This Just In: Most Neglected Blog of the Year goes to...

Yes, that would be me. Last post was for Kearyn's 1 year birthday and she is just shy of the 20 month mark-you do the math. My biggest obstacle (besides lack of time) is that I don't want to share the same exact stuff/pics that I do over on Facebook (and I'm pretty sure I don't have a slew of followers that aren't already my FB friends).

But after reading back through some of last year's posts, I had an epiphany.

This blog is as much a personal journal (if not more), as it is a place to share with others.

So with that said: Let's play catch up. In the 6+ months since I last posted we have:

• watched Chip's Southridge boys soccer team win the League & Regional Championships & take 4th at State
• Chip & I celebrated 9 years of marriage
• Drays turned 3 & played YMCA soccer this summer
• went on our annual 4th of July trip to the cabin
• labored in the hot sun to transform our front yard!
• Welcomed our new niece Delainey
• girl's soccer season started and all house projects came to a screeching halt
• Caleb started 1st Grade
• Chip turned 31 (gasp)
• Caleb turned 7 (double gasp)
• Sent Grandpa Bob to Heaven to be with Grandma Sy
• Caleb started another season of hockey
• RHS soccer girls won the League & ended up going out in the Regional Playoffs
• House projects kicked back off with the install of our new mantle!
• Thanksgiving trip to Silver Mountain, ID.
• Assembly of the new Dyson vacuum & I-fit treadmill (2012 is looking cleaner & trimmer already)
• Preparing & decorating for our first Christmas in our new home.

So yes, a ton has happened. And I realize I actually have more to say (than just my Facebook status)--you are shocked I'm sure.

So for anyone still out there: it's good to be back, but mostly I can't wait to start capturing snippets of our lives again. Because if this year has taught me one thing--it's that time goes by way too fast.

Thanksgiving 2011. Silver Mountain, ID.

A Year Already?

Today is Miss Kearyn's 1st Birthday. I can hardly believe it has been a year since I packed my bag and left for the hospital to bring this tiny girl into our family. So much has happened since that day. For both our family and for Kearyn. It's hard for me to believe that she won't have memories of our old house, all her memories will start right here in this house. It is so fun to watch her learn something new everyday. Of course I think she is brilliant and beautiful, but help us, does she have an attitude on her. Some of her many talents include:

walking for the past month

waves hi and bye

blows kisses

climbs everything

says "hi-eee", dog, mama, dad, brother, love you, nigh-nigh

loves to wrestle with brothers and daddy

has four teeth and breaking four more-ugh!

is an uh-mazing sleeper

eats everything in sight

One of my most favorite times of the day is first thing in the morning. She wakes up so happy. I can hear her in her crib babbling to herself and playing with her lovies and dollies. I love the way her room smells like her, I wish I could just bottle it up. And its all warm from the heater and the sun pushes through her curtains. She gives me her best smile and "hi-eee." I lean over the side of her crib and she hands me all her best toys one at a time. Then she reaches up her arms and I pull her out and we snuggle. Just me and her. And I just breathe her in. And she is so stinking happy. And it is just what we both need before brothers rush in and hungry tummies need fed and the day swallows us up. Man, I love her.

Forever House.

So for the past several months it would be an understatement to say that I have been feeling unsettled. We were in such limbo with the sale of the old house and purchase of the new house. And we couldn't even really call it "our new house" because it wasn't really. Not until we signed on that dotted line. But I can say it now.

Our New House.

Forever House.

Even amongst the moving chaos I have felt a sense of calm. The peace that says "you are just where you are supposed to be." And it has been great. And worth it. I guess Husband was right (grrr). Though it didn't really seem like it at the time. But like childbirth, the bad parts just kind of melt away over time and you are left with the good & happy memories and a chubby pink newborn. Except in this case we are left with a 3100 sq. foot dinosaur that was built in 1978. And while the older people who lived here before us obviously didn't subscribe to House Beautiful or watch much HGTV, they did care for the house. You know when people say it has "good bones."And that's really all we need.

The need list looked something like this: at least 2500sq ft (yup), basement or bonus room (yup), at least 4 bedrooms (try 6--one is the playroom/craftroom), potential for open floor plan (yup), good neighborhood/school (lots of young families, awesome schools), good size yard (.3 acre and backs up to a park), in our not very large price range (yup). The want list looked like this: 3 car garage (nope), big master bath (nope), walk-in closet (nope). And just like that chic Sandra says on Property Virgins; it's all about the compromise. So we didn't get a glamorous master bath with a walk in closet right this minute (though we have some big plans later down the road to remedy that), but we did get pretty much everything and more on our need list. Did I mention we have a peekaboo view of the Columbia River, room in our yard for a pool later on, and direct access to the hardly used neighborhood park?

So if you couldn't tell--we're stoked. Feeling so freaking blessed its unbelievable. We have been here 3 weeks and Chip and I still go to bed and say "I can't believe this is our house." And that's why it was worth the wait, the looking, the ups and downs, the stress. Because, as corny as it sounds, this house has been waiting for us and us for it.

And as for the plans, we've got them. We've started on a couple, some will happen more like in 4-5 years, others maybe when the kids are big enough to all move downstairs, others when the kids move out completely--you get the idea. And I hope to document it all. As we transform this big old beast into our family's Forever House.

A Rundown & Tooth Fairy Markings (Swear)

My apologies for the sparse posting. Kinda some big things happening around here (or not) depending on how it all works out.

Don't you hate it when people write things like that---sooo mysterious.

So I won't do that. After all my talk about not moving, we might be moving. An opprotunity has presented itself to us. We are more than halfway there, but until they sign and we sign and someone hands me the freakin' keys I refuse to get my hopes up. I told Chip the other night, buying and selling a home is making me batty. A constant swing of emotions and the unknown is pushing me to my breaking point. Like an untrustworthy teenage boyfriend who says he will pick you up at 7pm for the movies, so you spend like 4 1/2 hours getting your bangs just right and trying on your entire closet twice, only to have him call at 6:59 to tell you that he is actually going to go hang out with his guy friends and play video games or some crap like that.

Confused yet? See...Emotionally. Unstable.

Anyways, in the midst of the chaos, life carries on. MLK weekend we spent in Seattle for a miniature person hockey tournament for Caleb. My parents graciously offered to keep Kearyn, which made things so much easier to navigate, but it was our first time leaving her overnight. So that also means I'm done nursing her, which means I am done nursing babes forever. I am confused about how I feel about this. On one hand I think it was time, on the other it seems like the end of an era (a tad melodramatic? maybe).

And she really doesn't seem to mind. She is taking the bottle like a champ. Grubbin' on more and more real food (despite only rocking the same 2 teeth for the past several months). From the pace of her crawling she seems to be training for something big. Pulling herself up on everything in sight. Attempting to stand unassited (not working out so well just yet). Waves and makes a sound that sounds very similar to "Hi-yee." Yells at her brothers. 9 months next week already. Where has the year gone?

While at the previously mentioned hockey tournament, Drayson fell into the pool without his wings on, so I did my best impression of Pamela Anderson Lee (or was she Lee Anderson then?) ala Baywatch and launched myself into the pool after him. Except for I was fully clothed, did not execute a mid-wave dive, and am not nearly as "endowed," eh hem. And as I walked my soggy-wet cat-self back to the room he had the nerve to ask me "why you not put your swimsuit on go swimming mama?" And since he was totally fine it's actually mostly humorous now.

Now on to these 'tooth fairy markings.' I'm sure you're dying to know (maybe you even scrolled all the way down to find out? or not. I'm going with not). Remember, Caleb lost his first tooth on New Years day. So we did the whole put your tooth under your pillow for the tooth fairy bit. In the morning Caleb woke to find a crisp $20 bill under his pillow (whoa you say. me too. I was informed that this is very reasonable for a first tooth. I disagreed, but Great Grandpa Bob got on board with it and pitched in the $20 bucks. I was thinking more like $5. Grandparents are cool like that). Anyways, along with the dinero, Caleb also noticed some whiteish markings on his navy blue sheets near his pillow. And with total sincerity he says to us "Look! Tooth Fairy Markings! She must have left these when she was here last night!"

Call it what you want. I'm calling it what it is: Drool. But who am I to say?.

So yesterday Caleb wakes up and says "More tooth fairy markings, she must have been here last night checking on my loose tooth." And Drayson freaks and yells "someone was in our room last night!" and starts looking in the closet. I was dying. One of those times you wished you had on tape. I figure journaling it would be second best. But it just seems to lose a little something in translation.

In other news. Remember back when I was delerious with Pregnancy? and I wrote the post lamenting about how I thought I had lost my humor? Read here to be reminded. Well I think it has been slowly returning. Or maybe that's just my other personality telling me lies. See again? Truly. Unstable.

What Say You, 2011...

...should we make it the best one yet?

Not saying I didn't have a good 2010. But let's just say I could do without quite as many challenges this year. Who am I kidding? We all know they will just be different challenges than the previous year. Instead of baking & birthing a babe, while rearing 2 others, I will be rearing 3 this year. (Now all of you other rockstar mamas with more than 3 babes are thinking "if only I just had 3, 3 would easy-peasy, she has no idea" just like I think of everyone with less than 3). But that's life for ya. Hindsight's 20/20 right.

At least there will be no 15 hour labor followed by a C-section, followed by anemia, followed by pure and utter exhaustion, followed by baby blues, followed by lack of sleep, followed by me questioning myself as a mother. Ok, maybe there will still be exhaustion & lack of sleep (but maybe not quite as much--insert crossed fingers). And I think I will always have times when I question myself as a mother.

But this past 2010 has taught me something.
That I can do more than I ever thought possible or gave myself credit for.

Even though I will always be hard on myself. Thinking I could have done better. When I look back on some of the things I have done, I'm pretty freaking proud of myself. I'm kinda awesome.

Maybe some people don't think it's a feat to get 3 kids to and from the grocery store without raising my voice, but I do. Preparing a nice meal and doing 5 loads of laundry?, check. Coaching 40+ high school girls while also mentally preparing the week's meal prep?, done and done. I'm going to celebrate the small battles. The everyday stuff. The stuff my kids take for granted, but hopefully one day appreciate.

I'm going to high-five people when my kid scores a goal. I'm going to post a ridiculous amount of pictures of my own kids to Facebook and shamelessly brag about how beautiful they are. I'm going to thank my Mom for going above and beyond and tell my Dad I love him. I'm going to teach my kids to be kind to others even when they might not be kind back. I'm not going to get caught up in bigger, better, best--I'm going to be happy right where God has put me. I'm going to go on more dates with my husband and smooch him in public. I'm going to pass around babies with my friends. I'm going to apologize quickly when I make a mistake. Swallow my pride and keep a handle on my mouth. I'm going to forgive myself and others and keep remembering tomorrow is a new day.

So if you see me in Winco patting myself on the back--well, you'll know.

Watch out 2011. I'm taking names and kicking ass.

Because I don't want to end up on an episode of Hoarders..

No, it's not really that severe. But I have been hanging on to a few items, that we don't use anymore. You know the items, too nice to give away or sell in a yard sale to the haggler for .75 cents?. I decided to post them to Craigslist, but wanted to give ya a chance here (that's assuming that people actually read my blog).

Dolby Digital portable DVD player with 2 screens. New 3 yrs ago. Our new car has one built in. $50 bucks OBO

Seven for All Mankind Designer maternity jeans. Size 25/short (yes I am a gnome). Loved these!! But alas, Kearyn was my final babe. These were so good to me as "in between jeans" as well. Only wore em for 4 months. Originally purchased at a Pea in the Pod for 180 (insert Gasp here, but they fit me like a glove). Asking 75.

These next 3 kinda do make me seem like a hoarder. 2 coach bags and a Dooney & Bourke. Good condition with some normal wear. Have been hanging out in my closet since I got a new one a year and a half ago. What can I say, my MIL knows how much I love them! $50/each OBO.

Classic C's, brown, medium size, hardly used, strap extends.

Smaller sized bag. Classic C's, black.
Perfect size. I loved this bag.

Figured someone else could get some love out of them. And if I'm good I'll take my earned $ and get some organizing items (and not buy another purse)! I figure this can start my New Year off right. Declutter & Organize 2011!!

Leave me a comment of email me at EvyQ612@hotmail.com.

I'm Here...Somewhere beneath all the toys & wrapping paper

So it looks like Toys R us had a little too much Egg Nog at Target's Christmas party and threw up on our house.

Literally.

Good thing this little lady started crawling this week. At least she'll be able to get out from under it all.

The boys made out like bandits as always. Even though we only got them 2 gifts a piece and Santa kicked in one. The grandmas just can't seem to control themselves. And you know, when I'm a grandma, I probably won't be able to either.

Love this one of all my most special people. I always knew he'd be a great daddy, but he just keeps proving it over and over again.

Speaking of good dads...I think we've got one in the making. At least he is feeding Dolly the bottle in this pic--there was a little confusion (and a lot of hilarity) when he pulled up his shirt to nurse her...


I crafted my butt off this year. And these couldn't have been a bigger hit with the grandparents. And it's a good thing because do you have any idea how long it takes to cut out one of those heads (x3 kids, x5 sets of grand/great-grands).

Lots of snuggles with family. Love this one of my mama and girlie.

and this one of my mister and our princess


And my oldest baby--who is far from it and more of a little man.


Hard to beleive last year she was kicking me in the ribs. Can't imagine our family without this sweet gal. She is starting to develop her own personality. Loves to laugh, smile, wave, clap and eat!


And after all was said and done. A good family photo--and everyone is smiling.
It really is a Christmas Miracle!

And now I'm going to go wade through the mess to find myself a sugar cookie.

Crap. I Might Just Be Turning Into 'that' Mom

I feel that I must admit something.

When I watch my little guy play hockey (well, anything for that matter), I get all boastful inside (even though I know that's a sin ;). Like I am almost intoxicated by watching him; reveling in his awesomeness. I honestly just think he is so great. How hard he works, and how excited he gets, and all his quirky little things he does that he has picked up from watching "the big guys play." I become that parent. We all know the one--the one that thinks their kid is the next coming. The good news is I am smart enough and *classy* enough to keep these thoughts on the inside (until now. but this is my online journal and I promised to keep it real. I just hope you won't judge me too hard--remember that is also a sin ;).

I bottle it all up until I can spew it onto someone who won't think I'm crazy (and who doesn't have a kid on the team). Mostly Chip, maybe the grandparents, sometimes an unsuspecting family friend. Chip and my Dad obviously are a little biased, so they always agree with me, which only fuels my prideful fire.

Now, I don't want you all to get the wrong idea about me. I do not think my kid is the best kid on the team. And I am most definitely not the parent who talks crap about other kids. I'm no hater (especially of 6 & 7 year olds). I love it when the other kids do something great. I high five the mom whose kid just scored his first goal (yup, I high fived her and I'd do it again. But I draw the line at forming the human-parent-arch for the kids to run through (thankfully I don't think they do that in hockey). I love to see all their little beaming faces when they are learning and having a good time. When they accomplish something they have been working hard to achieve.

But what I really love the most?

This Guy.

Who may or may not have slept with the game puck that the coach awarded him with after the game.

Whose Mama & Daddy may or may not have stayed up late gushing about when they should have been sleeping.

------------------------------------------------------------

Do you think this is what Wayne Gretzky's mom thought about him when he was 6?

Blizzardy

Last night's near blizzard got me thinking about the good ol days on Little House on the Prairie.

{and you might be thinking: this is the oddest sentence I've read on anyone's blog this month}

But as the wind and snow whipped by our house last night I thought several truly enlightening things.

1. I'm glad I don't live in a log cabin. I'm sure the insulation in those things were crap.

2. What was that teacher thinking in the episode where she sent the kids walking home in the blizzard and they all got lost. Not her best moment for sure. Good thing Mr. Edwards the mountain man was there to find them all before they froze to death.

3. That Nellie was a real spoiled witch of a girl.

Man I loved that show. Every morning, 7am at Grandma Sy's house. Curled up with some coffee milk (mostly warm milk and sugar with a dollop of coffee mixed in....mmm).

When I was small and we would go to our rustic cabin I used to pretend that I was Laura (because we all know everyone wanted to be Laura and not Mary). It all seemed so exciting and glamorous then. I think that's because Ma made it look easy; but what a pain in the backside not to have running water, electricity and indoor plumbing.

Man I take some things for granted.

And Now You Know

Do you have something that you haven't shared with many people? I do.
Here it is from the beginning.

When I found out last September that I was expecting again we were shocked, nervous & obviously excited. But there was something else. I was terrified. Terrified that something would happen to the baby, to me, to Chip, to the boys. You get the idea. Driving over the bridge I would always think "how will I get all of us out in time if we go over into the river?" It was pretty intense. And no one else seemed to share my feelings (I guess they didn't have crazy hormones coursing through their bodies/brains either). I started to feel a little crazy and so I just stopped telling anyone. Maybe it was because we already had 2 healthy babes. Who was I to ask for more?

And then we went for our 20 week ultrasound. I was convinced they would tell me I was having another boy. And I did not want to be disappointed over that. So I just kept telling myself, "as long as the baby is healthy it does not matter." And when the ultrasound tech told us just 5 minutes into it that we would indeed be having a girl, I almost died. So freaking ecstatic! And then I think I just sat there with this perma grin on my face for the next 45 minutes. Itching to get out of there and go buy something ridiculously frilly. For that 45 minutes I was in heaven, at peace, not thinking of any of the things that could be wrong or that I had obsessed over for the earlier 20 weeks.

While we waited for the Dr. to come in and chat with us, we laughed and talked and dreamed.

But when he came in he was all business. He wanted to show us a spot on the scans near her heart that could be an indicator for Downs. He didn't want me to worry, but could you please go downstairs and give blood so we can test for yada, yada, yada. The test should be back in a few days, in the meantime, don't give it another thought, this is just a precaution. Chip seemed to accept this. I on the other hand did not.

They drew my blood. We got in the car. And I lost it. Lost it. Chip tried to console me, but there is just no way he could understand what I was feeling. I had known there was something wrong. Everybody just poo-pooed it away. But I had known!

People started calling/texting. All wanting to know the sex of the baby. I made Chip talk to all of them. I should have been texting every single last person I knew, screaming it from the roof tops "I got my girl!" But I was trapped in a fog of confusion, worry & self-centeredness. We decided not to tell anyone until the test came back (except for a few family members and very dear friends). No need to worry everyone.

I did not go out that very day and buy her the sweet dress I had dreamed of. I played the "life is changed forever game" for the next 5 days. No prom, no wedding, no regular girl stuff. That was just the surface of my worries. Self-pity, what about our plans for when the kids were raised and gone? Self-doubt, how could I handle this, a child with severe disabilities, sometimes I could barely handle the two completely healthy quote un-quote "normal" children I had already. What about life expectancy, my deepest fear come to be; one of my sweet babies leaving this earth before me. Gut wrenching.

It was like I was living a lie. I felt like I might burst and spew all of these things on the next person who called to say "Congrats, I heard it was a girl."

And when 'the day' arrived. And I heard the phone ring. And finally it was the doctor's office on my caller-ID, I curled up in a little ball on the floor to listen to the news that I was convinced would change my life forever.

"Mrs. Elfering, your test came back negative, there is nothing to be concerned about."

And I sobbed. But I couldn't let it go. The feelings I had all along. They stayed with me for the duration of my pregnancy. Nagged at me for 20 long weeks. Robbing me of the absolute crazy amazing joy I should have been feeling. An always present whisper that said "something is still wrong." It took me weeks until I made my first baby purchase.

We were scheduled to be induced on April 27th. But after 15 long hours of labor, I just would not progress past a 7. Some where around hour 8 my mind started going crazy. Something was wrong. Ultrasound showed baby was transverse, we would need a C-section. And you know most of the rest if you read this post and this post. What you didn't know was that when she came out and she wasn't breathing, the one coherent thought I made and can actually remember was "I was so worried about her not being perfect and now she is dead."

But she wasn't. And when I woke up out of my induced haze, I think I still expected to find a little girl with almond shaped eyes and a flat nose starting back at me. But I didn't. She is as close to perfect as they come. You know what though, even if I had woken up to a little girl with Down's, I hoped I would have thought that she was perfect too.

So when I stumbled upon this blog last month, it squeezed something in my heart and shook something in my soul. Read Nella's birth story here. I can't get enough of her blog, her pictures, her outlook on life. I wait patiently for more sweet pictures of the smiley girl with the squinty eyes. I can't help but think that could have been us. I hope I could have still been a good mom even in a difficult situation.

How silly of me to wait for so long to buy my baby her first pretty dress. What exactly did I think she would wear? Can only perfect babies wear pretty dresses? How naive I was. How ashamed I am for the things I thought. But you see? No one is perfect. Not me, not even my Miss Kearyn. We all have room for improvement. This will grow me and teach me. It will make me a better mother, a more compassionate human being. It already has.

And here's the thing. I thought I knew. And again I am humbled. Because I realize again, what I should have known all along. Only He knows.

Is this Genius--or have I just been living under a rock?

Check out this fold down desk available at Amazon!

I'm already thinking of a gazillion uses for it.

Kid desk (in either room or playroom--you could even do two side by side)

Sewing table

in a Laundry room for folding clothes (if I had a big enough laundry room for that)

Crafts

Wrapping Christmas presents

in a corner of your kitchen at kid height (almost like a kid bar--but with mocktails ;)

The possibilities are endless...

It's a Wrap

Well we lost our Regional playoff game on Saturday. So soccer season has come to an end. Always bittersweet for me. Hard to lose, hard to think of all the "what ifs," hard to have the craziness of 20+ high school gals cut from my everyday happenings (some easier than others mind you).

But I am so looking forward to getting back into my regular (albeit wild) family first groove. Where Drayson doesn't have to get woken up from nap time early so that we can make a fast dash down to swoop in and pluck Caleb up from school (when all he really wants to do is ride the bus home with his friends), drop them with quick kisses at whomever is watching them that day (insert shout-out here to my mama, sis & Aunt Naomi). No more rushed dinners, or missing out on watching Caleb play hockey, or staying up past my bedtime so Chip and I can actually share 2 minutes of the day with each other.

Looking at the pros vs. cons you may wonder why I even choose to do it. And I'll admit sometimes I wonder the same things. Some days just plain feel 'not worth it.' But I once heard you aren't supposed to quit on a bad day. One of the main reasons is that although we won a State Championship when I played high school soccer, the day to day memories of my high school days were not the greatest. Let's just say Coach applied the negativity with a heavy hand. I would always say to myself that if I got the chance I would do things differently. Don't get me wrong, I believe kids need to learn hard work, responsibility and of course be held to their highest potential. I also believe that kids learn better when they respect their elders and do not just fear them. That there needs to be fun mixed in with the work. Think if you just slaved away at your awful job for your entire life and never got a vacation (even a small one). Sounds pretty brutal to me. Besides that, I enjoy spending time with the girls and hoping that I am having some sort of positive impact on their lives. And I am learning--Lord, am I learning. And learning and growing and being stretched is good for me (even when it feels bad). The little bit of money doesn't hurt either (because well all know teachers don't rake it in). The money Chip and I both earn from coaching during the year is our 'extra money.' Which means that we don't need it to cover our daily bills, but it goes to things like vacations and Christmas and big ticket items, etc.

But I am more happy than sad right now. Excited for the extra time we have for the next couple months before spring season hits and boy's soccer season gets here and I become a "soccer widow." And this weekend also happened to be Chip's final 'long' weekend before he completes his Master's program. He only has a single Friday & Saturday left. And then a couple weekends in the spring to complete his Admin certificate. We are so excited and I am so proud of the hard work he has put in. Those long weekends (all night Friday and all day Saturday & Sunday) were terrible on all of us.

Looking forward to getting started on my Christmas planning/shopping/crafting (possibly finish some of my half completed projects). Getting my hair cut and colored (way way overdue...like the perma-pony is the only look I've been sporting for weeks now).

And what you ask, did Drayson do to commemorate the occasion? Well he had explosive diarrhea all day yesterday (remember that he has only been potty-trained for 2 weeks so that was fun). Kearyn pooped basically every diaper. I ran to the store to stock up on 'sick' reserves, extra Desitin, and prayed my heart out that no one else would fall victim. I tried to push away the nightmares of all 5 us being up all night long with "the nasty," as I ferociously cleaned and did laundry and put the house back in order last night. And it looks like my prayers were answered, because at no point in the night was I awoken by either of the small ones smeared in poop. Sometimes I think it's better to expect the worse, because then it's easier to enjoy the small victories (kind of like when I get in line at Costco and do mental math and always round-up in my head, so that when the checker gives me the real total I feel like I saved money instead of spent a small fortune).

I think it sounds like a perfect day to stay snuggled up in our comfys. And if I get really inspired I may just whip out the hot glue gun and the fabric scrap bag and see what I come up with.

Happy Halloween

What do a Ninja, a Monkey, and a Duck have in common?

Not a darn thing...

...but they sure we're cute!

I have a feeling most of my week will be spent keeping the kids out of 'their' candy. They seem to think it belongs to them, since people gave it to them. And they don't appreciate me limiting their intake. Same thing happens at Easter (since you know, they found it).

It May be Little, but it's Ours!

We live in a little house. It is cute, but little. 7 years ago when we moved into this house without any children it seemed the opposite of little. How quickly we have filled it up. Not just with kids and stuff, but also with love and memories.


The best part about our little house is the little mortgage payment (like all my Seattle friends are so jealous). And we want to stay here a little longer, because we have some not-so-little student loans we'd like to payoff.

But we are bursting at the seams. Our '3 children & 2 dog carpet 'is dingy. Our 'used to be in-style' faux paint wall treatment is, well, so 7 years ago. Hubby wants a plasma TV with HD so he can hang out with the cool kids on the playground (and he works hard for the money so he's definitely earned that right). Besides all of the cosmetic wants, we need some hardcore organization--and we needed it yesterday.

So we came up with a game plan to do some little-ish updates. Updates that will hopefully get us more organized, but also so we can feel at home and relaxed in this space of ours for the next little while. I figure a small investment is worth it to keep us here and happy a while longer. We really want the next move to be "the" move, to "the" house. We are trying to make design choices that fit our tastes, but will also benefit our resale value when we do decide to move.



So here what's on the to-do list:

new laminate/hardwood flooring through the living areas (dark, but not too dark)

new neutral colored paint throughout the same area (barley by Behr, just like this gal has throughout her house and I love it)

new flat panel TV (and now I'll be able to see it from the kitchen while I'm slaving away)

reconfigure living room furniture layout to maximize space (made possible by the newer/thin TV...so happy about this)

New chairs/seating in living room

do away with desktop computer & desk (don't use it anymore because it is horribly slow and we like the laptop more)

new storage from IKEA takes the place of computer & desk (lots of place for all our stuff to be corralled)

new "home station" for calendar, message center, cork board, etc.

a "gallery" in the hallway for all the boys' artwork

tile back splash in the kitchen and new hardware for the cupboards??

some major decluttering/purging in all rooms/closets/drawers (nothing will be safe)

some landscaping projects out back that we have been putting off (this is for next spring/summer)


My problem is I want it all and I want it now! All this will have to wait until the end of soccer season. But really needs to be finished before Chip's boys' soccer season starts up in March. Do you think we'll make it? For now I'll continue to peruse design blogs and storage magazines. And take all my "before" pictures.

For Chip

Yes, these pictures are a facebook repeat. But my hubby can't get on Facebook at school. But he still likes to show off our cuties to his students. Honey, these are for you.

• And I know I promised to get more consistent and write
  something with some oomph. But soccer has been crazy and all my extra
  spare minutes are spent with all my sweeties.

  Speaking of the littlest sweetie. Did you know she is 6
  months old this week? And she's doing all sorts of fun things.
  And I
  just bought her 3 pairs of wacky patterned knit tights that are
  to-die-for. I love her.

  And the middle sweetie has been rocking this potty training
  business. Next up: the big boy bed.

  Biggest sweetie is having a blast playing hockey (he scored his
  first goal last weekend), and filling his head with all kinds of goodness at
  school (he loves, loves, loves, loves school).

  My first sweetie has been working his arse off. Just sent
  in his graduation papers for his Masters. whoo-hoo.

  And every once in a while a profound thought jumps in to my
  brain. And I've been trying to write them down so that I can share
  them
  here with you.

  Stick it out with me will you? Maybe I'll make it worth
  your while.
  

Let's just keep the feel good rollin'...

These last couple of days have been great.

Full of fun and memories, and "firsts"

First Kindergarten field trip (pumpkin patch)

First hockey goal

Drayson's first time going on the big boy potty (been struttin his hot stuff all over the place all weekend. truth be told I don't know who was more excited him or Caleb)

The little miss has started rolling all over the place (especially her crib. freaking me out)

Lots of love (not all love mind you, but more hugs than headlocks were exchanged this weekend)
Lots of sweet baby smiles, giggles, and squeals

Snuggles and naps and prayers. And plenty of time with Daddy.

Soccer victories and hockey victories.

Good times spent with Papa.

Love from good friends (you know that saying "it takes a village to raise a child"...feeling so incredibly blessed and lucky, my cup overfloweth).

*Sigh*

Does it really have to end?

I Heart Shrimp Tacos

Hold on to your seat folks. This is gonna be a real deep post here tonight!

So last December the Chipper and I got away for a few days by ourselves to Scottsdale.
Remember that?
....
....
....
Sorry, got distracted there. Dreaming about getting away again.

Well, I had some killer shrimp tacos at Gordon Biersch. Man were they good.

One time when I was hugely pregnant, we drove all over town trying to find shrimp/fish tacos. To no avail.

So when we were in Maui, I made sure to get me some. And had some very tasty tacos at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. (I guess they should have been good considering the whole "shrimp co." business in the name and all).

So tonight I decided to throw some together. All it took was some frozen popcorn shrimp, lettuce, sliced radishes, crisped flour tortillas, a mexican shredded cheese blend. Oh and the sauce, can't forget the sauce. It made those tacos.
A combo of sour cream/lime juice/fresh cilantro/a little taco seasoning.

So Easy. And So good. And a thumbs up from everyone in the house.

I should have taken a picture, but honestly I was really hungry.

A Fresh Perspective

Being a young family is crazy. Sometimes it seems like all work and no play. This past year has been wild.

Daddy is working on his Masters, teaching full time, coaching soccer.

Mommy is mothering full time, working part time, coaching soccer.

Then you know all those tedious chores that keep the house from falling in on itself.

I think it all kinda came to a head for us when Chip broke his rib two weeks ago. Which means basically that he can do no physical work.

Carrying the baby seat? nope.

Mowing the lawn? No worries. Mama's got that too.

Seems like the two of us hardly get a chance to be alone. I keep staring at the calendar wondering when it will slow down.

My conclusion. It's not going to. Not anytime soon anyways. We chose this life. And even the things we didn't choose, well we've got 'em now.

The good news.

Life is hard, but God is good!

The message Sunday spoke straight to my heart. Psalm 40.

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry...

...He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God.

Attitude is a choice we make everyday. I need to change mine. I need a "Get to" attitude instead of a "Have to" attitude.

And I'm no dummy. I know I can't do it on my own. But by God's grace I will.

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength...

...They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

~Isaiah 40:31

My name is Sara (though mostly I go by Mommy). And I am privledged to be:

Loved by Jesus.

Married to a tolerant man who loves me flaws and all (and theres a lot)

Muddling through this parenting business with one of the best dads a kid could ask for

Mother to a courageous 6 year old boy, who is an amazing little athlete already

Mother to a two year old who is a clone of his daddy. And the funniest guy I know.

Mother to a beautiful and healthy 5 month old girlie, who I get to play dress up with for the next 18 years.

Toms...

apparently these are back "in"

I'm thinking I need a pair.

Wouldn't they look just sweet with a pair of dark jeans?

Like I maybe even "tried" to get myself together before going out?

and while I'm at it. what do you think about a pair of these for a special little miss?

pick out your favorite here.

The Tale of One Boy's Naptime

Drayson is an amazing sleeper.

Always has been (and here's me knocking on wood that he always will be).

He sleeps in a cage (well not really--but he is still in his crib...easier to keep the animals contained that way you know).

So everyday after we put Caleb on the bus we start to prepare for the nap. I say as we are walking back to the house: "When we get home it's gonna be naptime"

He says: "Ohhh. Tuddle? (cuddle)"

Me: "For a little while"

Then I "tuddle" him which consists of him snuggling up on my lap and me humming to him.

Me: "Ready?"

Him: "Uh huh"

I carry him to his room. He shuts off his light.

Then he says: "Mr. Loud on" (which really sounds more like "missher" Loud)

Mr. Loud is the sound spa/white noise machine. Do you have one of these? I love ours. We never had one with Caleb, but as soon as we had Drays we decided to get one because well, Caleb was a noisy 4 year old and we lived in a small house. We got a second one for Kearyn's nursery when she was born because well, Caleb + Drayson was really noisy and we still live in the same small house.

For the record, Drayson came up with this name all on his own. And it was actually Chip (who is especially gifted in decoding baby/toddler speak) that figured out what he was saying.

So after he turns Missher Loud on. He lays his 'lovie' on his pillow and then lays his head on top of Lovie. I put his blanket on him and he folds his hands so we can pray. It sounds a little like this.

Me: Dear Jesus/Him: Dear Jeshush

Me: Thank You for our day/Him: Day

Me: Thank You for our family/Him: Fam-ly

Me: Thank You for our food/Him: Food

Me: Let Drayson take a good nap/Him: Good Nap

Me: We love you Jesus/Him: Love you Jeshush

And everyone said: AMEN!

He removes Lovie from behind his head so that he can 'tuddle' him. Drays says "Nighty-night" in his cutest sing-songiest way. And then I repeat. He says "LOVE YOU!' all loud like. And I repeat of course.

I walk out & shut the door. And for the next two 1/2 hours I only have one baby to tend to. And if Kearyn's being an especially good girl, she takes her nap at the same time. And then I get to be....

ahhh, blissfully by myself.