A Novel

It's been so busy around here! I started this post about a week ago and am now just finishing it up. Whew! And this is what happens when I don't post for two weeks. Sorry about the novel.

Lately, I've been having a lot of moments of gratitude. The other day when I was doing dishes, I was grateful that I had a dish rag and towel. Or there are moments that I think we are so lucky to have three kids who all have clothes, or for all of the food in our fridge and freezer, or how awesome of a team Chad and I are, and we're so lucky to just have each other, let alone dish rags!! =) It's the littlest things that warm my heart so much. Hang on...here's a tissue.

Here's what's been happening for the past couple of weeks:

Chad threw out his back on Friday. It was so bad that he couldn't even walk. On Monday, he was finally able to walk without help. He went to the doctor, and they said he has a lower back strain. Hopefully he can get back to normal soon.

Brock and Ella stayed the night with Grammie and Papa last night. Brock was determined that he didn't want to live here anymore, so I thought it would be a good time for a sleepover! My mom said they had a blast, and they are to return this afternoon. I have to admit, it was pretty sad without them here (and very quiet!). Yes, Brock is in that stage. I did the same thing when I was younger, as I'm sure most kids do. One minute he hates us, then loves us, wants to live somewhere else, doesn't want me to leave him anywhere. All in all, they are awesome kids, and we are soooooo proud of them!

Since the snow has melted away, procrastination time was over. I spent 2 hours (yes, 2 hours!!) picking up dog poo on Sunday and ended up with 3 full plastic bags! I could barely walk yesterday because my legs were sore from squatting.

Last week we had kindergarten orientation for Brock, and I can't believe that he is going to be in kindergarten! He starts T-ball this summer and is so excited for that.

School is going good. I'm in my 5th week already! I have my routine down of school time and am able to get it all done in the morning before the kids wake up and at nap time so that my evenings are free. It's awesome!

Brock's preschool had a chili/soup feed on Sunday and the preschoolers sang songs. It was so cute! I didn't get any pics of it, but I got it all on video.

Brock and Daddy found these deer sheds
on Papa and Grammie's land

Tinkerbell

Sophie helping Daddy put in cupboard organizers

Pictures by Ella

"Brock, smiiiiile!"
"What was that face??"
"Okay, don't smile. No, really. Don't smile."
Grumpy bear!

Sophie Dances - Part I

Original Video - More videos at TinyPic

Part II


Sophie's Love/Hate Relationship
with Orange Juice
Part I


Part II


Part III

Busy Bees

This was just the stinky diapers from one day.  

Doesn't count the wet ones. 

Blake

Sophie loves looking at books.  

She carries them around with her wherever she goes.

She also gets her mitts on my phone whenever she can.

 

The Paci Napper

She does this constantly.  Poor, Blake.  

He can never get a good nap because she is always 

taking his paci, and then she runs away with it.  

Maybe a bit jealous?

 

 

  

  

The best reason to help Mama with brownies...

 

You got just a little something on your face.

"Sophie, you want some brownie batter?"

Hmmm...

MORE!

We'll just get you your own beater.

Her thing now is hats.  I set out a basket of hats for her to play in, and during a days time, she has gone through the majority of them.  The other day when I was in the bathroom doing my hair, I let her play with the hairspray cap.  She dropped it on the floor, and I said, "Can you get the cap?"  She walks out of the bathroom and comes back in with her hat on.  =)

 

When I told her her brownie 

sundae was all gone, she...

 

took off running into the living room with 

her bowl while crying.

Then she reluctantly handed it over.

 

I had some other really great pics of all of the kids making smoothies, but when I let Brock "see" the camera, he erased all of them.  After we made the smoothies, I was listing off all of the stuff that was in them: blueberries, bananas..., Brock says, "And most importantly, love."  So cute!  

It seems like just yesterday that Sophie was this age. =(

Original Video - More videos at TinyPic

We're Gonna Scooooore Tonight (Grease 2, Anyone?)!

Sophie putting her hat on

I did it!

 

Birthday Party Bowling Fun!

  

  

  

  

Here he goes...

  

and...

  

STRIKE!  Ain't no thang, Mama!

  

  

Putting her pants on her head

  

and she's going...

  

and going...

  

right into the wall.  She did this over 

and over and over!

  

  

Playing playdoh the only way she knows how

  

This is the salad dressing bottle that I'm talking 

about on my bulletin board.  I love it!  It works great!

  

The girls have been sick this week.  

Fevers and nasty coughs.

  

Ready for School

  

I don't feel very good.

  

For some reason, I burn omelets but am able to make this...

  

Foccacia Bread with raisins, parmesan cheese, and kosher salt.

I can't wait to experiment with fresh herbs from our garden this summer!

Foccacia Bread with Hummus

 

School and Land

Yesterday was my first day of school!  I was supposed to start on the 15th, but they moved my start date up by a week.  So now I am a full-time student!  I've never done online courses before, so it is taking some getting used to, but the more organized I am, the easier (as with everything, right?).

Some more exciting news...my parents are landowners!  They just purchased 20 acres not too far from where we live!  It is fantastic hunting land, and they plan on building a house out there.  We are soooooo excited for them!  Maybe one day we can take 10 acres off their hands...you know, to make their life a little easier.  =)

Glue Stick

"Mama, look what I did to my glue stick!" says Ella as she hands me her glue stick that she sneezed on and is now covered in snot.

All That Black Stuff

Omelet humor:

Daddy usually makes the kids omelets on the weekends.  Every now and again, I try and make the omelets so that Daddy can snooze in.  The majority of the time (99%), mine end up a little burnt.  And when we asked Brock who makes better omelets, he said, "Daddy does.  Mommy's always has that black stuff all over them."

Just yesterday, Ella asked me to make her an omelet.  "I just love that black stuff on there, Mommy.  Could you make me one with extra black stuff?"  That I can do!