Princess #2 Turns 5!!

I'm having a hard time with this little gal getting so old, so fast. But she is thrilled to be 5, which means a friend party, and moving up to a new Sunday School class, and starting Kindergarten.

She had a great day! A wonderful "bride" cake thanks to a little help from some friends with a fully functional kitchen! A wonderful dinner and of course! wonderful presents.

Kitchen Remodel Update

Progress has been made on the kitchen--despite the frustration of waiting for the countertop laminate to make it's way to our local Home Depot. Tim Allen aka my wonderful husband, got the micro-hood installed. It has real fan speeds like lo, that really is lo, medium, and high--it is wonderful and HUGE! I am going to enjoy having it. The new stove is in the garage awaiting it's spot. And thanks to my hubby and dad's hard work Friday, the last of the cabinets have been put in. We have another friend who has been helping out as well. Like for instance he'll offer to come over to help unload the stove, and stay to hang a cabinet. So wonderful.

Enjoy the pictures. I am so excited about how it looks. So much so, that my vision of what it will look like has eclipsed my frustration over not having a sink or d.w. Or maybe it's all the take-out pizza we've had here lately . . .




My beloved micro-hood. :)

A new member HE he heh heh

A post by Princess #1. Enjoy.

A new member started Friday. There it sat very quiet very still with a pill bug
crawling on it. I picked it up brought into the house I told Mom the same story im telling you well not the same Story Now im going to tell you where I
found it RIGHT IN THE GARDEN well of course it had to be in the garden it WAS A GIANT ZUCCHINI. Wow here is a picture of it. I have to go I coud do this all day BYE

Knit Pics!

Here are some pictures of recently completed projects. The pink sweater is for me! It was my first lace garment. It's got 3/4 length sleeves and a cropped waist. It was done quite a while ago, I just needed to block it and sew on the button. So I did that this weekend at long last.

The purple sweater is a Debbie Bliss pattern done up for Princess #2. She chose the pattern and the yarn and it turned out great. It looks really cute on her. I did most of the knitting on this one during our trek out to MN and back. I finished the last stitch just before entering ID. It is long sleeved and cropped looking. The 4 inches of ribbing around it really look great! It closes with a pin (the flower!). Now I'm working on two Christmas gifts. I got frustrated with one after the repeated ripping out of the same 12 rows--ARGH, so I started another project. Here are the pictures:

Remodeling Phase I

Well, just about the minute we got back from MN, the kitchen project began! YEAH!

As most of you know this has been a long time coming. For about 18 months actually. It all started with the dishwasher leaking and then the subsequent removal of the leaky dishwasher only to discover that this leak was no stranger to our house. Then we knew we'd have to replace the pretty pretty Pergo that we installed after we bought this house 6 years ago. Heavy sigh. Then we thought, why don't we just remodel the kitchen's floorplan, upgrade the cabinets, and make the kitchen how we'd like it. And that was 18 months ago.

Phase I has involved the disgusting chore of tearing out rotten sub-floor, replacing that, and taking out old cabinetry and replacing it bit by bit. An hour after work here and there and heavy on the weekend. Thankfully my dad came over this weekend and helped us out or we're pretty sure we'd still have a gaping hole in the center of the kitchen. Enjoy the pictures . . .

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.