A long day with Spidey...

It is 7:45. Sullivan just finished breakfast and is insistant that it is time to put his costume on. Seriously, I cant explain what happens to him when he puts it on. He becomes a mad man.
Trick-or-treating isnt until 5:30 tonight.

It is going to be a long long day with Spidey...

Thank you!

The larger sized diapers worked perfectly! She woke up without wet clothes!

You guys are good!

Just call me June

I have a thing...it doesnt happen every day...but most. 15 minutes before Jordan is supposed to be home I become a mad woman. I want all the toys picked up. The kitchen counters have to be cleaned. All pillows arranged on the couch. I usually run the vacuum. No toys in sight.

I am pretty sure that when this beast emerges my kids are afraid of me. I start barking out orders, they normally follow with out a peep...a sure sign of terror.

I dont know what it is and I have no idea where it came from but it becomes VERY important that the house be neat and picked up when he walks in the door. It only stays like that until he's been home 5 minutes and then everything comes back out.

But its like I want him to think I'm June Cleaver for at least 5 minutes. I want him to come home to a picked up (notice I didnt say clean) house with quiet kids and a smiling wife. (notice I also didnt mention that supper was necessarily waiting). Just for 5 minutes I like it to be in order. I didn't even realize I was doing it until probably a year ago.

I cant decide if its sweet or sick.

And you know what, I dont think he even notices! But I do. ;)

Anybody else experience this?

Busy Busy

I might be starting to come out of my 'still feeling pregnant' funk.
I have a list of things that I HAVE to get done in order to feel relaxed and its bothering me. Its actually a good sign that it is bothering me. I've been letting A LOT slide.
A couple of the big things are getting our toy porch in order and planning Lauren's 7th birthday party! Oh, and did I mention that next week is Jordan and I's 9 year wedding anniversary and we are going away for the weekend!??!!?! If I told you how excited I was for that you might doubt my love for my children so I will refrain. ;)

For now I am off to get part of supper done ahead before school gets out and it gets really crazy around here. Tess and Sully are napping so I have the house to myself for a bit. Time to get at it!

Help #2

About a month a goal I set a goal for myself to be totally done Christmas shopping by Thanksgiving. So far it is going very well. I am actually done with a few people on my list and I believe I know what I am getting for everyone else...with the exception of Lauren and Avery.
I have practically no ideas. So, I need some help. We dont do a ton for them for Christmas but I like them to get things that they really like from us...
Both of them like arts and crafts but dont really sit and play with 'toys' a bunch. They'd rather be making something or possibly playing a game...

here's what we already have:
2 great dollhouses and TONS of pieces and sets to go with them
Way too many Barbies that are rarely played with
Lots of Polly Pockets that are played with a little more than the Barbies.
Tons of dress-up clothes that get played a lot but Im just not sure how many more we really need?

So, anyway, they are almost 7 and 4. Any ideas for some good gifts? or one large gift for them?

thanks again!

Help #1

Tess has slept 8-9 hours for the past 3 nights..yeah! BUT, she is also wetting WAY through her diapers now. She wakes up totally soaked. I have tried Pampers Swaddlers and LUVS. Any other suggestions out there for diapers that HOLD better?

Thanks!

A little redneck dance!!

A story

Grandma Cindy came over to be our judge and she brought along a fun Halloween story and tape for the kids to listen to. I think it was their favorite part of the night!
(And yes, having a kindergarten teacher for my mother-in-law rocks!!!)

Pumpkin Carving 2008

There is a lot of excitement in the air at our house about Halloween. We had the Kirkpatrick's over on Sunday night for pizza and pumpkins. We have a carving contest with them every year. Last year I even won. This year I had a malfunction...I cut out my design backwards. So I settled for a very traditional face instead. Boo.
Melanie won...its not fair. She is a design major! Jordan wimped out and didn't try very hard and Jason spent his time doing this instead!


I'm not sure if we really do this for the kids or for us...but the kids seem to enjoy it either way!






Melanie, Becky, Jordan

Where's the Stars?

Avery was really excited to watch Dancing with the Stars tonight. She got Sully into it as well. After the first dance Sullivan asked, "Where's the stars?" We didn't get it at first.
Then we realized he just wanted to know where the stars were...if we were watching Dancing with the STARS...where were the STARS?!?!?!?

So cute.

He had to settle for the white twinkle lights in the background!

Ten

Today Jordan turned TEN!
Ten years ago tonight I was at my parents waiting for my dad to get done changing my oil so I could head back to UNI.
Jordan called and I could tell by his voice that something had happened...he sounded choked up.
He proceeded to tell me how he had surrendered his life to Jesus Christ.
To make a long story short Jordan finally stopped trying to get all his questions answered and allowed Christ to speak to his HEART, not his mind.

Tonight I am thankful for the man of God that I have. For the father of my kids who constantly talks to them about his Savior. We are so blessed.

Happy Birthday Jordan!

At Last

Guess who slept from 9-6 last night without a peep???

I know this does not mean we are onto anything consistent but this milestone has not been met for Tess without some tears on both our parts...so I am counting a huge victory!

Ordinary?

We’ve had a quiet but good weekend so far. Friday night Lauren cheered at the football game and it was so fun to watch. Today we had Tess’s 3 month pictures and an attempt at getting all 4 kids for a Christmas card pic. We’ll see how those turn out!

After that we ate at the kids favorite restaurant, Carlos O’Kelly’s and then did some shopping. Then home for some time outdoors and some house work. Tonight Jordan is winterizing our windows (oh the joys of living in a 100 year old house! Thank you honey) and Jordan and I are hoping to watch a movie together after the kids head to bed.

Earlier this afternoon I told Jordan I had really enjoyed our day. He looked at me like I was a little crazy, ‘Really?’ he said. I couldn’t really explain why. It had been pretty ordinary. Sullivan was trying during pictures and LOUD at the restaurant. Avery fell at Hy-vee and put a hole in her best jeans and Lauren had a meltdown about not getting to ride in the truck shopping cart. But I still had fun.

I thought about it more. And realized that the day could have been seen as great, or a chore. For some reason my perspective today was that it was great. Ordinary, and great.

While watching my four kids all sitting together getting their pictures taken together I realized how truly blessed I am. I have four completely beautiful and perfect children. Trying, yes, loud, yes, whiny, at times, agrivating, at times and the list goes on. But I only have them this close to me for a very short time. A very short time. And I need to check my perspective more often. I need to see the ordinary as great. Each day that the 6 of us have together is a true gift. That should be my perspective. Every day.

It also reminded me of a song, which just about everything does…a song that I claimed as ONE of Jordan and I’s songs a long time ago. (I don’t believe I could have claim just one song as our song…I have hundreds that mean so much to me and speak so much about our relationship).

Me and You…by Kenny Chesney - (a few of my favorite lines)
Ordinary, no
Really don't think so
Not a love this true
Common destiny
We were meant to be
Me and you

Everyday I live
Try my best to give
All I have to you
Thank the stars above
That we share this love
Me and you

Ordinary, no
Really don't think so
Just a precious few
Ever make it last
Get as lucky as…me and you.

Caterpillar?

When we laid the new flooring in our kitchen we had to have the doors all shaved off a bit. This has left a gap in our front door. We need to get that fixed but for now my solution is one of those ugly threshold covers to keep the cold air out. I bought one last night and put it down. Its kind of fuzzy and maroon in color.

Sullivan saw it and stared at it for awhile. Then he looked up at me and said, "Caterpillar, mommy?"

At first I didn't understand him. Then once I figured out what he had said I still didn't really understand what he meant by it.
Then I remembered the fuzzy little friend who the kids had caught one night and put in the bug cage. Sully apparently thought I'd gotten a really big one to put in the kitchen.

So cute!

So now he picks it up and carries it around chasing the girls and screaming, CATERPILLAR!!! As loud as possible.
Its seriously cute, and seriously loud.

I love that innocence though...Caterpillar, mommy?

Another sign

Here is another sign that I am just plain old. Apparently I cannot drink caffeine after 2 pm. Otherwise I cannot sleep at night. So even though Tess did so well last night...I was up for 2.5 hours - just wide awake!
I've been kind of keeping track of this and it only happens when I have caffeine for supper. Great.

Thursday

Its Thursday and that is my 'get it all done' day so we can play on Friday. So that means I've cleaned the bathrooms, swept the floors, vacuumed, cleaned out a couple of kids dressers, put away groceries, cleaned out some bags and I even have chicken cooking for homemade chicken noodle soup. Well ok, the noodles and the chicken stock are store bought but in our house...this is as close to homemade as you can get.
Its amazing how fast I had to do all of the above due to a baby and two other kids. I think I should enter a speed cleaning contest.
Oh, and I also had to spend a fun filled 20 minutes on the phone with the Sears repair man...AGAIN!
They came last week and 'fixed' it. They are coming again - but not till next week! I asked if he knew what it was like to have 4 children and that for us doing 2 loads of laundry each day is slacking off. He apologized but said that was the soonest anyone could come. Oh thanks. I told him just to have the repair man bring a new washer when he comes. I told him that if it happens again I will demanding a new one. Can you say LEMON!?
So I guess we'll be loading up some laundry and going to grandmas at some point.

Anyway, happy Thursday!

Well, well, well

Guess how Tess did last night?
She went to bed at 9 and woke up at 3:45. I left her. She fussed till 4:15. Then slept till almost 7:30!!!!! I think she can sleep through the night...she just didn't want me to know it! But, now I know! ;)

Still pregnant????

I realized today that in many ways I still feel pregnant. Here's what I mean:

1. When I am pregnant I become very lazy. I care WAY less about my apperance than I do when I am not pregnant. I often get out of the house and then look down at myself and think, 'What was I thinking?' But I dont care enough to go change. I am still doing this.

2. I am also very lazy with housework when I'm pregnant. Normally, in my non-pregnant mode, I am always caught up on laundry and the toys are always organized at the end of every day. Those two things are my 'things'. I hate having them out of order or over flowing. But currently, its like I'm 8 months pregnant. Toys spread through out the house do not bother me and I can pretty much guarantee there are no less than 5 loads of laundry waiting to be done in the basement right now.

3. Just tired. I normally am a night owl. After the kids go to bed I get a burst of energy and I get a ton done and then I'm ready to sit down for some time with Jordan. But right now, all I want to do is go to bed at 9 pm. And I dont wake up refreshed.

4. Fat. Yes, I am still carrying around 10-15 pounds of baby weight. (you can say what you want but the truth is that the scale doesnt lie. and neither do my pants that do not fit.) I HATE IT. But I dont seem to have the will power to do anything about it. I have no energy. I have never had this problem before. In the 3 previous pregnancies it went away all on its own.

This brings me to my big fear. Maybe I'm not feeling pregnant. Maybe what I'm feeling is like a person in their 30's. A person whose metabolism is slowing down. Maybe I should have stopped having kids in my 20's so I could get myself all straightened out by the time 30 hit. Seriously, if this is how 30 feels, what is 50 like? I don't think I want to find out.

Date with Daddy

I want to have this documented:
Lauren had a date with Jordan this past Friday night. Jordan said he was amazed by how even the smallest things are big to them right now.
They went to UNI's campus and he showed her around where mom and dad went to college. They spent a lot of time at the library there. He taught her how to look up books on the computer and then how to find them in the library. She wanted to find books about dolphins, because they are her current favorite animal. They read books for awhile in pink chairs.
Then they went to the Hill and ate at Sub City and then they did some grocery shopping for me at Wal-mart.
Lauren had a great time and I know she will remember it for a long time. Very special.

All four

We have family pictures scheduled for next weekend...I pray they go better than this group photo went!

Beautiful Fall

Today was a beautiful day. I love fall photo sessions!



Avery's eyes are very sensitive to light so I had to take her picture in the shade - it did not work...she's glowing!



I cant imagine anything much cute than this picture of Contessa.

Sullivan

This little boy has been very trying for his mom and dad lately. We never had the terrible twos with the girls. No real tantrums, no delibrate defiance. We had WILD and crazy twos with Avery...but not Terrible.
We are seeing it all with Sully. He is testing his boundries and seeing how we are going to respond. Terrible twos indeed. (He also discovered how to jump out of his crib tonight!)
I think that's why God makes them so cute...if they are going to be that terrible, they better also be terribly cute.

Contessa and Mommy

A smile at mom.

Reading before bed...

What a difference 15 weeks makes

I really didnt know Tess had gotten so big and was no longer a newborn until I saw Adele. Sad.

Baby 'Dele'

We got to meet Baby Adele yesterday...Alexa calls her baby 'Dele'. Jordan says that Aaron should be a farmer for Halloween and then they could tell everyone that they are The Farmer and A-Dele. Isn't he clever?



Jordan and the babies


Grandma Cindy and Adele - wide awake!


I even got a turn!

A quiet and chilly night

Jordan and Lauren are on a date tonight. So that leaves me home with the three youngest on a Friday night.

I bribed Avery and Sully. We ate leftover pizza for supper, had early baths and pjs and then I said IF you put all the toys away and IF you can sit very nicely...we can put on a movie and eat popcorn.

So far its working.



I'm about to wake Tess up from her late nap and then snuggle on the couch with all of them. The heat is on because its so cold out tonight!!!

Tomorrow we are heading to meet baby Adele. Cant wait!

Things to come...

Last night our chamber put on a Girls Night Out event for our downtown businesses. I helped set up the hospital's Breast Cancer Awareness booth and saw that there was going to be a lot of excitement and fun things going on.
So I took Lauren and Avery up after supper. We had the BEST time. Most the ladies walking around shopping were wearing pink and sporting the feather boas that were a fundraiser for the Beyond Pink Team. The shops had fun displays and snacks and it was just festive.
Lauren and Avery thought it was so fun. They looked through all the stores and ate many snacks. They loved all the pink. I love to watch how different they are...even in the things they choose to admire in the shops. Very different tastes in decor!

As we were walking around I swear I was almost in tears. I've said this another time this week but, I have a feeling that there are going to be some fun times to come in our house. I love this girl time and seeing them be sisters together. I can picture us doing these things together as they grow older and I am so looking forward to every stage.

As I've also said before, I never knew I wanted girls...until I had them. And now I know they are three of my biggest blessings. I am so thankful and looking forward to so many fun times with them! Our house will truly be loud and a bit hormonal! And most likely...pretty pink!

Ayla

See Ayla is going to be a fun 2 year old...she already pushes babies faces!

Just you wait...

Cassie found this little exchange hilarious. I think its only because she doenst remember what its like to have a 2 year old...just you wait Cassie...just you wait!

Cassie and Ayla visit!

Cassie and Ayla made the long trip to see us and meet Tess yesterday. If I were a really good hostess I would have had the house all clean and cutely decorated for fall and I would have served a yummy soup and salad lunch.
I however am not a good hostess at this point in my life, so my house was not cleaned, the fall decor is in boxes in the basement and we had Pizza Hut pizza.
But we still had a great time. Cassie and I got a chance to talk and catch up around 4 kids and a room FULL of toys. Again, at this point in our lives, that's all we know!
We have pictures of Cassie and I with Brigg and Lauren when they were like 9 and 5 months old and then again at Lauren's 1st birthday party. We tried to recreate those today with Ayla and Tess on our laps instead. But our photographer was Avery...so it didnt go quite as smoothly!
But we tried!

Rumble

My washer has been having some trouble and the Sears repairman is supposed to come and fix it today. He was supposed to call last night and tell me when he's coming. He didn't call.

Let me just say that if he doesn't show and doesn't call to tell me he's coming tomorrow...we are going to RUMBLE.

My laundry situation is OUT OF CONTROL.

The sweetest sound

Tess is really finding her voice lately. It is so very very sweet. I never want to forget that little noise. She sounds like what I'd imagine a baby dove would sound like.



(ps last night at 3:30 am, she did not sound like a dove.)

Big Girl

Tess wanted to sleep in her big sisters' bed room tonight.


I think my three girls are going to have some fun as they grow up...I cant wait to watch.

Hysterical

Avery was simply hysterical today. First she found these elbow and knee pads and they made her into a dancing machine.




Then tonight I got out some warmer pjs for her and she put on some footie pajamas, she LOVES them and was a dancing fool again. We all laughed and laughed at her. Jordan got the jammie dance on video but no still pictures.

Bonnie?!?!?

I don't watch much tv. And I watch even less daytime tv. I have it on Disney during the day if its on at all. But today my washing machine is broken and the kids are napping and I have a splitting headache so I'm flipping through channels.

I discovered many reasons why I dont watch tv.

And I discovered that Bonnie Hunt has a talk show. WHAT?!

What are requirements for being a talk show host? Apparently none. Everyone has a talk show. Annoying.

But seriously, Bonnie Hunt?

(I didnt watch the show, maybe she's great, but I doubt it.)

I think I'll clean the bathrooms instead.

TOYS!

Tess is really starting to reach out and grab for her toys. I love watching her do this. Its like I can actually see her learning.





The cow toy plays music when she pulls on it. It kind of startles her when it happens, which is also quite cute!