Crunchy Peas

present

Taking a little time each day just to be present with the kids.  No worrying about the next moment or thinking about the last. I am just being with them- available to them.

Getting outside helps me.  Away from all the distractions indoors I feel like I can really listen to them.  I can really answer them.  I can really be wholehearted with them.

Being a real "thinker" this takes a conscious choice on my part. It is also not of my nature to do one thing at a time.  I don't really enjoy just sitting around for very long (okay maybe every now and then).  I have to tell myself, "okay don't go anywhere, stay on track, we are right here now."  Oh my that sounds quacky.  I suppose with practice it will get easier for me, but for now- I struggle a bit.

Our little nature walks have been wonderful opportunities for this time together.  We have been going down by the river to explore.  I try to not rush them along, but instead let them dawdle and wander. I don't bring a book, or a knitting project and only answer my cell phone if I am on call.

At first, my intention was that these devoted moments would benefit the children.  That this time would be me giving and them taking.  It turns out that this could not be further from the truth.

 

I have come to appreciate the way they see the world around them,  the way the notice the tiniest intricacies in creation. (Look closely above and you'll see the ant trail that Hannah discovered.) Their thoughts are valuable and analytical.  They make new discoveries and deep connections minute by minute.

They are little people with big hearts and very real emotions.  They are my children and I their mother.  I have cared for them.  I have prayed for them.  I have loved them...but now it seems I am really getting to know them.   I am sure that this relationship building can be attributed to the fact that they are getting better at articulating themselves, and that we are less hurried with school being out.  But mostly I think that it has everything to do with me just making a simple (or not so simple) choice to be present. It feels nice.

(so sick of technical issues with typepad. am I the only one losing posts? it is so slow now, and the photo spacing is horrible- no wrapping! UGH!)

Trading off

We started the summer off right with some good old fashioned sleeping over.

 

Our best little friends came over on Friday night while their parents had some much need fun- alone. These 6 monkeys watched this riveting tale and munched on some black licorice, junior mints and kettle corn in my bed (after they were evicted to their own sleeping quarters I just changed the sheets- too many snack remnants :)  I think the last one held out until 11:00pm- not bad.  By 6:48am the next morning all were awake and pleading for pancakes.

We had a little deal worked out you see.  The first night the kids were at our house, the next night we traded with our friends.  I think that we scored the better end of the deal because keeping 6 girls happy and at ease with one another after the night before (they were all pretty toasted) cannot be an easy gig.

No matter, they were on their own.  And so were we. Do not be deceived by my fake flippant tone. It was very hard leaving them. Laurel had never spent the night away from us and I can count the number of times that the other two have slept away from us on one hand.  Thankfully I was forced into it.  Good friends are fierce like that.

 

So here is my date.  Isn't he cute?  He told me that this was his pensive pose.  Funny, cute and clever- he's all mine.

 

Here we are together.  I would like to point out several details concerning this picture.  First of all, please notice my triple chin- precious.  Next, I want you to know that my husband is rolling his eyes under those rad glasses of his.  (I know you can't see that...but trust me they are rolling as they often do when I take photos for my blog.  Also, he was worried that I might displace his review mirror with my camera while posing.  Safety first in the new car.)  Thirdly, I wore some hurkin earrings which were not the best choice for a 60mph windyish evening.  All night they were flapping and jingling about.

 

We traveled back to the town where we lived when we were first married (attended a graduation party). We saw old houses and old friends...all have changed and we were reminded how the years have changed us too. Several moments throughout the night made us feel older. Much older.  Halfway through the party- we stole away to the movies.  It was a lavish luxury- to sit through the entire movie without someone on your lap, or telling you that they had to go to the bathroom part way through the show.

I love my children.  They bring so much fullness and sweetness to our lives (and popcorn kernels to our bed) but sheesh its great to get a way once and a bit.  There is always a brief period of awkwardness when we find ourselves without those three little people. After a while we find that we start calling each other by our real names- not "Mom" or "Dad".  The conversation gets easier and before you know it we are "us" again.  It takes practice to be Man and Wife when the day to day grind keeps you in parent mode. 

  

It's true, there are times when I wish for more romance.  You know, the moments when you nervously wondered, "Is he going to kiss me? Is my breath okay? Will he call me tomorrow?"  But I don't think that I would want to go back.  So much better it is to have a comfortable companion, a trustworthy friend, someone who you can be your true self with.  The newness has worn off...but that is how you know it is real.  I am still in love, and the best part is that he still loves me back! 

The many faces of Hannah

Not much to share other than a few funny pictures of my funny girl.  Hannah is always faithful to make us laugh.  Sometimes without even knowing it or trying very hard she can absolutely crack me up.  So very entertaining she is...reminds me a bit of my brother. Her sisters are so lucky to have her- she is always up for having fun. Growing up with someone like that makes for lots of happy times.  We find that she demands the attention of a room in a "non- annoying sort of way" (which is more that I can say for her older sister at the moment) almost as if you can't help but love her.

She made this face when she saw the camera pointing her way, (not just accidental timing). We call it her "Zoolander with a sucker face" pose.

And here, she had no idea that Carl was taking her photo.  I guess the excitement of being at the park on a sunny day, moments away from feeling the wind on her face as she flew down the slide was joyously overwhelming to her.  How can you not smile with her?

The weather has been so nice, and so my sewing machine is collecting dust.  There is much work to be done both inside and out around here. I am definitely behind everywhere I turn.  Hang with me for a few days and I hope to have more to show!  Enjoy Spring...it is finally here!

lots of action

It was a big weekend around here....

 

Our town celebrated it's annual Apple Blossom Festival.  We never miss the parade.

There was lots of flag waving, and dancing in the streets.

For a few hours all the world seemed right and wholesome.

After a busy day on Saturday I was called in at 12:45am for a birth. I arrived home Sunday morning to see my family stumble out of their beds at 7am.   I managed to catch a nap that afternoon and it was a good thing too because I was called again Sunday night at 10pm.  I am definitely feeling fatigued this morning after back-to-back-all-night-long-births.

Good thing I have these two little bunnies to cozy up with all day! Happy Monday (I think that is what day it is)

our TIME away

Time escapes me.  I just cannot seem to find more of it anywhere.  I am desperate for just a few extra hours each day.  Can't we all just vote to make the day 27 hours long instead of 24?  Wouldn't that be great? I know that you all feel the same way.

One place where time seems to stand still (or maybe just slow down a bit at least) is my Grandma's.  We had a lovely visit- very relaxing.  The weather was remarkably nice, meaning it didn't rain.

We lounged around in G'ma and G'pa's back yard.

There was lots of good food,

mashed potatoes with real gravy (as in the kind not from a packet or jar, and the kind that my daughter had 8 helpings of!)

Grandma made heavenly rolls and we slathered them with butter.  I'll share the recipe soon, they are so yummy.

Of course, once we arrived my Dad was never too far away from his girls.  I still include myself in that description :)  The marina was buzzing that day with the Farmer's Market open and an Art Walk downtown.  I fell in love with this little yellow boat.

I told my Dad that I would like to row out with it's owner and have him tell me tales of the sea.  Or maybe he could just share some of his crab catch of the day with me.

There was also a hike down to the beach where we lingered over every little sand creature and shell.  They are now smelling up my garage.  I always forget how much I miss the lush green foliage that I grew up with.  I think that there will always be a bit of moss growing somewhere in me.

Oh time...it was well spent while we were away.  Time?  TIME!  It is 5:20pm and I should be making dinner.  Okay, going now.

on being a mom

Nothing new to report.  Not a whole lot to say...except that I am just doing my thing ya know?

This mom gig is pretty time consuming. I am certainly not complaining just explaining my lack of great  stories to tell, or finished projects to show for.  There isn't really anything exciting coming from my kitchen or growing from my garden (it has been snowing!)  Just regular days with regular responsibilities, and regular stuff.

(every monday I am the recess monitor at school and jump rope is definitely in right now)

Do you ever look around you at the end of the day and say, "It looks like have I accomplished nothing today!"   Wouldn't it be great to have some tangible evidence of what you did all day long? Being a mom isn't really a task oriented job.  There isn't really any completed work to hand in at the end of the day. I find it more to be an ongoing process and sometimes that is hard for me. There are days when I would much rather see complete piles of time spent: reading books, snuggling, having heart to heart chats, helping with homework, taking walks, sharing cocoa, playing store, driving from here to there, etc.  It might make me feel as though I was making some headway to somewhere. 

I gain so much comfort and inspiration from this post.  I read it over and over again.  I especially like the last sentence.  It takes my focus off of "tasks" and redirects it to enjoying the process. Won't you enjoy it too?

one by one

We were here.

All. Five. Of. Us. Together. At 4am.  One by one the children found refuge, escaping their bad dreams, loneliness, and cold silent rooms.  Stumbling into the warm, safe envelope of familiarity, they each carved out a small space for themselves in our bed.  Their buns at my back, elbows in my tummy, soft feathery hair tickling my nose, whispers and whimpers- we slept (sort of.) 

All occupants are gone now (minus Sophie who makes her home here most of the day) each off to their own day's direction.  Work, school, play dates.  Alone, I paced the house looking for a place to start cleaning up (overwhelmed by the choices :) Down the hall and past the bedroom I walked, seeing the bed. I was drawn towards it with the fresh memory of how my day began.  Pulling the covers back in effort to make it, I stopped.  There was still warmth under the sheets from the squishy little bodies that snuggled there just hours ago. I smiled and left it unmade- counting the hours until we could all be there together again.

Then I went off to sew and bake and read and watch the movie that blockbuster sent me in the mail over 3 weeks ago do the dishes.

warm hearts

I love the way we love.  Little gestures like:

kisses and nuzzles,

and "pupcakes" made just for me...

they all make it almost unbearable at times.  Do you ever feel like you might just burst with bliss?  I'll be the first to admit that this does not describe every waking moment of my existence, but quite frequently I have to stop and pinch myself.  Maybe it happens in the middle of the night when I share a pillow with Laurel Baby, and her sweet breath warms my shoulder that is sticking out of the covers.  Other times it happens when I am completely encircled by the little arms and loud giggles competing for who can get the most tickles from me. Sometimes it occurs when I see my husband from across the room and I feel that fluttery feeling in my stomach again like I did when we first met.

(taken as part of our engagement photos- 6 months after we met)

These are the flashes of time that stop me and I have to ask, "Is this for real?  Could my life really be so swell?  What did I ever do to deserve all this?"  Basking in sweet, real, deep love all year long.  May you have the same! Happy Valentine's Day.

sick station

Well unfortunately, the "barf bowl" has seen some action over the last few days.  Again, Hannah keeps it in her possession at all times.  I am thankful that she has become so skilled in its proper use!  A lot less laundry for me if you know what I mean.

We set up what Hannah refers to as her "sick station".  Wherever she goes the station goes too. It is a bright and cheery day and I thought it might do her some good to look out the window for a while.  She agreed only if I agreed to re-locate the "sick station" too. Like an entourage following royalty I packed out the gear while she sauntered out to the couch- all the way reminding me of the essentials: lip balm (behind her water bottle), paper dolls, personal dvd player, tissue, books, etch-a-sketch, and of course the barf bowl (strangely not pictured).

As much as it pains me to see them sick.  I make a fine nurse. In fact, I was supposed to be at a birth this morning.  Sadly, I had to decline. Instead I found myself making chicken soup (that went un-eaten) and my friend Lisa's miraculous honey/lemon/ginger/cayenne tea.

(Also not consumed by the patient).  All this doting has left me ready for a nap. Hope you are well... ZZZZZZZZZZ.

simple gestures

Last night I was in my little crafty space sewing away.  My thoughts were fixed on what I was doing (I was actually trying to figure out how to get around some dreaded hand sewing).  In the distance I heard footsteps carefully making their way down the stairs.  Since the children were in bed, I figured it was just Carl coming down to poke his head in to ask if I was the one who ate the last ice cream sandwich (which I may or may not have).  He leaned over my shoulder, and put something on the table.  I didn't look up from my needle and thread and just said, "hey."  With a bit of a smirk he reiterated my "hey" and walked off.  I began to wonder what that was all about.  Glancing up, I saw this:

He made me tea.  He made me happy...with such a sweet, simple gesture.  Thank you Curl, thank you.

joy

 

If there is anyone that can make me smile its Hannah.  Here's hoping she can add to your joy on this cold winter day!!

This day...

In loving memory of my Mother

 

Karen Elizabeth Hickman June 6, 1956- December 20th, 1992

There are times when I look in the mirror and it is as if I am seeing her face, and times when I say something and it is if I am hearing her voice. The pain of losing her is both soothed and yet still fresh. She died when I was 14 after a two year battle with cancer.  She was 36. 

I knew her only as my mother, not as a peer.  We never talked about what it was like to have babies, to have a fight with our husbands, how she made perfect Yorkshire Pudding, the best way to balance work and mothering, how to get ketchup stains out of shirts, or how to apply eyeliner.  For as much that has been missed between the two of us, I am thankful for the memories that I have of her.  Sometimes, out of fear that I might forget something about her, I run through what I do remember in my mind- like a child would practice their multiplication tables.  Whenever I visit the department store I wander by the Estee Lauder counter and smell the perfumes she used to wear.  There are even funny moments when I look at my daughter Hannah and see a twinkle of my mother's smile shinning through.

In spite of all these things, I will never be able to forget how much I love her and how much she loved me.  Thank you God for the promise of Eternity.

 

Love, love, weekend love

Back from a lovely weekend filled with:

Wedding love.  My girls boogied on down, and Emma caught the bouquet!

Grandma love.  Our last visit with g'ma and g'pa before they head south for the winter.

Baby love.  My cousin gave birth to twins 6 weeks ago.  This was my first peek at Logan, or was it Austin?

Nutcracker love.  Perhaps I was the only one who loved it.  They are a rough crowd.

And finally, this evening, with home on the horizon...

I fit in some relaxing

Tub love.

Lots and lots of cramming crafting this week!  Stay tuned!

Keep out!

...walking down the hall today and had to back up and read this note that I found posted on Emma's door.

 

The Christmas Spirit is thick around here!

every now and then...

...I remember that before there were any kids there was "us",

that white wine in a chilled glass, low lights, and flickering candles can do a lot for me,

that dinner without color crayons, spilled drinks and french fries is better.

Every now and then we are alone long enough and I remember just how much I love Carl,  how much he makes me laugh crazy.

I wish I was reminded more often.

It's hard to say...

...what I liked best about my weekend.

It could've been all the beautiful things that I saw while shopping. (Pottery Barn above, REI below)

Everything was all glittery and sparkly!

The "laughing until you snort, pee, or quit breathing" was good too!

Or perhaps the thing I like best about this weekend was that I got approx. 95% of my shopping done. Don't be fooled, still lots to make- but the buying is mostly done.

We all did pretty well, can't you tell?  Not sure if we would've been able to fit one more bag into the Xterra we were driving. (what am I saying?  there is always room for more bags! jenny was perfectly comfortable riding that way home)

Dinner was definitely a highlight. A little wine and WAAAAYY too much food. Never fear, there is always room for Burnt Cream.

As good as dinner was, the company was even better. This was most likely the best part!

(we all have a dinner mint tucked in our cheeks)

A lovely weekend, it was all the best...especially returning back home to my favorite faces and lots of small (and big) arms wrapped around me.  It's good to be missed.

Hope your week is off to a great start.  Thank you for all the advent garland love!

wisdom of a 6 year old

The days seem to be picking up speed.  And as they seem to pass by more quickly, my "to do" list seems to be growing.  After the kids went to bed yesterday evening, I was feeling a bit sorry for myself.  You know, when you would like to sit down and read the newspaper or sip a little tea and relax- but instead, you clock in for the "night shift".  Last minute laundry before the next day.  Readying the lunch boxes and the coffee pot for the morning to come. Picking up toys, lots of picking up.  Cleaning out the car from the day's journey. Loading the dishwasher with dinner dishes.  There is something a bit satisfying about doing work that doesn't get undone in the next minute (because all the undoers are sleeping).  But also, it can be a bit lonely.

As I was organizing backpacks with necessary items for the next day and fretting about all the tasks that still lied ahead of me- I found this paper tucked inside Emma's pack.

Can you read it?  It says Peace is _______.  Her idea of peace was "being".  It made me stop and think. I wonder where she learned that?  I certainly am not a very good example.  What a profound thought coming from a sweet little 6 year old.  She unknowingly blessed me in that moment.  I have much to learn from her. 

Hope that you have a little "being" in your day today.

busy bees

Like all of you I'm sure- we are busily preparing for the Thanksgiving Holiday tomorrow.  Amidst all the preparations (I am responsible for: pickles, olives, rolls, and pies) we continue to keep the day's true purpose in sight.  Yesterday evening when I braved the crazy madhouse that was the grocery store with my three children (who were hungry and tired) the giving of thanks did not flow so freely. I came home to find 13, yes 13 catalogs in my mailbox.

 

The thought of ordering every Christmas gift from my cozy computer chair crossed my mind.  I am not much for crowds, and after the grocery store was completely frazzled.  I only wish that I had gotten the early start that I had intended to on all of my gift-making. Don't worry Carl, I was just browsing :)

After watching the movie we were inspired to try some Ratatouille (above in my bowl).  I used this recipe and added some pasta shells for kid appeal. I didn't seem to work.  We liked the movie better than the actual dish.  Oh well, now we can say that we have tried it.

Lots of baking for me this afternoon.  Plenty of pies to be working on.

Carl is finishing up at the office.  The ski resort opens this weekend and their website has to be up and running.

Emma was getting a jump start on her ornament making.  She has been working on some fabric scrap balls.

Right now, Hannah is working on a nap  (a bit jealous of her).

And Laurel baby, well, she is busy working on her 2 year molars.  We will all be giving thanks when they finally arrive. Poor girl.

Meow!

The "Biggs" and I had a little date last night. They let me come along even though I didn't have a matching red coat.

They did great....a few wiggles (mostly Hannah) but all in all they were a great audience. 

It was a practice run for this.  We have 5 tickets and outfits (of course, they are on sale now), and lots of excitement.  I think Laurel Baby will like Mother Gigogne. You know, she is the lady (or man perhaps :) with the big dress.  From under her dress come her silly little children. PNB's production was too expensive. $90ish x 5= too much (not including a hotel.)  So, we decided that we could get better seats, prettier dresses, and a yummy dinner too, if we saw Ballet Northwest's version instead (my alum).  It is our Christmas Gift to Ourselves. The girls agreed this would be more fun than any new toys this year. Memories last longer than material things right?

Feasting

This week has been the final push before Thanksgiving Break.  We have had conferences, assemblies, field trips, lots of classroom volunteering....and best of all some feasting.

(my daughter Emma is not actually in this picture...I had to crop her out because she was fiercely growling at her little sister for snatching one of her olives :)  By the way, did you know that the pilgrims had juice boxes and Oreo cookie constructed turkeys on the first Thanksgiving?

 

On to Hannah's classroom.  They were each handed three kernels of corn and told to place them in that tiny basket one-by-one.  As they dropped their corn in, they were to say 3 things that they were thankful for.  So sweet.

So now we have 10 long, luxurious days before us to do WHATEVER we want. I am so, so, so thankful for that!! I am hoping that their will be some sleeping in.  Also hoping that we can watch this movie for the one billionth time (it has become the current favorite with the little people around here.)  And, if I am lucky- some crafting too.  I have a "Christmas Gifts To Make" list that is a mile long!

She "makes" like me

One of the most interesting and challenging parts of being a mom is figuring our kids out.  What makes them tick?  Are they extroverted or introverted? Enjoy a challenge or frightened by it?  Do they like a lot of interaction or do they require more down time?  Is help appreciated by them or do they like to do it themselves?  One thing that I have really come to realize in the last year is that they are definitely all different from each other, and also from me!  As they get older, their own little quirks and personality traits are really starting to shine through.  I am learning to appreciate them- to be thankful for our differences. We definitely have a broad spectrum of likes and dislikes between our three girls, and it certainly makes life more interesting. 

One similarity that I love about Hannah and myself...she "makes" like me.  A flurry of creating in hyper-speed.  No time for picking up as you go, that can be done later.  I don't freak out when I see messes like this (she was cutting and gluing hair for the paper doll she was working on) because I know she is in "the mode."

I am grateful for the understanding I am given (sometimes in very tiny amounts) to see my children for who they are, and to honor and respect that.

good times, good times

Because so many of our friends don't really celebrate Halloween, and because our kids don't already get enough sugar in their diet (roll eyes)...we decided as a group to come up with a fun alternative to traditional Halloween fare.  October 31st was a school night this year, so we planned the 2nd Annual "Fall/Pumpkin/Harvest/Something-else-to-do-instead-of-dressing-up-and-asking-our-neighbors-to-give-them-candy"- Party for Saturday night.

The kids did some coloring,

(they were preparing their goody bags- keep reading)

The adults did some munching (or maybe that was just me).  Notice the juice box in that picture, we are so fancy!

We played some fun games,

This donut game was especially hilarious...

and messy!!!

It was a great time of laughing, relaxing, chatting, eating, and sharing together. So blessed we are to have such great friends! Good times, good times.

bike ride with Laurel Baby

Last night Carl took the older girls to his hometown (1 hour away) to watch a football game against a longstanding rival.  It was against my better judgment to let them go on such an excursion on a school night- knowing how late they would be home, and how early morning would come.  It is obvious that Carl doesn't get to do any "father and son" type activities, and because the girls wanted so desperately to be alone with their dad is such a grown-up way...I conceded.  I bundled them up and sent them on their way with a goodie bag (which Carl later told me saved the 2nd quarter when the novelty of their surroundings wore off) and mugs ready for cocoa. So, with "the others" gone- Laurel Baby and I found ourselves alone.  The possibilities of how we might spend our quiet evening together were almost overwhelming.  Finally it was decided that we would go for a bike ride.  Earlier this year, my dad bought me and ibert seat for Laurel to ride in on my bike.  She loves it when we go.  So we too bundled up, I strapped on my camera and off we went.

She took off her gloves no less than 500 times.  This was okay because I was thankful for the excuse to stop and rest.  Clearly I am waaay out of shape.  She loves looking in that little mirror on my handlebars.  No matter how many times she spots her own face, she still greets herself with a sweet, "hi Lolo babee".  Over and over again she repeated it.  I love hearing her say her own name- especially with the "baby" part added on (this is what we call her).

We made our way down (I say down just so that you will know that I had to go up on the way back :) to one of my favorite look out spots.  The autumn colors were so serene at sunset.

We could smell dinner cooking and chimneys frothing their cozy sent all through the neighborhood. Just as we were pulling away from our river perch- we saw these geese retreating to their nests in the wheat fields behind our house.

 

We honked back at them.  Then Laurel's mantra then became "bye bye guckies" (duckies).  I am pretty sure that she said that all the way home.  I have trouble remembering much of the ride home.  Certainly if I had pedaled any further or harder than I did, my legs would have given out and my heart would have seized.  I understand now how people find themselves middle-aged and out of shape.  Life just creeps up on you and before you know it- you are old and fat. That is an uplifting thought huh?  We made our way back inside for some dinner (which thankfully I was able to prepare without fainting), a bath together, and some movie watching on my bed.  Laurel seems to think that she sleeps there too these days.  She is quite comfortable sauntering in to my bedside in the middle of the night now that her crib no longer restrains her.  It's okay, she is a good snuggler- with me at least. Carl reported that she kicked him in the head last night.  I am fairly certain he was dreaming. A lovely evening with Laurel Baby.

We have some fun things planned this weekend...hope to be back soon with a full report.

my pheasant and her pie

Be proud of her,  she did it all by herself (be a little proud of me too for letting her do it-- there were moments when I literally had to put my hands in my pockets.  I worked hard at letting go of how I thought it should look.  And, like her mother, she made a terrible mess.  Flour everywhere!  This is Emma's Blackberry Pie that she submitted to the baking contest at school today.  They were celebrating Reformation Day and honoring Martin Luther.  We did not win...but participating was the emphasis- we were beat out by Strawberry Rhubarb.

Her costume was fun and fairly easy to make. The goal was a 15th century peasant.  Or as Hannah would say "she is a pheasant". Emma was trying to look poor in this picture...thus the somber face. (Red eyes again!  Anyone know how to adjust this in photoshop? I don't think that my camera has that option.  I hate using my flash...but there is so little daylight anymore.) At 1:00am this morning as I was finishing off her apron, I wasn't sure it would all be worth it.  Funny enough, she won 3rd place for "Best Period Representation" in the Elementary Division. That sweetened the deal to some extent.

Lots of lovely gowns like these.  The children also took part in a lavish feast featuring medieval-ish food.

 

Check out these girl's archery skills.

 

Also some action packed sword fighting!

All in all a glorious day, remembering important and courageous people.

weekends

Weekends are for:

Messy hair, and no reason to comb it

Buckwheat/buttermilk/banana/blueberry pancakes with soy sausage and green juice (Odwalla's Superfood)

Some pampering. Emma and I indulged.  I did not choose purple w/flowers though.

Changing the sheets (and playing in them too).

Lots and lots of snuggling!  Eeek, major red eyes!  We Hannah and Emma were watching Peter Pan, Laurel and I found ourselves chatting.

We enjoyed our weekend and hope that you find yourself well rested and ready for the week!!

changes

Well, we took a big step this weekend.  On Friday, Laurel climbed out of her crib.  I thought I was going insane when she suddenly appeared in the living room.  Didn't I just put her in her bed?  Was it just my imagination?  Her roommate (Hannah) ratted her out. She had escaped!

Saturday, I peeked through her door to see if she was awake or not.  I found her sitting up on the bookshelf at one end of her crib, teetering over the edge.  So, it was time....

(Laurel started crying 2 seconds after this picture was taken.  She was not pleased with Sophie's presence on her "new" bed.)

Carl took her crib down yesterday, and we set up the toddler bed for her.  She only got out 3 times last night.  Not too bad-- it is all a bit of a learning process to begin with.  The parts of the crib are disassembled in our hallway (it is a huge bed!)  Carl had the audacity to ask me if we could sell it.  He didn't want it taking up space in the garage.  I said, "what if we have another baby?"  He laughed. 

Even if we don't have another baby, there is something so special about the bed that my Sweet Ones slept in.  So many emotions are wrapped up in a simple piece of furniture.  Excitement as we set it up the first time when I was pregnant with Emma. Frustration when they would drop their dolls back between the railing and the wall.  Exhaustion when I would drape myself over the edge in the middle of the night wishing that they would just sleep. Silliness when we would play peek-a-boo between the bars. Tenderness when I would sing soft little songs to them and pat their backs over it's edge as they drifted off. Amazement as I would look at them sleeping in it- wondering "how did I deserve this little gift?" Joy as their smiling faces popped up from inside of it each morning. Ughh I am not good at letting go- but I will try to follow Laurel's lead.  She was ready.

In other news, our kitty has finally warmed up to us.  She came out of hiding just in time too- I was threatening to take her back.  I couldn't see the point of having a pet that lived behind the washing machine.  Her middle name has been changing.  At first it was Sophie Scared because she wouldn't come out to play.  Then, it was Sophie Sick because she had a cold. Next it was Sophie Snob because we all knew she was feeling a bit better but she still was content to hide away.  Now we are calling her Sophie Snuggles.  We all like Sophie Snuggles the best.  I hope she sticks around!

what to do?

What does a girl do when she is so overwhelmed by the messiness of her house that she doesn't know where to start?

(can't believe I just posted that picture!)

Does she whip up a couple cute aprons for her children hoping that it will inspire them to tackle their rooms?

Does she make fun little "to do" lists that are pink and give them the satisfaction of crossing things off as they go along?

Hmmm good ideas, but better yet-

she sends them outside to "help" Dad!!! You can see how much he appreciates that!

Okay, now I am rolling up my sleeves and digging in!!! (right after a I have another cup of coffee.)

 

made it!

I didn't actually make any "things" today (except 50 bazillion snacks and 3 square meals).  I really, really want to do some sewing!  Tomorrow afternoon perhaps.

I did make it through school pictures- or at least I equipped my children to make it through them.  Hair is a big deal around here these days!!

I made it through recess as "the monitor", no major issues to report. I wanted to ask if I could take my whistle home for more practice.

I made it through a trip to the vet with our new kitty.  She has a bit of a cold.  And knowing me, you know that this was a big deal for me.  I am not a huge lover of animals.  I guess the Doula in me came out as I tried to comfort this kitty through her rectal temperature procedure!

I made it through a flurry of afternoon phone calls mixed with book reading, spelling words, annoying neighbor playmates, and dinner making.

I made it through the first class in the next series of my classes.  Three lovely couples, so enjoyable.

Yes, I made it through this day.  I have to say this because there were moments when I wasn't so sure that I would.  Sometimes I am very irrational :)  I don't like just "making it" through the day.  I would much rather enjoy it.  None the less here we are, and tomorrow is a new day.

Ahhhh breathe.

its coming

Do you see it?  You know that white stuff on top of the mountain?  It fell there a couple of nights ago and this what we saw coming down the hill into town today.  What's the big deal you ask?  Well the big deal is "the talk" of all the locals around here.  It snowed up at the ski hill. 

I grew up skiing.  It was one of the greatest family activities that we did together. Too bad I can't find a picture of the stylin' neon one piece jumpsuits we used to wear. They rocked! Especially when you had to go the bathroom. Then you had to take the whole blasted thing off!

I have a lot of wonderful memories trying to keep up with my dad and my brother as they totally left me in the dust.  Or how about the time (basically every time) that my brother pushed me down as we both got up to ski off the chair lift. Yeah that was cool!  I had to make sure that I stood up and got the heck of that thing before he could pull me down!! Skiing where I grew up was quite and adventure.  We lived about 2 hours away from the closest mountain.  It meant that we had to get up at 5am to ensure that we would be there before the lifts even opened.  That was my dad's deal- to be the first ones there, and to get front row parking.  The two hour commute made for a long (stinky socks) ride home too.

I haven't been skiing more than maybe twice in the last 10 years since I have been married.  My husband never learned...and you know it is not very cool to be a grown man and have to "learn" something :).  So, we haven't gone.  However, this year may be different.  After having designed the website and print collateral the last 3 years for our local resort- he is having a change of heart.  Yay! We only live 30 minutes away.  So we could even go for a half-day here and there. Get this- a season pass that includes unlimited lift tickets, rental gear and lessons is only $330.00! Even less for the kids!  It's almost too good to pass up. 

But you know me- I am thinking, "what will I wear?"  Well, I think that I would look pretty awesome in this jacket,

pair it with these goggles:

 

and if I have to wear a sweater underneath it would be this one:

 

(in fact, skip the whole athletic thing...I'll just sit in the lodge and wear this!)

Or, now that Carl is rolling his eyes and saying, "yeah right!" - maybe I'll just see what Goodwill has to offer.

Now to work on my form...better head back to this place, it's been a while.

Bring on the snow!!

Tea for Three (4 if you count me)

It rained today.  Like a good cry, it feels good every now and then.  It reminds me of home.  Really, what I wanted to do today is gather up my family and make camp in our bed.  Wouldn't that be great?  We could read books, play cards, tickle, sleep (okay that is a bit far fetched), maybe even catch a little Sesame Street or something.

What is this business of leaving the house every day?  Who's idea was it to say goodbye and part ways each morning?  I wonder if my kids think of me as many times throughout the day as I think of them.  I wonder if they long for the moment when we are together again in our little nest as much as I do.  These school days have me missing the ones that are away.

I caught a brief glimpse of Emma's day today.  I came to pick her up from school and arrived early (must've been the toaster).  As I walked down the corridor towards her classroom I witnessed a whilrwind of activity.   Up and down the hall teachers were calling out reminders like, "spelling test tomorrow", "remind your parents about the field trip on Friday" or "make sure you turn in your permission slips".  Looking a bit frazzled I could see that Emma was struggling to put some papers in her desk, to pack up her backpack, to put her jacket on, and to say goodbye as each one of her friends walked out of the room.  Without her knowing, I watched her give a big sigh.   It was one of those moments when I knew (as her mother) that she needed a hug and some help.  My heart broke as I wondered how many of those moments went unnoticed when I am not there.  It was then that I wanted to call the whole thing off.  Scratch school, forget piano lessons- your coming home with me and for the next 18 years you and your sisters will just watch Sesame Street in bed with me.  I guess I felt sort of naive to the fact that her day is indeed full and busy. 

So, after all of that, what we all needed was some "low key-togetherishy fun."

Afternoon tea (or hot cider if you are under the age of 4) complete with chocolate chips and teddy grahams for nibbling. We chatted (with British accents- hilarious) and sipped away the parts of our day that were spent apart.

 

Yes, that is Hannah's had repeatedly reaching for the chocolate. She decided to mix them in with her apple cider.  Apparently, it is pretty tasty that way.  (only one broken cup- pictured below just prior to its demise, and one spill by Laurel.  You cannot get angry when you hear an 18 month old say "oopsy-daisy-o". 

Safe from the rain, the wind, schedules, and strangers...

we were warmed inside and out.