I'm a failure...

I have a few talents. Nothing to be too proud of...but somethings that I feel confident in accomplishing better than some.

Sewing and needleworks is NOT one of them.

When I was younger my great-grandma tried to teach me to crochet. After one day she said, 'Honey, maybe we should bake something instead.'

Today Jordan asked me to sew a button back on his coat. 'Sure!' I said. (I was kind of happy he thought I could do it.)

I tried. I do not have the right needles, thread or ability. (Its a heavy wool dress coat.)

I'm going to have to ask someone else to do it. Sad. Really, really sad.

I'm a big girl!

I can sit!!!!!





Contessa was showing off her stuff this morning. She is doing pretty good with sitting for short periods of time. Then she loses her balance and goes to one side of the other...she is doing this quite a bit earlier than my other kids...very fun!

No School!

Most kids find out that there is no school and they cheer.

Lauren does this...


We're on day #2 for the week of no school.

Sixty Years!

Today Jordan's grandparents, Papa Joe and Grandma Elaine, are celebrating their 60th Wedding Anniversary.

60 years.

From the day I met them I would have described them as adorable. Their love for each other has always been unmistakeable. They care for each other, talk sweet to each other and look out for each other. I see them exhibt great kindness to one another that I doubt many couples do after 60 years. They are an example for all of us to follow.

Quite sometime ago Lauren drew and colored this picture of them. I love how she got right down to the details of their wedding rings and the jewelry that Elaine is wearing. She captured them perfectly. Even the absense of some hair on Joe's head!




Congratulations Joe & Elaine. 60 years together, may we all make it there as happily as the two of you. What a legacy you have given to your family.

Our weather...just so I don't forget...

There are a number of warnings/advisories/watches in effect during the next 24 hours. An Alberta Clipper is going to bring snow to the area today. The snow will taper off between 8-11 PM. Snow accumulations of 3-5″ can be expected (graphic posted below). About the 3-5 PM time frame the wind will begin to increase as the temperatures fall into the teens. The wind is expected to increase to 20-30 mph and gusty from the north through tonight. The wind will cause blowing and drifting snow and by sunset and continue until around sunrise tomorrow. Visibility at times could be near zero late this afternoon through tonight. The temperatures near and below zero tonight combined with the wind will produce wind chills of 20-35 degrees below zero.

Tomorrow the sun will shine but it will be very cold. Highs will range from 0 to 5. The wind will diminish quickly in the morning and by the afternoon the wind will be from the northwest at 5-10 mph. There is another Alberta Clipper forecast to bring more snow and wind with another shot of Arctic air. The snow will begin Tuesday night (after 9 PM). Similar snow amounts and wind will be possible as the storm today/tonight. The forecast track of this storm will be similar to the one today.

Where did A-Day go?

Last summer I posted that Sullivan was not longer calling Lauren - 'Bo-Bo' which was how he pronounced her name for a very long time.
Well now suddenly he isn't calling Avery, 'A-Day'. He perfectly says, Avery.

I hate it. Stop being a big boy.

(Except for going potty...you can do that.)

Just right...

We had a just about perfect weekend. A great mixture of time at home, time with family, friends and getting a few projects done. While I don't want it to end, I feel refreshed and just right....ready for the coming week...although not the frigid temps that are on the way.



On another, funnier note:
Today we had family pictures with Jordan's family and when we got home Sully had a dry diaper and hadn't had it changed in like 3 hours. So I figured he'd HAVE to go.
He's been sitting just like this for an hour and 1/2 now...watching Annie.


Seriously, JUST GO!

Silly before bed...

Jordan and I both love the hour we get with just Contessa each night. The other kids are in bed before 8 and then Tess follows at 8:45 or 9. Its like she knows that this is special time with mom and dad. She likes it as much as we do.

It is her silliest time of day...she's got us right where she wants us.








(I wonder if she'll like all this attention when the other 3 kids are moved out of the house and she's left here with just us??!?!?!)

MY sister...

Yesterday Sully and Avery wanted to hold Tess. Sully got out his Thomas couch and was all set up. Avery was trying to get me to let her hold Tess on the big couch.
Sullivan started screaming, MY sister, NO! My sister, I hold her, not Avery!"

He really loves her so much.

Random Friday stories

1. I had a chiropractor appt. this morning and as we were in the waiting room Sullivan was using a toy camera and taking pictures of all the other waiting patients. He went up to an elderly man sitting next to me and said, "Say Cheeseburgers!"
The man smiled the sweetest smile.
Then Sully turned the camera over (to view the picture of course) and said, "Oh, that's a cute one man."
The little man laughed and told Sullivan that he had just made his entire day.

So sweet.

2. Then once we were in the actual treatment room and we were once again waiting. Avery was really studying the pictures of skeletons and bones on the walls. She was asking all sorts of questions about their placement in the body and what we use them for.
Then she was quite for awhile and she turned to me and said, "Well, where is the penis."

Not so sweet. But SO hilarious. (and we need to have a talk, I know.)

Caught!

Yes, she really is just that sweet...and snuggly.


No, she really was not in any danger of sliding off the couch.

Day One - Not good

So far today I've made him go about every 45 minutes. He's gone 3 times. He's pooped in his diaper 2 times.
He's said, "Oh, MAN!!!" about 12 times when I've told him its time to try going.
He's also told me that he is a big boy, so he goes potty in his diaper.

Great.

Potty training Day One

Sullivan will be 3 in about a month. We have not attempted potty training. Today is the day.
So far he goes when I tell him and he thinks wearing the pull-up versus the diaper is cool.
Truthfully he shows little interest in this, but he's almost 3, its time.

I dont remember how to potty train. Lauren was kind of difficult but that was over 4 years ago. Avery basically potty trained herself in about a day.
Sullivan could be another story all together!!

Scotch Roooooosss

I made scotcheroos (pronounced scotch roooosss by Sullivan) for our small group supper on Sunday eve.

All the kids like these so I gave them each one before we headed out the door. When we got back that night there were probably 6 left.

Last night when we got home from work and school Sullivan was very excited to have one. However, Jordan had eaten ALL the remaning ones on his lunch break. Sullivan was mad to say the least.

He could not stop talking about scotch rooosss and when was I going to make them again and why did daddy eat them all, and daddy was naughty.

I told him I'd make another batch sometime soon.

A bit later he went to the cupboard and got the HUGE box of Rice Krispies and brought them over to me and said, "Mommy! Make Scotch Rooooossss!!!!!"

The look on his face was SO cute I almost did make them on the spot for him.

I guess he really likes them!

Pop

This just popped into my mind for some reason and I want to get it down so I never forget it.
Yesterday I got Avery and Sully up from naps and both were a little out of it sitting on either side of me on the couch. Sullivan suddenly sat straight up and said, "Where's Aday (Avery)?"
She slowly sat up and said, "I'm right here. What do you need me for?"
Sullivan sat back down (still staring that the tv) and said, "I jus (just) ove (love) you Aday (Avery)."

So sweet. One of those moments that makes me feel like a million dollars.

My blessings

As I've taken a little time to look back on 2008 one thing sticks out to me that I am not happy with:
I have a great talent for taking my greatest blessings and turning them into my biggest burdens.
God has given me much. Much more than I deserve and much more than I even acknowledge.

So my prayer for 2009 is that God will show me, teach me to see my blessings as blessings. That He will use me to bless those I come across and have a positive upbeat attitude...not the tired one that usually comes out.

In the end what I am desiring is for these blessings of mine to feel like blessings. That they will not feel like burdens. That they will know they are the reason I get out of bed each day. That when they look into my eyes they will see the love and devotion that I feel in my heart for them. They will know when they drift off to sleep at night, that I am anxious to start the new day with them and to see what God has in store for our family.

Blessings, not burdens. I have so very MUCH.

And with that, Welcome 2009!

Tesser

Tess is really liking baby food now and today I gave her some banana flavored fruit puffs. She loved them!!!

Now try and tell me you dont want to just squeeze her! You can see a little bit of fruit puff on her lip. So cute!

Good times and good friends

Over break we've had some opportunities to see friends we rarely get to see.
Jamie and Mikel don't live too far away but with busy schedules and kids it seems we only see each other a few times per year. They traveled here on New Year's day and we went to Kirkpatrick's for some fun. Our girls had fun with Jamie's 5 year old Reese and we all had fun watching their 1 year old Channing. Unfortunetly I forgot my camera!

Then on Friday night we got to see Jerod and Angie. We graduated with Jerod and became fast friends with Angie when they got together in college. It seemed that the 4 of us were inseperable just about every weekend. There were MANY games of Pepper and lots of laughing and even fighting when the guys would cheat at cards. We also got to take care of their son Hunter quite a bit when he was born. It seems impossible that he is already 11!!!!! He is a little Jerod I tell you! Poor Angie!



(can you say, Get a tan Becky?!?!?)

Brent and Jane (Jerod's parents) have always welcomed us into their home and made us feel like one of the family. We love going over there. And I think Brent MIGHT have liked having our kids there. Sullivan did NOT want to leave!

Contessa - 6 months

Thursday Tess turned 6 months old. So hard to believe. If the next 6 months go by as fast as these did we are in real trouble.
Here's what she's up to at 6 months:
Trying to get up on her knees
Rolling to get what she wants
Sleeping longer and longer at night - 10 hours!
Grabbing at everything she can possibly reach
Laughing at her siblings - she loves them so much.


And this is her new trick. She crinkles up her nose and does this snorty thing because we laugh every time she does it. It is amazingly cute!

Just two

We only took two pictures on New Year's. The night just went too fast.

Here's me and the girls trying to wait till the 11:00 ball drop.


Here's us waking up a bit for a picture!