Hello Again

Well, we are back, not quite back to normal, but define normal. For those unaware, we made our first cross-country car trip at the end of June and got back earlier this week. Is it possible to feel jet-lag when only crossing two time zones? This is a question I've been pondering. I feel as if I'm walking through mud, and my girls can attest to the crabbiness that has over-taken me.

In all actuality the trips out there and then back home again went really well (thank you God for portable DVD players!!). The princess' all behaved (just a few minor fights &/or irrational screaming) and really seemed to enjoy pausing their movie to see what their crazy parents were pointing out this time. The king and I realized that we are indeed getting older if we can find eastern North Dakota interesting . . .

On our trip back we stopped at De Smet, SD where Laura Ingalls Wilder lived in the "Little Town on the Prairie". For the Laura "fans" out there, we got to walk through the actual "surveyor's house" where Laura and her family stayed their first winter on the prairie. Of course the house was filled with things that "looked just like what Laura, Mary, Ma or Pa might have had". We had to chuckle about that. We got to go into a replica of the Brewster school where Laura taught while Almanzo began to court her. The local historical society recently acquired the original school where Laura and Carrie attended in town, so we got to peek in there and see the renovation being started. They managed to uncover part of the original blackboard, so that was fun to see. And finally we got a really interesting tour of the house that Pa built for Ma after Laura married Almanzo. It was full of original Ingalls/Wilder things and the tour guides gave a lot of the family's history. Like what happened to Mary, Carrie, and Grace, etc.
Princess #1 just soaked up the information like a sponge. It was fun for her to see the books come to life.

Then the second day we stopped at Mt. Rushmore and toured that area. The renovations that they have done since I was there last were very impressive. It was fun to take the trail around the base of the mountain and listen in on a Ranger-given history lesson about the mountain.

And two days later we arrived home. Safe and sound. Grateful to be home again. Thankful for air conditioning and long-lost, much missed toys to play with again.

More to come--the king has started the kitchen renovation (the chorus said "Hallelujah"), so I'll have plenty to blog about!

I'm An Auntie!

My younger sister and her husband welcomed their little daughter just a tad before midnight last night! The baby is healthy and doing really well, and so is my sis. The baby was 8 lbs. 11 oz. so it's a good thing she decided to come 10 days early!

I can't wait to at the very least see a picture of my brand new niece, much less get my hands on her! The latter will have to unfortunately wait a bit.

Thanks for your prayers . . .

Happy (almost) Birthday!

I just got word from my expectant sister that baby is on her way! Hooray!

Please pray with me for a smooth and (dare I pray) quick first delivery for my sis, her husband, and their new little one.

I'll keep you posted . . .

Making Sense of the Noise

Lately, the castle has been so noisy. It's irritating to say the least. By dinner time yesterday, my external noise assimilator had malfunctioned leaving me with a horrible headache and a crabby disposition. I really hate it when I feel as if I have to yell to be heard, and then I'm still not heard, well okay listened to. Finally after being able to get control of the hyper princess' after dinner and holding their attention long enough to communicate my displeasure with their antics, the oldest princess apologized.

Things settled down for bedtime, just in time for the first thunderstorm in a long while to rumble in. Of course, my hubby was off helping a friend so I was solo amidst the irrational tears of Princess #1. Soon Princess #3 picks up on the tears and drama and decides to add her own. I tell them all that it's just the thunder telling us that he's coming to cool us off. That appeases #3, and she loudly shouts "I DON'T LIKE THE RUMBLE BUMBLE!" So now we have a new catch phrase around the house. Thankfully #1 decides to suck it up and be brave, and they are all down for the night. Peace and quiet at last.

So today the noise returns! Happy noise today, not screaming and being obnoxiously hyper like yesterday. The girls' were listening to "Silly Songs" today and the older princess' must have replayed the "Pirates Who Don't Do Anything" song about 100 times. (and you know, I never exaggerate!) Well, the baby princess picked up on one line: "And I never kissed a chipmunk" and sang it, oh about 100 times. Too funny! Then I overheard the older two playing Polly's and saying at the top of their lungs: "No, she has AMMONIA!"

Happy noise I can deal with . . .

Cute Stuff

The girls in all of their various stages, ages, and personalities never cease to amuse me. The latest cute stuff has been:

Princess #1 talking about the "calzones" she is getting from her bike handles.
(calzones=calluses)

Princess #2 telling me that she found my wedding dress in my closet (she has rest time in our room now and has been busy investigating it instead of laying F.O.B.), so out of curiosity, I ask her to show me, knowing full well the wedding dress is not there . . . and she pulls out a long white nighty that I had shoved in the back of my closet behind several winter coats along with other few unmentionables. Then she asks why there is lace there and there, and says, you must have had a slip under that for your wedding day. "Er, um, yes honey you're exactly right!! Now let's go downstairs and I want you to stare into this bright light for a second!"

Princess #3 loves to count, it usually goes like this 1, 2, 4, 5, 2, 7, 8, TWO! Her latest is counting her steps as she goes down the stairs. One (takes the first step) . . . THREE (takes the second step) . . . and then repeats all the way down the stairs!

A Little Pick Me Up

While eating lunch earlier in the week we were talking about ages. Specifically ages of the cats and dogs and then grandparents, etc. Then it turned to how old mommy was. I said I was in my thirties, then not skipping a beat, Princess #2 chimes in with "I'm in my fours". It was stated so matter-of-factly, that I burst out laughing which led to the other princess' copying their sister, and even more laughter.

It was one of those moments where everything was as it should be, laughter, happiness, no fighting . . . just enjoying one another.

Bike Rides and Scream Fests (and not necessarily in that order)

Now that Princess #1 has mastered solo-riding, I got the bright idea that we should institute a daily bike ride, and do it first thing, so that it didn't get swept under the rug with every other good intention that I have.

So yesterday was our first day of trying it out, and of course when Princess #2 discovered that she would have to ride in the bike trailer rather than pedaling, she flipped. So while she was in the house having her fit and carrying on about the "stupid bike ride" and "stupid exercise", I was trying to hitch up the trailer to my bike. During the hitching process, Princess #3 was deceptively calm and excited about the trek. I should have known better than to get my hopes up when Princess #2 recovered from her tirade (after being told she could bring along the entire box of "Littlest Pet Shop" toys to entertain herself), and Princess #3 happily climbed in and let me buckle her. The happiness ended there. She didn't want to be buckled, she didn't want to share the "LPS" toys with her sister, she didn't want to go in the trailer anymore. AWWW!!

After violently opening the trailer opening and fixing the offensive buckle, I almost gave into the screaming and quit. Then I remembered that swimsuit weather is on the horizon and closed the trailer screen, called for Princess #1 and we took off. The ENTIRE trip, Princess #3 yelled and screamed "MOMMY-NO! NO-NO MOMMY! MOMMY STOP!", you get the picture, and it's not pretty. I am pretty sure that if people weren't already up and had a window cracked to let in the fresh morning air, they were rudely awoken. Or if they were enjoying a nice cup of coffee on their patio, their peace was interrupted by my daughter. But, hey, I got my exercise in, and today not a single fuss out of anyone. In fact, as I huffed and puffed into the driveway, Princess #2 asks for another swing around the block and Princess #3 says "yeah!". Go figure.

The Score: Queen: 2 Princess': 0

Princess #1 Turns 7!!

It's been a busy couple of weeks. Princess #1 celebrated her birthday May 4th. She has mastered riding her bike solo (with a minimum of wipe outs) and her second top front tooth is coming in (finally). It's fun to see what she's going to look like with both big "Bucky Beaver" teeth. She is enjoying being 7!

Say A Prayer

Well, if you think of me today, say a prayer! For once we're all healthy, so it's not a health related crisis. Today is the day we are rotating beds, rooms, and all of that. So Princess #1 will have her own room, Princess #2 is headed for the top bunk, and Princess #3 is out of the crib and into the bottom bunk. AND I AM SCARED! Freaked out is more like it!!

We took a trip over the mountains this past weekend and got the loft bed for Princess #1 and Daddy set it up last night, the mattress will be delivered at 11:30-ish (she is really into saying "ish" for some reason) today, so we have no more excuses, save my sanity, which is obviously going to be shot.

I am hoping that the anticipation of camping out upstairs for bedtime and rest-time for the weeks to come is exaggerated and that all goes smoothly. But I think that for now I will settle on the darker side of things and be really happy when everything lightens up.

P.S. Did I mention that Princess #3 is moving out of the crib??? How did this happen??

Easter Photos

I know, I know, it's way past Easter, but hey, we spent the week after Easter dealing with pink eye and a double ear infection in Princess #3. However good news on the health front, we have reached our family deductible for health care (please don't ask how much, it's that depressing), so I am sure that from here on out everyone will be healthy. . . at least until the new calendar year starts up!

I managed to get all the dresses made up in time to flirt with the crazy notion that I might be able squeak in a dress for myself. Thankfully all I did was flirt!

Here are the princess' in all their Easter finery:

Meet Dotty Harold . . . and Cookie Monster

Easter weekend was an eventful one as far as new pets for our family and extended family!
Princess #1 and #2 split the cost of a guinea pig (a bargain at only $5!!) and purchased "Dotty Harold". So here she is . . .


And during the Easter egg hunt at Nanny and Papa's we got to see up close and personal a brand new baby calf. Princess #3 got the honor of naming the new baby, and she chose "Cookie Monster"! So here she or he is . . .

I couldn't believe how friendly the little he or she was! It nuzzled the girls as they petted it. Then mama cow "Wilma" had enough and told it to get up and get going.

My Sanity

Here are some pictures of what keeps me sane! The latest knitting projects that I have completed. I finished the teeny tiny felted tote yesterday and it is teeny tiny, even more like eensey weensey. . .
**I updated the photos of the tiny tote to show it's size in relation to my cell phone. Thanks for the idea Laughter Thoughts !










And the little teddy bear (he's about 7" tall) and the mary jane slippers:

Sick of Sick

Let me re-cap the past week for you all. A week ago Sunday we were "ushered" (really ushered, by the head usher!) out of church to rescue our eldest, who had thrown up during Sunday School (thankfully she made it to the bathroom in time). Then I got her stomach bug the next day. Princess #2 started in with a runny nose a day or so later and passed that on to me as well. Saturday she woke up with pink eye. Sunday the youngest and oldest princess' are coughing. Which brings us to today, all four of us blowing noses, coughing and cranky! I am so sick of being and dealing with sick of any kind!!! Thankfully the weather reflects my mood and health (dark and drippy), so I am not feeling frustrated being stuck in the house as well.

Enough of that . . .

On another note, Murphy's Law of sewing has struck again! As I am working on Princess #1's Easter dress yesterday feeling all smug as the first cap sleeve pops perfectly into her dress, wouldn't you know that the second one would not go in for anything. Being swept up with euphoria over the first attempt on the first sleeve being perfect, I neglected to lower my expectations for the second sleeve and Murphy struck. There is one pleat that I cannot get out. I have ripped and resewed twice and then spot-ripped and resewed to no avail and I decided that the sleeve could win this round! Her dress is made from a vintage 1950's pattern and is very cute. I am eager to finish it.

I got Princess #3's dress cut out today and it looks to be a fairly simple pattern. No extra gathering or fussing thank you Lord! It is a duro-style dress and I am excited to get it going. I have purchased three duro-style patterns for myself, I just need motivation to get them sewed up!

However, it's hard to be motivated to sew when the knitting has been going so well. After completing a couple of sweaters, I decided to do some smaller projects and it has been a lot of fun. I've made up some adorable mary jane baby slippers and a teddy bear and am now just about to felt for my first time. I made a little stripey bag to try felting. I'll post some pictures when I get it completed.

So despite the illnesses, I am surviving. Of course with all this sewing and knitting, I mean illness, housework has become non-existent . . . I guess it's the price you pay!

One of the BEST sounds . . .

. . . is hearing your daughter laughing out loud while reading a book to herself!! I am in the kitchen, Princess #1 is in the office having rest time and I can hear her infectious laugh from here. It definitely must be a good book!

Yeah for Baby Legs!!

Well, I bought some baby legs a week or so ago. Basically they are just leg warmers that fit a baby's legs from ankle to chubby thigh. (The packaging states they fit size 0-10 years.) I must say that they are wonderful for potty training. We have thrown out the pull-ups with the exception of nap and bedtime and are just using "big girl panties" with Princess #3. Of course some days are better than others as far as accidents, but I've noticed that if she's in pants, she tends to have more accidents. So when we're home it's baby legs with a skirt and she's doing great.

This morning has been one of our best days in real panties and I have needed a good one here lately as far as potty training is concerned.

My Day

So here is a run down of my day:

1.) No school done.

2.) Swim lessons.

3.) Successful trip to Home Depot.

4.) Lunch and still no school done.
(Some AWANA done after much cajoling by queen and carrying on by the princess')

5.) Rest time--yay all kids down and younger girls' napping-safe to assume Princess #2 will not be cavorting upstairs and brushing her teeth in bed today!

6.) Hear youngest princess at same time I realize that the last 4 rows of knitting (over 600 stitches) will have to be taken out because of a mistake! ARGH!!!

7.) Get princess' settled into afternoon TV time and call soccer director. Finally get through to soccer director (after 3 days of trying) and find out that Princess #1's coach is no longer coaching as of today!!

8.) Yummy dinner--taco soup and cornbread. Still no school done. Princess #1 will be doing a double load tomorrow-lucky me!

9.) AWANA carpool comes for older two princess' while I am discovering that I washed a large load of unmentionables and dried them, only to then notice that the load cycle had been set on "mini" (amount of water) with full strength laundry soap. . . hmm, wonder if they will be itchy, and decide to chance it.

10.) Decide to sit down and blog before I fold the questionable laundry.

Hope your day was a good one!

A Poop Story

It's been a while since I've had a good poop story to share, so I felt the urge so to speak. (Sorry I'm kind of in a slap happy mood here as I type. It's been a long weekend. My hubby and I are both sick with the cold that the girls have had and continue to have, and I'm a little stir-crazy. I told him today that I want to sit and watch TV that is inappropriate for little eyes to see, since I have to sit through adult inappropriate TV (namely PBS kids and the same Little People video over and over . . .) when they are sick. He agreed. But I digress . . .)

Anyway, consider yourself warned about what is to follow. So I am doing school with the oldest Princess, when Princess #3 comes in and tells me that she needs to go potty. I am ecstatic-she very seldom asks, and she wasn't feeling well, so I wasn't pushing the potty, and here she was asking! (Oh I forgot to tell you, I have decided to start wearing more dresses and skirts (for no really good reason other than just because I'm in the mood for a change) and had this same morning had put on a new skirt and tights for the first time. Okay, now you've got the visual.) So we race to the bathroom, and with no forethought at all, no sniff test, I just whip off the tiny princess' drawers. Only to discover that my darling had already taken care of both businesses, the second fresh on my hand and now all down her legs. Since she had been sick it was the messy-extra icky kind, so I kinda leaned her against my leg as I wiped up the offensive mess. When I get done with what I could see behind, I put her up on the potty, only to realize that the front needed cleaning too. Yech! After I get that all cleaned up, I start to notice a wet spot on my leg. I look down and realize that in her leaning, I got poop on my skirt. Nice. But being the resourceful (okay, lazy!) mom that I am, I decide to rinse off my skirt (hey, it was a brown print anyway), and move on with the day.

I get back to doing school, I am trying to kinda fan my skirt so the wet spot will dry, but I keep smelling poop. I decide to rewash my hands. Still smelling it. I decide to sniff my skirt (yes, I am a mother of three kids--way past being grossed out with the sniff test). I get a little whiff. Sniff the lining, stronger whiff. Lift up the skirt and lining and see that my problem is a patch of poop had soaked into my tights!! That was it, the final straw. Ran up, and changed my skirt and tights into jeans and socks. And that was my first day of casual skirt wearing.

Frankly, I am a little scared to try again . . .

Homemaking ABC's

Laughter Thoughts tagged me to do this fun alphabet meme. I will tag Momma Chronicles and The Knot and the Knest next, if they would like to play along!

Aprons- Y/N? Very rarely, usually just at Christmas time when I'm doing lots of cookie roll-outs.

Baking- Favorite thing to bake? Bread or cookies

Clothesline- Y/N? Nope, just an over-the-laundry room door hook to hang up the drip-dry clothes

Donuts- Ever made them? I remember making them with my Dad as a child. I have my Grandma's recipe, I should try them someday.

Everyday- One homemaking thing you do everyday? Make dinner for my family.

Freezer- Do you have a separate deep freezer? Yes out in the garage. Like Laughter Thoughts, I'd like a fridge out there too.

Garbage Disposal- Y/N? Nope, but we do have two of the handy four-legged ones.

Handbook- Y/N? I have a wallet and my cash envelope system always with me--usually in either my purse or the diaper bag.

Ironing- Love it or hate it? I hate it!!

Junk Drawer- Where is it? IT?? I have two! To the left of the fridge.

Kitchen- Design and decorating? Cheerio box yellow walls, white cabinets, and red oak Pergo floors--soon to be replaced by??? Any ideas?!

Love- What is your favorite part of homemaking? Clearing off the kitchen counters, it makes me feel like I got something done. I also love to de-clutter and throw away/give away things we no longer need or use!

Mop- Y/N? Yes, weekly, although I should do it daily!

Nylons- Wash by hand or in the washer? Gentle cycle in the washer, drip dry.

Oven- Do you use the window or open it to check? Open it to check, our oven seems to run hot, so I am constantly checking on whatever is in there, so I can rescue if needed.

Pizza- What do you put on yours? Pre-kids we used to love spinach and tomato . . . now I love hawaiian or "Cowboy" pizza from Papa Murphy's.

Quiet- What do you do during the day when you get a quiet moment? Knit or read!

Recipe card box- Y/N? Yes, I have two! And a binder notebook full of my All Recipes favorites and other misc. recipes.

Style of house- Two story, stereotypical suburban home. The bright purple front door has grown on me!

Tablecloths and napkins- Y/N? Yes to both. I love vintage tablecloths especially from the 40's-50's eras, and paper napkins.

Under the kitchen sink- Trash can, cleaning supplies, recycling bag, extension cords, plant watering pitcher.

Vacuum- How many times a week? Once a week, if it needs it or not--HA!

Wash- How many loads do you do a week? 5-7 depending on if it's been a bed-changing week.

X's- Do you keep a list of things to do and cross them off? I like to, I aspire to, I used to! I love to cross things off of lists.

Yard- Who does what? My wonderful husband mows weekly and keeps up the sprinklers, but I usually do the weeding and planting.

ZZZ's- What is your last homemaking task for the day? I do a final visual sweep to make sure things are put away and ready for the next day.

I'm Four, Three, TWO!!

The tiniest princess celebrated her 2nd birthday on Saturday! (Thankfully the current flu/cold bug that has made itself at home in our family waited to hit her until yesterday.) She had a great day-opening presents, helping to supervise the decorating her caterpillar cake, and eating her choice of dinner: octopus hotdogs, rainbow jello and applesauce! However (even after all the helpful coaching) when you ask her how old she is she always starts with four and then works her way down to two. It's really cute.

Moving on . . .

It has been a quite the week around here. The eldest princess is still coughing, but back at swim lessons (her ear infection cleared up). Then about a week ago Princess #2 woke up with a fever and cough and that started her illness and what we thought was a recovery--until last night when she was up several times literally screaming her head off. The first time I went in to her she told me her cheek hurt, so I suggested sleeping on the other side. Then when Daddy checks on her the next screaming bout she tells him it's her ear. When he reports that back to me all I can think is "Great, there goes another week." Sure enough, after a doctor's visit today she has her first ear infection, Princess #1's throat is irritated and inflamed from all the coughing (about a month's worth), so she is on an inhaler of sorts to try and help that problem. Thankfully for now (and no, I'm not holding my breath-it's pointless) , Princess #3 just has a mild fever and a garden variety cold.

My Dad had a good comment today though, he said something to the effect of, "it's a good thing you are no longer caring for Janelle." And it's true--that has been a huge blessing, to just be able to care for my own little ones and not have the added headache of one more child to deal with. Of course, I had had my own plans with how my time was going to be spent after we were done watching her and it did not entail wiping noses and being sympathetic to the poor little princess laying on the couch!

I'm a little steamed . . .

Today started off just fine. Got all 4 kids to swim lessons on time, remembering the all important snacks and sippy cups for Princess #3. Then afterwards got everyone going the right direction at the same time! Made it up one flight of stairs, across to the second flight of stairs (while walking to second flight of stairs was told by a helpful mom that there is an exit from the basement to the front doors-so nice to know after the fact!). Got the stroller with the baby down along with Princess #2, and as I'm heading back up the stairs for #1 and #3, I hear these women telling Princess #1 that she is going to drop Princess #3 "and where is your mom?" "Her mom really should be here." "I'm trying to help the little one but she won't let me." I arrive in time to hear a sarcastic comment about my parenting. I rescue #1 who was doing as I asked her and trying to help a stubborn #3 down the stairs. I kindly say that my daughter is just fine as I am being informed of the neglect and danger that I put my youngest into, and finish carrying #3 down and ignore the rest of the comments that were being said as I hightailed it (as fast as one can with four kids) out of there.

Got to the van and just started to cry. I don't understand people like that. When I see a mom that is clearly doing the best she can and clearly has her hands full, my heart goes out to her, and if my own hands are free I offer help and if not at least a sympathetic smile. I just have to wonder did these women who were grandma-age, raise children? And if they did I have to wonder how on earth they turned out! Anyway it was one of those moments that I made a mental note--when I am older and done with the preschool years-I want to be sympathetic to those still in them because they are tough and unrelenting and a little encouragement is such an emotional boost as a mommy.

Anyway as I am typing all this out and feeling the "mad" and the hurt slip away, I remembered some kind words spoken to me when we first sat down at swim lessons this morning. An older man who takes his grandsons to the lessons told me that his son (who came to watch one day last week) was impressed that I managed to get four kids to swim lessons and that they were all so well-behaved. Well, I can take credit for three of the four and I proudly do!