Girlfriends don't get mad!

This conversation was just priceless today as the kids were watching Monsters Inc.

Sully was convinced that Mike Wazowski's girlfriend is actually his mom. The girls were all arguing with him. The poor kid never stands a chance against all these girls.

Finally he couldn't take it anymore and he stands up and yells,

'She's his MOM!!! Not his girlfriend! Cause she's REALLY mad at him and girlfriends Do NOT get mad at you! MOM'S DO!!'

Hi.Lar.I.Ous!!!

And oh Sully, you poor naive boy...just you wait...just you wait.

More Faces of Miss Torrance

adorable

stunned

smirky

praying

alert

surprised!

???????

Just what do you think she's thinking here??!!??

This picture needs the perfect caption!

Any suggestions??

And, yeah, she's the cutest and most fun!!!

She is all smiles and giggles!

What a week!

I spent the week in DSM taking my last two real estate license courses.

I drove home each night...I. AM. FRIED.

But it was a good week and I am excited to get started!!!

Our mom's and Rosanna took care of the kids while I was gone each day and Jordan had to handle the morning and supper routine...quite the change for our family.

I can tell you this...there is no way I could work a 'real' job anymore. We did not function well this week. Tess struggled, I dont know if I said more than hello and good night to Avery, Lauren's homework slacked and Sully played way too much DS. And we ate horribly. ugh.

And I MISSED MY KIDS! Terribly. I am so thankful that I get to stay home with them!!!!

Here are some other random discoveries/observations from the crazy week:

* Not everyone has a good understanding of the term 'professional attire'. Ladies, low cut jeans with 'whale tales' are not appropriate in any setting. Honestly.

*shopping in Target is SUPER fun when I'm all alone!

*driving alone and rocking out to the radio is also SUPER fun and therapeutic!

*I love Tracy Chapman...it doesn't get much better than 'Fast Car'

*we produce enough laundry in one week to bury a small town. Its ridiculous

*I saw a newborn in a restaurant this week and literally almost cried. Its a very weird sensation knowing I wont have another one of those. I'm trying to come to terms with it. Its gonna take awhile.

*Torrance is an awesome baby...and I want her to stay 3 months old. FOREVER!!!!!

*I have always had a deep love for Dr. Pepper. This week I finally admitted to myself that I really don't like it anymore. VERY WEIRD!

*I cry watching the movie Enchanted when Giselle and Robert dance at the ball.

*I am crying right now watching HSM3 with Lauren and Avery.

*God's hand is so involved in the direction our family is moving and I love it. Its a great feeling knowing you are following His lead. I see exciting things ahead.

*Im an emotional sap. And I tear up a lot. I never did this when I was younger...its very annoying. Seriously I cried at Enchanted and HSM...who am I?!?!

Happy Weekend!!!

3 months

Without my permission someone went and turned 3 months old on Saturday!

Can 3 months have really passed so quickly?

Torrance is just too sweet and could truly stay this age forever and I think everyone in the house would be perfectly ok with it.

Jordan and I are continually asking each other - how did we get such a easy, sweet baby?

She is the best.

Here's what she's up to at 3 months:

smiling and laughing - ADORABLE!

lots of talking and cooing

eating her hands at all times

getting really good at finding her thumb

eating 5 ounces each feeding

sleeping from 8:30 or 9 at night until 6:30 or 7 am - YES!

then she goes back to sleep after a bottle until about 10. - YES!!

and naps in the afternoon nap for 3 hours - YES!!!!

She continues to catnap at other points of the day.

She will sit in one of our baby seats and stay pretty content but mostly likes to lay on the floor.

She thinks the Bumbo seat is pretty fun too.

HATES her car seat. Serious hatred. - UGH!

(This is especially not fun when you are in Walmart)

Completely given up the binkie - after 5 kids why does this surprise me?

rolls on to her side - I think she'll likely get all the way over before long

best friends

When Avery gets excited it usually translates into her being hyper!

Saturday night was one of those times and its was hysterical.

She is just silliness!

And its so NOT Lauren to act that way.

They are basically each others polar opposite.

And it makes them such a good balance for each other.

And such sweet, sweet friends.

What a gift to be born with a best friend ready made!

Dancing

There was a little time for their own dancing during intermission.

Avery is still little girl enough to not notice or care if people are watching her spin and twirl.

Oh my goodness how I love little girls.

There is nothing like it.

Lauren was a bit too grown up to spin by herself.

But she was more than ready to help Avery.

I'm so sad this picture is a little blurry.

Avery's face is just pure joy dancing with her big sister!

Again, just look at her face.

Spinning and spinning.

Just the four of us...

I'd say Jordan was a pretty lucky guy last night!

Avery insisted I wear a dress and heels. She was so proud of me! :)

I dont think any of us will forget this night for a long long time.

The Ballet

Last night we took Lauren and Avery to the Russian Ballet Company's Sleeping Beauty!

They have been waiting almost a month for this night...ever since they opened the tickets at Christmas.

And I have been waiting ever since September when I purchased the tickets!

It was SO fun to take the 'big' girls out and concentrate on them.

Just the four of us.

And it reminded me that while I don't want any of my kids to grow up - doing older kid stuff is SUPER fun. And having real conversations with them is the best.

And while I'm biased...I have to say, these two are about the most beautiful girls I can imagine.

They were so excited for every part of the night...from dressing up, to dinner out with just us, to arriving at the art center, to actually watching the ballet. I think they could have just walked around the art center with us and been perfectly happy actually! They were so sweet and thankful and adorable and fun.

I went to the ballet once as a grade schooler and Jordan had never been. We both agreed that we were happy to have gone but would probably not choose to go again...I like words! :)

But the costumes were beautiful, the dancing fantastic and the music was great. We were in the fourth row and if we had been any closer I'm pretty sure the dancers sweat would have been on us...not kidding.

The girls loved it and their eyes were in awe...watching

them made it totally worth the $ for me.

But I think even they'd admit it got a little long after 2.5 hours!

I'm so proud of these two and so happy I get to call them mine!

pictures

All we wanted was a nice group shot...we even tried bribery...maybe when they're older???

So then it was the moms' turn.

The village People Mom's?!?

and 2 babies...and a parrot?

Then the kids started swarming...

and then we lost control and Jen went down.

Good times!

cold day out!!

Some deal with the freezing temps by snuggling under blankets & drinking cocoa.

But stay at home moms with young children are too desperate for socialization...so we venture out!

We went with a group of friends to the Phelps Youth Pavilion today.

So fun!

This was our first stop after we bought our tickets and walked in...

yep, the bathroom...

ah, the joys of young kids.

Torrance and I snapped pictures of ourselves while we waited.

Finally, time for fun.

This place had everything.

Tess did some gardening.

Mandy likes to think she's all 'East Coast' but she can milk a cow like a true Iowa farm girl.

And she taught Alex.

The boys went on a walk through a cave.

Then for a ride in a time machine.

And lots of time for dress-up!

This was the coolest...a metal frame house with colored/magnetic 'walls' to build with.

The boys played in their 'fort' for the longest time.

Then we had a break for a jewish passover feast...

still a little confused by the menorah!

bundle up

It is currently 19 degrees...BELOW ZERO.

I don't even want to know what it is with the wind chill.

Actually, after a certain point I don't think it really matters.

Can it really feel any colder than -19 degrees?

No, no it can't.

Sisters

oh. my. heart.

starting fights

Yesterday on the way home from school Sullivan threw a snowball at some boy he did not know.

An older boy.

I emailed Jordan to tell him about it and to prepare him to talk to Sully when he got home from work.

This was his response:

'You only throw snowballs at people that you can

A) Beat up
B) Out run

Very important lesson in life. My goodness, he is an Earle!'


(Earle is my family)

And he is SO right.

Torrance tells a story

Daddy's girl #4

I think they like each other...

No School

The kids had the day off of school today.

We spent the morning playing EZ Bake oven and the kids ventured outside for a bit. I believe Tess lasted all of 27 seconds. It took much longer to get her bundled up...

Now the three older kids and I are snuggled on the couch for a Little House on the Prairie afternoon marathon while the little two sleep.

Avery has said twice now, 'Wow, these videos are SO exciting!' And Sully keeps saying, 'Mommy, are they going to be alright?!' Lauren is literally on the edge of her seat!

We are totally hooked on this tv series! Very suspenseful!

And I am so glad I get to be home with my kids...

A whole new world!

Torrance is a big girl!

She was rocking the Bumbo seat this morning.

Could she be cuter? nope!

She really loved being able to see what the other kids were doing!

(Thanks for loaning it to us Joshua!)

Fashion Show, Fashion Show!

There was a little fashion show at my house on Friday.

Lauren was the emcee.

I have no idea where she learned to describe outfits like she did!

It was really fun to listen to!

Model #1 - The Can Can Dancer.

Model #2 - The uh, princess cowgirl

Model #3 - The movie star

Model #4 - Belle - she got a little touch of stage fright and I had track her down for a picture!

And uh, could she be more beautiful!?