhesive, Standard invitaiton size envelope

Optional materials:
Sewing machine and thread, Stamp and ink for sentiment on tag


Directions:

1. Cut 1" strip off of the top of the 12x12.
2. Cut your now 11x12 colored cardstock into a 4” strips. I used my Zutter DreamKuts and made three at once. Now you have 3 11x4 pieces.
3. Score and fold lengthwise at 5 1/2 inches, to create the 4”x 5 1/2” card. I used a Scor-Pal, but you can use any kind of scorer or bone folder
4. Score and fold down approximately 1 ¼” for the front pocket flap
5. I used my sewing machine to stitch down the edges and around the bottom, but you could use adhesive, brads or eyelets
6. Cut inside tag out of plain cardstock to measure 3” x 5”
7. Trim top corners on a 45 degree angle and punch a hole for the “tag” look
8. Thread ribbon through punched hole and tie

At this point you can embellish the front of the pocket in any way you’d like. You can punch any kind of shape out of scrap paper and adhere to the front. You could print and mat a sentiment. The options are endless. I chose some punches. The flower punch was made from 2 large daisy punches layered together. I added a button to the front and slightly bend up the petals of the daisy. On the other card, I layered a punched circle with a punched scalloped circle, and then matted a button with another punched circle.

Finally, write or stamp any sentiment on the tag, insert into pocket, add your envelope!

Here is a picture of how the petals on flower actually stick up off the page!

I've never really written a tutorial before, so if I've totally missed a step, or they are hard to understand....please let me know! =)

Where oh where could my diaper be?

The kids were happily playing in the play room, so I took the opportunity to run down to the kitchen to start dinner. A few minutes later, I hear Grady start to cry. Ok, so he realized I was gone. It wasn't the cry that something had happened, but the I-want-mama-cry, so I didn't rush back up. I finish what I was doing and headed back up the stairs only to be greeted by a naked little boy. (I love that he knew something was wrong and was trying to get my attention, I only wish he'd start talking because that would be much easier on the ears.) Ok...so, where's the diaper??? He just recently figured out how to get the tabs undone, but that usually on the changing table after I put a new diaper on. Well, I grabbed him and headed for his room, so we could get his uncontrolled fire hose covered up before we had an accident. Then I went on the hunt for the diaper. Not in his room, not in the bathroom, not in the girls room. There are only so many places a 1 yo kiddo can hide a diaper. Not in the playroom, not in the baskets in the playroom, not in the hallway. Did he throw it threw the banister rails into the foyer (one of his latest games)? No, not there. In my office, no the baby gate is up. Ok..girls??? Where is Grady's diaper, better yet...when you saw him walking around naked, why didn't you say something. "I don't know mama." Let me make one sweep back through the upstairs. No where to be found! Walking back down the hallway in front of my office door, what's that? Something wet under my bare foot? Look down, yup...drip, drip, drop, ewe, yuk! Grab towel, wipe foot, clean carpet, clean baby gate, pull gate down to get the other side...oh...there's the diaper. Dropped over the gate in the corner of my office. That'll teach me to keep him out.

August pictures

Puke city

Ok, so maybe the title is a bit much, but if that's the case...stop reading right now. We had a rough week here at our house. Grady's cake incident...well, that was just the beginning. First Grady on Friday and Saturday, then Molly on Sunday, then Ellery Monday morning...puke, puke puke. I thought...hmm...I made it through...I feel...ok...no...wait a minute...not so ok...oh great...here goes...yup. I got it. I got the bug too. I got it BAD. After my third call to Joe begging him to come home from work because I was no longer able to take care of the kids (which is an absolutely horrible feeling) I realized I was REALLY sick. I couldn't even nurse my sick kiddos back to health. Heck, I couldn't even feed them....not that they were really hungry...but still. Thankfully Joe came home from work and took all three kids. I slept, and slept, and slept. I slept so long my body hurt. Not the good kind of deep sleep, but the kind that you wake up, roll over, go back to sleep for another hour or two, wake up, roll over, go back to sleep. I was down for about 14 hours. Two good things came of this little bug. One: I lost 6 pounds and two: I finally kicked my diet Pepsi addiction!

End note: Joe did get it a few days later. He quickly apologized for not coming home after the first call. =)

Not the favorite mommy anymore

Yesterday, Ellery says to me (amidst a conversation about dinner), "You're not my favorite mommy anymore." "Oh really," I replied, "why is that?" She answers, "because you make us eat yucky food." So be it cuz your not getting mac-n-cheese for dinner every night, kiddo!

This is what happens when Molly goes to school

Off and on throughout the day, Ellery will disappear. We will be finishing up lunch, or putting away laundry, or playing and she'll disappear. I came down the hall and heard her having this grand conversation with someone. I was curious, so peaked around the corner into the playroom. This is what I found. She has all of Molly's current favorite toys (My Little Pony's) lined up with the little pony house and they were play-acting out something. Too cute! What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Molly will never know that we do little else but wait for her return and no, I have no idea how that toy broke!

Grady's Birthday

We finally had a little something for him...a month late. Well, we had cake for him. Our neighbors came over and the kids all swam in the pool, then we had snacks and cake. Grady had no idea what was going on, his main concern was to get ALL of the frosting off of his highchair tray and into his mouth. We had to put him in the shower afterwards and hose him down. There was just no other way to clean it all up!

End note: At 2:45 in the morning, I heard through the monitor "wimper, wimper, cough, cough".....silence. I bolted out of bed (because I knew it wasn't good) and ran upstairs to Grady's room. I opened the door to smell....cake. It was EVERYWHERE. All over Grady, his jammies, the sheets, his blanket, the crib...everywhere. Too much sugar, I guess!?! His little belly couldn't take it.

Ellery's first day of Preschool

My #2 has started preschool this year. She did the mom's day out program last year, which we called preschool, because she sooo wants to do everything Molly does. So, heading off to preschool wasn't much of a change for her. The only difference is that she's there twice a week. She really wanted to wear Molly's school shirt from last year, which is WAY too big...it actually fits better as a dress. The picture isn't the greatest but she's in the I-can't-remember-how-to-smile-for-a-picture phase. She kept squinting her eyes and bunching up her nose and asking, "is this how, mama?" I gave up and this is the best of the bunch!

Kindergarten update

Ok, so reading yesterday's post, I would have thought I'd be in near tears today. Well, pretty much a non-event. Ellery and I walked Molly into her classroom, she sat down at her table and began to color. I barley even got a kiss goodbye. Ellery and I spent some time together running errands, while Goggy (Grandpa Pat) stayed home with Grady. Luckily, to me, this seemed like any other preschool day, so no tears. When we got home, Ellery ran straight upstairs and I didn't see her for an hour. Turns out she had so much fun playing with all of Molly's toys, she even forgot about the pool. And...I found out that its NOT Molly who makes all the messes around here, but sweet little Ellery.
When I picked Miss Molly up after school, I was so anxious to hear about her day. Her response to my asking, "Mom, I really don't want to talk about this with you right now." Wait...did I say she was in Kindergarten? Hnhh...sounds more like high school to me....

Kindergarten

So tomorrow is the first day of school for Miss Molly...*sigh* My first baby is going off to Kindergarten. Here in OK, its an all day event. No breaking them (or us) in with half days. I'm still not sure how I feel about this, but will let you know tomorrow after I get home from dropping her off and drying my eyes. We had her open house last night and she had a lot of fun checking things out. Luckily her best friend from preschool will be going with her, so I have a feeling she'll hit the ground running. As I'm emotionally getting ready for this momentous occasion, I'm reminded of what my mom told me about my first day of school. She drove up to the school expecting a big deal, and I jumped out of the car and ran to the front door with barely a glance backwards. I'm not sure I'm ready to let go like that. I've had her here with me at my heels every second for the last 5 years. Will it be sad that my baby is growing up? Will it be freeing to have a little more time? (Well, with 2 other little ones here, I won't have much time...probably less because Ellery is losing her playmate! =) So...check back tomorrow. I'll let you know how we did...

Can you believe it????

After 5 LONG months....we are finally filling the pool with water. And its pouring rain outside. Hopefully tomorrow, I'll be posting pictures of the girls playing happily in the new pool.

End note: I wrote this the day we were filling the pool with water, which was 5 months after the digging began. It is now 10 months after the digging began...its still not finished.

Font junkie

I admit it. I'm a font junkie. I LOVE fonts. All types. I have stumbled upon (somehow during one of my late night web surfing sessions) a great site for scrapbooking fonts (scrap-n-fonts). Well, right now, all their fonts, doodlebats, and other digital stuff is on sale for ONLY $1 per font! Woo-hoo! (Mom...do not click on the link unless you want to spend some money!) =)

What happens at our house after the kids go to bed

No...its not THAT kind of post. Apparantly we have a lot of fun around here after the kids go to bed...or at least that's what Molly thinks. For the last few nights, she's been telling me that she wants to stay up with us until we go to bed. Here's the shortened version of our nightly conversation:

Molly: Mommy, I want to stay up with you.
Me: Sweet pea, it's time for you to go to bed.
Molly: But can I stay up like you?
Me: Honey, believe me, you don't want to.
Molly: Why not?
Me: Well, because after you go to bed, Mommy goes around the house cleaning and picking up. No fun huh?
Molly: But I will help you.
Me: It's really not that fun to clean, fold laundry, and do the dishes.
Molly: But I want to help.
Me: Oh really...let's start in the play room.

Usually this is enought to send her running to bed. Not tonight. Nope...no sleeping for her. She's going to help clean. Ok. Ellery...you want to stay up and clean to, I ask??? Sure! So we all went into the playroom to clean. Ellery lasted about 10 minutes before she announced she was tired and going to bed. Molly...well, its 10:30 now, 2 1/2 hours past her bedtime, and she is still in the playroom cleaning. Sorting all the cards actually. And telling Goggy (Grandpa Pat) what to pick up. How long will I let her clean, you ask? Well, after the playroom is clean, we have some laundry to do, then some paperwork in my office...Hhmmm...tomorrow night maybe we should start on the bathrooms?

July Pictures

On the road again

Through my church and MOPS group, I have met a wonderful group of gals. A few of them are extra special to me because they drag my butt out of bed at 5:30 in the morning, three days a week to go running. Something I dearly miss. Thank you Denise, Michelle, and Betsy...and my new friends Stacey, Tracy, and Michelle...I look forward to many early mornings and a few less pounds!!!

What have we done???

I walk outside on a daily basis to survey they yard. Why? Why would we go and tear up a perfectly nice lawn??? It's all supposed to be over in about 10 days. What? Only 3 months behind schedule? Did I mention that its almost 100 degrees outside? And we are stuck staring at the mess that we've actually PAID someone to make!!! Kinda makes your head spin. Oh well. I'm hoping that I'll be writing again in 10 days to post pictures of our beautiful pool, patio and usable backyard.

Ellery's cheeseburger

I really try not to eat fast food, but there are those nights when you just have too much going on and that's all you can do. Last night was one of them. We were heading out to run a few errands, pick up Joe from work and get to church for my MOPS Steering meeting. On the way, we hit the golden arches for some grease, I mean food. Ellery wanted a cheeseburger happy meal (with the apples...so there was something healthy!) so that's what I got her. After our first stop, she asks me, "Mommy, where is my sandwich?" Huh, I think? What? How exactly do you loose a cheeseburger when you are strapped into your car seat? (Another thing I said would no longer happen...food in my car.) Anyway, we stop at Daddy's work to drop off his dinner and I climb into the back of the Odyssey to hunt for the sandwich. Not in the backseat. Not in her chair. Not in the cup holder. Not under the seat. Not in the trunk. (We're running out of places here.) We have to head to my meeting, so no more burger hunt. As we're pulling into the church, Ellery says, "Oh...mommy...its in my belly. I already ate it." Problem solved.

Shots and Kindergarten

As we're beginning the school enrollment (at the moment I've decided against home schooling...or against ME home schooling) we've received a notice that Miss Molly is missing a shot. Not sure how, but could it have been the three moves and three changes in pediatricians since she's been born??? Anyway, I just told her that we need to take her in to get a shot so she can go to Kindergarten. She says, "that's OK mom, I won't go to school." Just like that. She'll stay home with me, no going to school. Well....OK then...

Another "I can do that" creation

This was a joint effort with my Uncle Rick. (See earlier postings about wall words.) This sign has been in my head (a few different versions) for a couple of years now. The original version was painted, but after hand painting the sign in Grady's room (another picture I should post) I decided that there had to be another way. And there is...my Uncle Rick. You see, he owns a business that cuts all the vinyl lettering for signs and cars and misc other stuff. Now, thanks to me and my bright (read: time consuming) ideas...he can do home decor as well! Ok, so the sign...another one of my "I can do that" thoughts. So easy, right? Joe cuts the board, I prime and paint it, then wait, then weather it, blah, blah, blah, trim, paint, blah...how many days later??? Good old Uncle Rick cut the lettering for me, so all I had to do was rub it on. I LOVE IT!!! Thanks Uncle Rick! I'll send pics of the other ones....when I get them done! Oh...and if anyone is oh-so-impressed by my handy work and would like to order words...just let me know and I'd be happy to help!

End note: The side says Laundry, or the Laundry, or wash room, or something like that in French. Anyone???

I am in love....

...with my latest creation that is! I have a few friends that have just had or are about to have babies and I cannot give a gift without a little homemade touch...that's just me. Plus, what baby doesn't need a personalized onsie??? Anyway, just had to share!

I finally finished it!

This is supposed to be a dress, or at least that was the plan. I was knitting the girls the same dresses but in different colors. They would start out as dresses, and as the girls grew, we could use them at tops. So...does that tell you how long this took? By the time I finished it, Ellery can only wear hers as a top. (That's ok...I never did find the argyle tights that I wanted to go with this.) Molly's has been done for some time now, but Ellery's I just completed. I think I started this project when I was pregnant with Grady. His first birthday is in a week. Does that tell you how long these took!?!? Another thing about me...I LOVE to start projects. I love the idea of doing project. Craft, sewing, painting, building...any kind of projects. Its the finishing part that's hard. So, one of my goals...finish all the projects I have started. One down...32 to go...

Just a little something funny

My DH works so hard and is a bit stressed. Well, this became very evident yesterday when he opened up his email to find an email from none other than....himself! =) You see people talking to themselves...now the latest is emailing themselves! Honey...you need a break...or at least a break from that Blackberry!!!

Ellery's descriptions of things

Ellery has the most wonderfully perfect descriptions for things. Like when she's trying to explain to us about how the bottom of her foot "itches" after she been sitting on it. You know, how your foot falls asleep? She calls it "sparkles." Mama, my foot is sparkly. Perfect! Also, the adrenaline rush feeling is the wiggles (see earlier post.) Well, her latest....she had a little tummy ache the other day. We weren't really sure what kind, so we start asking questions...do you feel like you want to throw up? Did you bonk it? Do you need to poop? You know...the usual questions! =) She says, "Mommy, I think my cream cheese and crackers turned over in my tummy." Isn't that exactly what it feels like?

Baby book events

Grady has figured out how to go back down the stairs. Lucky for me, becuase now he doesn't stand at the top of the playroom stairs (all 3 of them) and scream for me to come get him.

June's Pictures

Happy Anniversay

To my wonderful husband:

Can you believe this is us? 8 years ago!?!? So much has changed. We've moved 4 times, changed jobs twice that, had 3 children, gained a few pounds (ok...so more than a few), survived your undergrad and grad schools, lost loved ones, seen the Northern Lights, moved away from family and friends, cried, renovated homes, celebrated birthdays, fought, snow-mobiled, met new people, taken trips, hiked up mountains (small ones), watched movies, seen Alaska, swam in the ocean, stayed up all night with sick kids, rappelled from cliffs, travelled through Ireland, SCUBA dived with sharks and seen some of the most beautiful waters in the world, read books, taken naps, laughed, travelled cross country...the list is endless and ever changing. But one thing that has not changed is my love for you. That's not true, exactly. It has and does change, but gets better and grows bigger every day. I love you so differently today than I did 8 years ago. You are so much to me. My husband, best friend, father of my children, sugar daddy, shoulder, support system, comic relief, teammate, other half, encourager...I thank God for bringing such a wonderful man to me. Someone with whom I will spend the rest of my life and grow old with, to help raise our children, to love and to love me, to talk to, to sleep next to at night. I love you babe. Happy #8.

Cupcake Tag

End note: the brad at the top is holding the slide back. A place for hidden journaling, a note to your sweetie, or even a picture!

My Wall Words

Well Amy, after what, a year and a half!?!? I finally got my wall words! Part of the problem was I've spent the last 10 months searching for THE quote. I finally found it! Here's a picture for now (still trying to get the right light for a shot of the whole room). I put them above the windows in our dining room. Since I heard about these a couple of years ago, I've been wanting to put them up. One problem...we keep moving! Since we're going to be here for a few years (right, Joe???) I figured I'd go for it. I'm wandering around my house looking at every possible place to put more, since I love them so much! I have since found that my Uncle owns a business where he does similar work. My mom and I are trying to persuade him to add this niche to his business. We're working on some ideas and (because I need more to do) I'd like to start selling these. So...any interested in buying some wondering words for your walls???? Contact me...=)

BTW, it says, "For health and food, for love and friends, for everything Thy goodness sends."

Our pool is finally done!!!

After, what? almost 4 months, our pool is done. It looks a lot smaller than we had imagined, but we have a wonderful place for the kids to play. A fantastic patio area with beautiful deck chairs. We are looking forward to our pool party and having everyone over to enjoy it with us!

Things about our sink

Apparently, we have a pretty magical sink. It can do a lot of things all by itself. It can turn itself on and off. It can fill tea party cups and stacking cups. It can drip and spray water across the bathroom floor and the counter top. It can completely soak a hand towel. It can even bathe various dolls and toys. While doing all this, it gets awfully dirty and needs to be washed...a lot. No need to worry, Ellery would be happy to play in, I mean clean, the sink. Without even being asked.

Oh and did I mention...

He's totally walking and loving it! Of course, this stage comes with all the bumps and bruises of the mobility learning curve. In addition to the new height he's gained, his reach has increased as well...and he's taking full advantage of it. I was in the bathroom getting ready the other day, and I hear the whoosh of the toilet being flushed, but then didn't see a little girl come out. Huh...well...it was Grady...flushing the toilet. Luckily the lid was down, so nothing took a swim, but I'm sure that's right around the corner. He's also become quit the climber. The fireplace, the girls rocking chair, my treadmill, the train table (that was a shock...to both of us!); if he can get his knee up on it, he's going for it. So, my mommy-sense has been heightened to a new level and I have a feeling that with a boy, its just going to increase!