No shoes, no pants, no problems?

At times I feel like we are the pant-less, sock-less, shoe-less family. Trying to keep pants and socks on Abi is near impossible some days especially when we are at home. I think I say, "Abi will you please put your pants back on!" -at least several times a day. I get them dressed and both in the car only to find when we get to our destination that they have both taken their shoes off and Abi has taken her socks off, seriously kids we've been in the car for like 5 minutes! I usually have to draw the line at meal time, no pants no service.

Favorites of the day

Love this post: (must read!)
http://momastery.com/blog/2012/01/29/one-two-three-4/

Another great heart breaking post. I thank my lucky stars everyday to have happy healthy chunky monkeys. Sometimes I have to feel the saddness to really appreciate the greatness.
http://familywithgusto.blogspot.com/2012/01/wave-of-emotions.html

Sky high

We went to Spokane for the weekend to visit friends and family and had our first sky high experience. I wasn't sure if the kids would like it but they had a blast. Ben pretty much just got thrown around by everyone else jumping but he was laughing and cracking up the whole time. Abi jumped for an hour straight with her buddy Sonja and was so tired when we left she couldn't even walk to the car. It was a super fun weekend because the kids had lots of fun playing with all their 2nd cousins and we got to have fun adult time after the kids all went to bed.  

This picture is a perfect representation of what it was like (see Ben).

 This place was huge, it had four areas this big plus a huge foam pit and a jump area for kids 8 and under.  

 Abi even jumped into the foam pit with dad!

The great debate

I read the best article the other day in Redbook magazine called "My third-kid obsession". It struck a cord with me because the mom in the article always said from the minute baby number two was born that she was done having kids, well 99% sure (so much like me). But she found herself second guessing and obsessing over the decision and wondering am I really done having babies? It's funny because the mom in the article talks about how life with two kids is already such a delicate balance that could fall through at any second and send everyone spiraling out of control and that surely another baby would completely disrupt any normalcy in life. She also talked about how any sane person with common sense would not want more than two children, financially it would take a toll and what if the baby wasn't healthy and she's pushing her luck by having one more, ect.. But then again the decision to have babies comes from the heart it is not always a logical decision. I'm personally not saying anything either way, but it was a thinker. I still agonize on a daily basis wondering if I should get rid of the rest of my baby stuff. I hate having extra stuff and full to the brim closets but it's just a decision I'm not ready to make.

Momastery

“The best thing you’ve ever done for me, is to help me take my life less seriously. It’s only life after all.”

-The Indigo Girls

We are each other's business. We are each other's harvest and magnitude and bond.

-Gwendolyn Brooks

http://momastery.blogspot.com/ (funny blog recommened to me by my sis)

I chose “Momastery” because a monastery is a sacred place, apart from the world, where a seeker retreats to figure out what matters and catch glimpses of God. That’s exactly what motherhood is like to me. It's also exactly like being slowly pecked to death by merciless chickens. After sunrise each day I’m a mother to three and a wife to one. But in the early morning hours...while savoring my silent house and mug of hot coffee, I’m a writer. I hope you like me. If so, please comment or email. I love hearing from people who aren’t begging for snacks. Love, Glennon

Happy b-day

to ME!

It is actually 12:30am on my b-day and I am at work, boo. I'm not sure the last time I was awake when the clock struck midnight on my b-day probably on my 21st b-day when we hit up the bars right at 12:01am. I am 31 this year so that would be exactly 10 years ago. That would also mean it has been exactly 10 years since the first time I shacked at my husbands college pad. Geez time goes by fast, and I still love my hubby more everyday 10 years and 2 kids later. My beautiful family is best gift ever so I think I will spend the day (after I go to bed and get up again) loving them to pieces.

Mrs. Perfect

I started following this blog called Watch Mom Run- This blog is dedicated to being a mother; being fit, being healthy, loving yourself, being fun, saving your family money, making your man happy to come home, making friends, being fabulous, just to name a few... You REALLY can have it all, it just takes a little practice, and some support.

When I read this caption I thought the blog would be absolutely nauseating-seriously no one can be that perfect! But actually I have found it inspiring and turning 31 today I AM going to try to be all of these things, yikes.....with only a little luck and hope. This blog reminds me of an article I read in a magazine about marriage and how if you want your partner to change their behavior in your relationship you must first start with yourself. In other words you get what you give and it is so true. If I spoil and adore my husband he is more likely to do the same back and same with the kiddos. The more patient, kind, and soft spoken I am with them the more likely they are to do the same back and most importantly do what I want them to do. It only took 30+ years for me to figure out the obvious- the more love and kindness you give the more you are likely to receive.

Two little sillies sitting in a chair

Preschool

Last night we got a call from Abi's teacher, she left us a message and she wanted us to call her back regarding something that happened at school. For some reason I immediately started panicking thinking Abi did something naughty at school and got in trouble. But actually it was just the opposite she was calling to tell us that Abi got whacked in the face by another kid at school and was worried she might get a bruise or tell us she got hit. Relief..... how sad is that I'm not as concerned she got hit by another kid as that I'm just happy she wasn't the hitter. She's tough cookie I'm sure she'll be fine. In many ways I dislike that she has some rowdy boys in her preschool class but at the same time I think it's kind of good to learn how to deal with different situations and different kids, well because that's life.

Snowpocalypse

When all was said and done I think we got about 10 inches of snow (which is a lot for us) over a period of 4 days with freezing rain mixed in. Ben could barely walk in it he would tip over and roll over on his back like a bug and get stuck. I shoveled pathways in the snow for the kids to walk around and play on the back patio but they weren't too interested. Abi and Ben didn't really know what to do with all the snow and I think they were happy when it started to melt. Abi liked watching our snowman melt and fall apart. It was a bummer that preschool and swim lessons were canceled last week but I guess we can't complain since we didn't lose power. The neighbors got a bit of a show watching me make 10 plus attempts to get up our driveway and still didn't succeed. When I got out of the car they were standing around watching out there windows.

Ben has turned into quite a little climber. He can't be trusted. We caught standing on the arm of the leather chair just before he fell off on to the hard wood floor giving himself a black eye (again), bruised forehead, and chipped front tooth.

I have found myself obsessively compulsively looking for houses on the internet with no success. Finding a decent foreclosed house with acreage is much harder than previously thought, we just have to be patient.   

Still snowing

I love the snow. It is pretty and peaceful and I like watching it fall. Although, I'm getting tired of not being able to leave the house and the kids are getting antsy. We got about 5 or 6 inches of fresh snow today and I shoveled the driveway so Brad could get in when he got home from work. I think I missed my calling in life shoveling snow is fun! Well, I guess I can say that because I've only done it once if I had to do it everyday not so much. Tomorrow we are getting out even if only down the street even if it is still snowing (we are supposed to get more snow 4-6 inches tomorrow).  

Yummy snow sandwich

Hooray for snow day

First, happy to report the swim lesson went great! She actually had one of the best back floats in the class, so relieved. Sometimes this sweet girl does surprise me.

Just yesterday playing in the yard-

And today snow day! I heart the convergence zone.

 Tall snowman, Abi said we have to put a scarf, hat, and glasses on it.

 Love for the man

 This morning, love snow!

 Sliding down our driveway

Too silly not to share

Baby beard hat (on Esty)

Boob scarf-not for the faint at heart (on Esty)

21st b-day cake (on Pinterest)

Bath time

My favorite

Washougal and back

We took a quick trip to my parents to pick up our meat from the cow they butchered last month. The car ride was going great until Abi threw up all over herself in the car and I had to pull over in the ghetto in Tacoma to clean her up. Then Ben got sick everywhere that night in the middle of the night. My kids never throw up so I really have NO room to complain but it was not pleasant. We had a fun time at Grandma and Papa's despite the throwing up and I got a peaceful silent ride home with sleeping children. Abi has her first swim lesson today without Dad in the pool with her, it could go well or very, very bad. I'm a little worried she'll make a scene and scream at least we can get our money back if she refuses to get in the pool.

The new baby cows, so cute

 Fun on the farm, climbing on tractor parts and hanging out with Pearl (the cat)

Latest obsession- twine

Seriously, I love twine and you can use it for everything. I use it in the garden and yard to tie up my bulbs when they done blooming or to tie flowers to a steak. I use twine to hang homemade ornaments on our Christmas tree and make a wreath with trimmings from our Christmas tree. You can use it as ribbon to tie up packages and hang or tie up just about anything. I also love that it is brown and has a nice texture. On pinterest I have found that you can use it for many other things too.

Ornaments


Easter Eggs


Fall wreath- I think this is made with yarn but I would like it better with twine.