{daddy's little helper}

Rick took the week off to work on the basement, and hopefully get the drywall finished by the weekend or the first of next week. Because I've had to be down a little more than usual, he has also inherited more duties involving the kids. Emma is completely content to sit upstairs and watch a movie, but not Miss Kate!

She wants to be where the action is, and be a "worker gull" (in her words). She helps hand him hammers, drills, screws, or whatever else he asks for, and she eats it up. She will be down there for hours!! She sits inside the playhouse under the stairs, watches, and waits for him to call her. She even wanted to eat her lunch down there, so I packed it up and sent it down.


It doesn't end with the basement either--she loves to help in the garden, with the lawn, digging trenches, pulling weeds, and myriad of other projects that Rick has going on. Hopefully it will last...at least until she's 5!!

{30 week update}

I'm on the countdown! I am 30 weeks today, and will definitely have these babies in 7 weeks at the most. I am scheduled for a c-section on August 11th (37 weeks) if I make it that far, but more than likely I will go before that--35 or so weeks. I feel really good, and other than the major leg and feet swelling, I don't have much to complain about. I'm having twice weekly non-stress tests, along with my doctor appointments every 2 weeks. I have really wonderful doctors, and even though I feel like there is always another appointment to go to, I'm grateful for such excellent medical care.

I have been steadily working on my list, and I'm happy to say that it is whittled down enough to seem manageable. We sold our van within a week, then found another vehicle within 3 days. It was a huge blessing, and one that was sorely needed. The cribs, bedding, and clothing are ready to go, the end table painted, and the nursery will be finished being painted tomorrow. I have a few decorating items to finish, but those won't take long. My good friend Erica found really cute car seat covers for me--ones that usually retail at $85--for only $30. So, instead of getting new car seats, I can use the covers. I'm happy about that, especially because my babies have never been in their infant car seats longer than 7-8 months.

The basement? Well, progress is being made. It always seems like whenever there is a major project that needs to be completed a million things find their way in that need to be done too. We are on a timeline though, and feeling good about it.

Well, after much deliberation, and MUCH coaxing from my sister, I am actually posting a picture of myself, taken this very morning. I don't know why I am so anti-picture during pregnancy, other than I don't have that "cute pregnant girl" look. I swell all over, including my face, and it shows very early. I have friends that look good the whole time, even after labor, and I have finally come to accept that it's just not me. So, for the sake of posterity, here you go:



and for your viewing pleasure...my lovely feet and ankles (I couldn't bring myself to show the legs too!):


As you can see, my toes are in real need of a pedicure, but I have finally hit the point where I can' reach them anymore. I think Rick is in for a real treat this week, when he gets to paint my toes. :)

All in all, things are going well, and we are enjoying our summer. I have found that it is still possible to do most things, even though they take a little more time. I know I need to enjoy the time I have with my kids now, because I know that will change all too soon!

{5k run/walk/waddle?}

Saturday was our community's annual Run/Walk. We love it, and participate in it every year. Rick, Ryan and I have run the 5k the past few years, with the girls doing the "tot trot", but this year was a little different for me.

Since I can't run, I decided to do the 5k walk. No big deal, right? Yeah.
That morning was perfect running weather---a little on the cool side, but not cold. We all had matching t-shirts on (except for me...mine didn't fit), and were ready to go with our chips (I didn't wear one...I did not want proof of how slow I knew I was going to be), race bibs, and water bottles.

About 10 minutes after Rick and Ryan started their run, the girls and I were off. I started toward the beginning of the pack, but that quickly changed. Soon I was being passed by all sorts of people (and even the fact that I had technically had 4 children with me didn't make me feel better), and I was wondering if I was going to end up dead last. That didn't settle well with me. In my mind, I knew I could go much faster, and when my body wasn't cooperating, it was killing me! So, I set my sights on people in front of me that I really wanted to beat. The 80 year old man? Really. I really needed to beat him. At the mile marker, I was feeling good, and felt like I was keeping up a pretty good pace. Then it hit. I had to go to the bathroom so bad, and the pounding on the pavement didn't help.at.all. I knew I could never make it to the end, so I headed over to the nearest volunteer and race official. They didn't know of any facilities close by, and even when they radioed in they didn't have an answer. Then the woman volunteer that was there offered her house, which was incredibly generous. I was also much too desperate to turn her down. So, the girls and I veered off course to head to this woman's house. We did stop at a church a couple of blocks on the way, hoping it might be open, but it was locked up tight. Another block or so down we reached her home, and I unbuckled the girls to take them in. I have to admit I had the slightest twinge of nerves when we walked in, but at that point I couldn't have turned back if I wanted to. It was so nice of her to offer, and I was very grateful.

After Emma got her hand caught in the back door, and was treated with an ice pack, we were finally on our way back to the course. I walked fast those few blocks, but I realized I must have been gone longer than I thought. I saw that there was NO ONE left on the course, and the policemen were taking down barriers and letting traffic through. I'm sure when they saw me they were wondering what in the world I was doing, especially since I wasn't even coming from the direction I should have been! So, I walked on the sidewalk, but kept up my pace. I decided I would keep going and finish, even though I could have headed back to the community center.
After Rick finished his race, he came back to finish walking with me. By then I was getting a few contractions, and had to stop a couple of times to lean against a tree. But, I did it! It was totally worth it, and despite all the craziness, I'm glad I did it.

The girls had their "Tot Trot" next, and they loved the little obstacle course that was set up for them. We let the kids play for a little while, then headed home. We were all tired, but a good tired. We spent the rest of the day doing yard work, then had roast hot dogs and made S'mores at the firepit.

It was a great day.

{memorial day and more}

The past week and a half has been packed full, mostly because we had the pleasure of having Rick's brother Robert and his wife Toni visit us from Utah for a week. We had such a great time...we miss them already!

~Beach~

One of the places we knew we had to take them was our favorite beach about an hour away. We LOVE it there, and spend as much time as possible there during the summer months. The day was a little chilly, but the sun was out, and we were hoping for the best. We had no intentions of getting in the water, but thought we would build sandcastles, walk along the beach, and enjoy the sound of the waves. The girls insisted on wearing their "soups" underneath their clothes, so I acquiesced, thinking there was no possible way they would really want to get in water that had ice in it just barely a month or two ago. I was proved wrong. It started with rolling up the pant legs twice. Then I rolled them as far as up as they would go. Finally, off came the clothes, and there my girls were, in freezing cold water, having the time of their lives. Robert also was crazy enough to dive in, saying he had come this far, he might as well try it. It was a wonderful day, and I'm so glad they got to see one of our favorite places.

~Memorial Day~

The Memorial Day Parade is a tradition in our community, and in our family. I love having everyone dress in patriotic colors, wave flags, and celebrate our country and those that have fought for us over our history. We met up with our friends there, and enjoyed being with them too. The kids always bring their grocery sacks for the crazy amounts of candy that are thrown, and all-in-all it makes for a great morning.



~Just Because~

One of of my favorite time to take pictures of my kids is right before we leave for church. They are usually at their cleanest, and their hair is generally closet to the way it was when I actually did it. Sometimes you just need all the advantages you can get!

~In other news~

1. Our garage sale is over! We prepped on Thursday, then held the sale on Friday and Saturday. I'm glad we did so well on Thursday and Friday, because Saturday was much slower due to an antiques festival that was in town. Our girls (my friend and I each of 2 girls--one of her's is only 6 weeks old) did amazingly well, playing outside most of the time with occasional movies inside the house. They were filthy at the end of each day--black feet, Doritos cheese covering their mouths (and eyebrows in Emma's case), and otter pop juice splashed down the front of their shirts--but they they were happy and tired, and so were we! We will definitely be doing it again, hopefully making it a yearly tradition.

2. We sold our van! It only took a week, and showing it to two potential buyers to seal the deal, and we couldn't be happier. However...we don't have another vehicle yet! Good thing we can still (barely) fit in Rick's car, so we have something to drive until we find what we're looking for.

{no need for loincloths...}

The babies finally have clothes to wear when they arrive. I honestly don't know how the time has escaped me---and when I realized that the girls were born less than 8 weeks from the point I'm at now, I kind of panicked (okay, I REALLY panicked).
I'm usually much more prepared than I feel now, but I have to keep reminding myself that I also have two additional children, and have been extremely busy over the past few months. Still, it wasn't settling well with me, and I now have a plan.
So, when Rick had the day off yesterday, I seized the opportunity to head down to our nearest outlets, which are about 40 minutes away. We don't have much shopping available in our small town, so usually a trip is necessary to find everything you need. I totally lucked out, and found nearly all the items on my list, and on sale! Can I tell you how much I love the Gap?

Here's the rest of my to do list:

1. Garage sale this weekend! My good friend and I decided to do one together for several reasons--much more fun, and much more fun. :) We also didn't really have enough stuff separately to really have our own. So, I have one more day to mourn the fact that I am selling all the girls' headbands, hair bows, handmade toddler beds, and other items that I feel really sentimental about.

2. Next week/weekend: Paint nursery (chocolate brown), paint cribs (white), make canvas boards with initials and ribbon for nursery walls, put up vinyl lettering (my favorite nursery saying), find a lamp and ribbon to run through shade, re-finish end table. I totally scored, and found the most adorable brown gingham (it reverses to sold chocolate brown with the gingham around the edges) bedding on clearance.

3. Mid-June: Buy new car seats! Since I went all pink with the girls, we are starting from scratch. Also make sure bottles, liners, formula, burp rags, and diapers are squared away.

4. Ongoing:

-Continue to advertise our van (went up for sale 5 days ago), and look for a Sequoia (which we finally decided on, but is not available within 100 miles...)

-Keep plugging away on the basement--which is to be the new family room/playroom. Electrical is almost finished, and drywall should be going up soon. Hopefully we can really push ahead and finish quickly, since I need all the stuff out of the current playroom (new nursery-to-be).

5. Not go on bedrest. :)

Oh yeah...and decide on NAMES (details, details...).

{epiphony}

And I've been wondering why I haven't been able to get things done lately? I only cried a little.

{echo}

Overheard this week:

-"I am not happy!"

-"Too bad, so sad."

-"Calm down."

-"Take it or leave it."

-"That is dirty, we need to clean it."

There's nothing like hearing all my own words, especially when it's not even directed to me, and it's one of my girls talking to the other. At least when I hear "I love you", or "You're my best friend", I feel somewhat redeemed!

{happy birthday girly-girls!}

The past three years have been some of the craziest, most wonderful years ever. To be honest, it still doesn't seem real that so much time has passed. I wish it would go slower, but enjoying each moment as it passes has become even more important to me. Today is their actual birthday, but we have been celebrating all weekend. Saturday we went out for pizza and ice cream, then picked up their new Cinderella bikes and helmets. The rest of the day was spent teaching them how to pedal, which we had to do inside the garage since it was raining so hard. Sunday we had their favorite pasta for dinner, pink cake (is there any other kind???), and opened a few presents. The festivities will carry over to today with a few more presents and phone calls from family. Happy Birthday my baby girls--you gave me hope again, and you were most absolutely worth the wait. I love you.

Age 1:

Age 2:


Age 3!!!



Oh, and the fact that they were both potty-trained the week before their birthday? That was a present just for me. :)

{while you were sleeping}

PANTRY, PART II:

Okay. I guess we've moved past the pantry lock, and on to bed alarms. This morning, two little girlies woke up before I did, and made their way not only downstairs (very quietly I might add), but down to the basement where the food storage is. They found something to stand on, and took 3 boxes of fruit snacks back upstairs to the pantry (their headquarters?). Then they found scissors (really safe, huh?), and went to town. By the time I found them, a whole box of Wonder Pets was gone, and they were halfway through the John Deere. Apparently they were saving the best for last...My Little Pony.

My game needs to be stepped up...in a major way.

{improvisation}

Apparently my girls are not going to allow the lack of a stool (which was taken away on purpose) to inhibit their snacking habit.


Obviously it's time for a pantry lock.

{park day...it's spring!}

Friday was the perfect day. The sun was out, the sky was blue, it was in the low 70's, and a slight breeze was blowing. I felt like singing. Like seriously singing. As in on-top-of-the-hill Maria Von Trapp style. After a long, cold, (did I mention long?) winter, this was a huge breath of fresh air.
We walked to the park to meet our friends, and spent a couple of hours just soaking up the sunshine. Heavy-duty potty training wasn't about to stop us from getting out of the house either. I just brought along the potty chair we reserve for such necessities (I had to stuff it in the bottom of my jogging stroller), and it worked like a charm.

I'm so grateful for spring!

Hallelujah!

{easter weekend}

We hosted our annual Easter egg hunt on Saturday, and it was wonderful! The weather couldn't have been more perfect, had we ordered it ourselves. The sun was out, the sky was blue, and there wasn't an ounce of wind. It wasn't super warm, but with all those other things going for us, it made it feel like springtime!

We had about 50 kids hunting for over 650 eggs, hidden all over our yard. They were separated by age group, with the bigger kids really having to put some effort into their hunting. Last year we heard some complaining that it was 'too easy", so Rick took the challenge. I'd say he succeeded.

Kate loved hunting for eggs, but Emma had her eye on one egg in particular, a Cinderella egg that she had spotted while we were sorting and hiding them. She absolutely refused to pick up any other egg until she found that one. I tried explaining to her that there were lots of kids hunting for eggs, and that someone else may have already picked it up. But, she wouldn't stop her quest. So, I started looking around for her, and saw a pink egg that had Snow White and Sleeping Beauty on it. It did pacify her for the moment, and I was finally able to convince her to fill her basket. Later on, after the hunt, I was holding her while talking to my good friend Erica. She asked why Emma was looking a little melancholy, and I explained the situation about the egg. She looked through her little girl's basket, and lo and behold, there was that Cinderella egg! She traded Emma for her Sleeping Beauty egg (knowing that her little one wouldn't mind), and all was well with the world. What luck!

Afterward we had a yummy brunch, a fire in the fire pit, and lots of talking, laughing, and playing. It really is one of my very favorite things, and I look forward to it each year.




Easter Sunday was also a beautiful day, and I was so excited that I could put sandals on the girls and they wouldn't freeze. They were so excited to get dressed up for church, but not so excited to get their picture taken. :) We also have to put Ryan on "picture alert" first thing in the morning, so he will be ready to give me his full attention for at least 2 minutes. I just snap fast, and hope for the best!






Happy Easter!

{coloring eggs}

The week of Easter would not be the same without coloring eggs. Our kids look forward to it for weeks, and love to choose their own box of dye and decorations. I keep them up in the pantry until the night of, and I can't tell you how many conversations we had about it leading up to the big night. When my girls were sick, even holding the box made them feel better. It was quite the coveted possession!

Traditionally, we color eggs for Family Home Evening the Monday before Easter, with homemade ice cream (usually the first of the season) as our treat. That's my favorite part. :)
I just love every holiday there is. The festivities, food, family, friends...




P.S. Try coloring raw eggs. If you're like us, and don't use too many hard-boiled eggs, this is a great trick. I've even used them with little ones, and we haven't broken one yet! It's especially fun when they get to choose which of their colored eggs they want to use for scrambled eggs, waffles, cookies, etc. This year we did a mixture of both, which also worked well.

YUMMY HOMEMADE VANILLA ICE CREAM

2 1/2 c. whole milk
2 1/2 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
5 c. half and half
2 1/2 c. whipping cream
1 1/2 T. vanilla

Scald milk until bubbles form around edge of pan. Remove from heat. Add sugar and salt. Stir until dissolved. Stir in half and half, vanilla, and whipping cream. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes. Freeze as directed. Makes 5 quarts. Enjoy!

*If you don't have an ice cream freezer, and your family loves ice cream, I would really consider getting one. They have inexpensive models (we have one by Rival) that cost less than $20, work well, and are easy to use. It doesn't cost a lot to make, but is such a fun family activity and treat. We use it almost once a week throughout the summer!