Can you believe this before picture?

Ew.

They are no trouble.

3 & 4 year olds are no trouble at all. Mine are best friends. Sweet, innocent sisters. Smart. Happy. Funny. Girly. Athletic. Jokesters. They share like the best, and worst of friends. They smile and giggle. Run and ride together. Trip and fall, all together. They move stools to discover nail polish, mascara and lip stick. They empty out diaper wipes in a matter of seconds. They feed their babies from secret food they stash in their playroom, their arm pits and bottles. They make crafts and paint. They love to dress up and pretend they are getting married. Well you get my drift, they have fun and are really, no trouble.

The Trouble with 3 & 4 Year Olds...

More to come.

"Tis The Season

We had special visitors this week--Michelle, JJ & baby Carson. The kids all had fantastic Christmas Programs and performed beyond my expectations. Their voices made the songs sound merrier. Our guests made our home feel homier. This time of year is our favorite.

As for E and I. We got our baby fix. We already can't wait to see Carson again. He's the sweetest little 5 week old chunk!

2 and 3 of 3

Whoa! Those are bad pictures of pictures. But the plate is too full for any kind of retake. I can't believe the girls are growing so fast. When I changed my 8x10's hanging in the hallway I was in complete awe at MaKenna. She became a little girl over the last year. Right before these eyes. And as for Morgann, she grew. But that toddler-ish look is still there. One more year.

Tomorrow we start laying floor in our post flood kitchen remodel. I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!!!! Our appliances just showed up and the cabinets are being delivered Monday. So after some really long months, progress is seriously knocking. Right now!! House pictures coming next.

Better Together

There's nothing better than being married to your best friend. And I know these two are, best. friends. forever.

During the father of the bride's toast to the couple. He warned her friends that they would be taking the back seat. They would now be second to Alex. That those friends are still important, still loved, appreciated and needed. Alex is number one. Her dad said he loved that anything he does with any of his friends is better with his wife, because she's his best friend, that they laugh and love.

When we came home at 11:30 Sunday night to a flood in our new house, I couldn't help but be so thankful that my husband was my best friend, too. And even in the hard times, those husbands are still your best friends. The ones you want to weather anything with, good or bad. Thick, thin, funny, whatever.

Our New Home! Finally.

Life is so good great. We are officially back to great. Most of our boxes are unpacked. The trampoline is set up. The kids and parents are settling right in. The only issue- we might be taking our quiet little cul de sac by surprise. Who knew a family of five could be so LOUD? First things first each morning at 6:30, kids on the swing set. Followed by bike rides to the end of the sac and a crash of some sort. The kids just found a little fort in the front yard that I can't keep them out of.

In news beyond the move. I turned 30 yesterday! My husband spoiled me. But my friend Bene pretty much gave me the best weekend a mom turning 30 could ask for! Pedicures. Waterpark. Date night. Family BBQ, complete with cupcakes, great food and amazing company. I'm glad to be here, 30 that is.

 

Ready for a little more updating? I went to DC July 15-22. The kids went to the farm. But didn't really hang out on the farm. They went and went and went and went to the-- beach, children's museum, movie, Northwest Trek, and shopping. We've decided JJ gets Grandma of the YEAR award for all of those outings and keeping the kids entertained! Good thing we had a new house to come home to. Otherwise they probably wouldn't have wanted to come home at all. We're sure glad they did.

Our summer is slowly slowing down. Two more weeks of soccer (that is going to be my next post--all about our soccer team)!! And August 13, it's time for Uncle Alex to say I do. We'll be heading to the Western side of Oregon for that. Other than that, it's all about enjoying the easy life until school starts. 

Home

This is the second time in 5 years that I have saw any deer in or near our yard. The big move is getting close! I am going to miss our first home. We have learned so much here.

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We're Ready to Jump!

We are still biking. In fact, my replacement for the Solstice Triathlon next week, mastered suicide hill this morning. That makes for a proud wife! I know my teammates will be in good better hands. My wound is healing and next week, I am spinning whether it feels good or not! I must MOVE!

Not that I care to jinx any sort of good news we have, I can't help but share. Our house SOLD, so we really are moving and quick! July 7 we sign and officially close on July 8--pending all inspections. The house we offered on, worked out. We'll be living in a nice little cul-de-sac where our kids can....ride bikes on the street!

And in two weeks there is a little boy in our house that turns SEVEN! He's requested a bike riding birthday party. Complete with some sort of course. I'm still trying to figure that one out! A course and the cake.

Let it Roll

It is the season to roll with the punches. Or should I say, the uncertainty of unpredictable fires. Even when one tries to, it doesn't work out. As soon as I predict a return home date, I'm wrong. The return home hours in the buggy's change ten or twelve hours on the road as compared to sixteen on the drive to the fire. In this case the HORSE SHOE 2. Or right when I've depended on a 9P phone call, I don't get it. Then three days later, he calls home at 7:30 and the kids finally get to talk to him! It's been on long dispatch. With an end in sight. I'm pretty sure Saturday, but you clearly never know. I'm not holding my breath...

...Because big things have continued to roll at the house, too. Our dog Jet is nearly big enough to come home. We're talking Friday or Tuesday, I think. The house we've called home for a long five years, is FOR SALE--listed Thursday and already shown. Here's hoping for a quick sale. Of course MaKenna turned four. E turned thirty-five and this year (the only year ever) I am thankful that I did NOT throw a big shin-dig. I wanted to. It felt like the right year. And then, the day after I was supposed to send out invites, he's gone. I dodged that ball.

So here we are. Waiting. Patiently. For more adventures to keep on rolling our way. We can handle it. We can roll with it.

Lucky in Love

May 7th marked our sixth anniversary. And of course, Sunday was Mother's Day. Gosh, we got a lot done in six short years! I'm one lucky Mommy!
BOOM!

BOOM!

POW!

Spr!ng Bre@K!

Wednesday E dropped off the little people for their SPRING BREAK excursion to Grandpa Dan's and JJ's house. Where upon return, Mason told me "JJ's house is a lot more than just a lot of fun." I had asked him if he had a lot of fun?

Apparently very much so. I asked him about his favorite day while there and he had a hard time. The tie was between skiing at White Pass with Grandpa and the Seattle Zoo with the whole bunch, including Michelle and Bill.

His excitement was also bubbling when he shared that he could bunny hop the curb with his new bike. But only the curb at Michelle and Bill's. Oh and wait. He also bolted out how he can make a basket on their hoop. And, that oh my gosh, their going to have a baby and the baby's name is going to be Olivia Marceline or Carson William and mom they are going to have a baby and I want a boy cousin and mom did you hear?

My kid is a SPONGE! But then I had to quiz and requiz, what is the baby's name going to be? Because I didn't know this yet? And I LOVE it. And I get to be an Aunt! Excitement all around.

How lucky for our kids and my sisters soon to be baby, to have grandparents that are this GREAT! Grandparents that are active in grandparenting. Grandparents that send kids home with a suitcase full of clean clothes! And provide them with spring break fun, that otherwise would not have been had.

Minus one seriously silly moment of overwhelming worry, I enjoyed my little staycation with my hubby. We didn't really vacation. However, I didn't cook dinner one night. For that matter I didn't cook breakfast or lunch, either. Which might be a vacation in itself. We didn't eat out every night, we just fended for ourselves. I forgot how fun eating cereal for dinner can be. At 8P. I ate dinner at 8P.

We worked hard on a bathroom remodel. And E is still working hard. This is our last big house project for a while. I can't wait to see the finished project. For now, I can share my first before picture. Which is really too bad because we had already taken out the pinkish-brownish sink and countertops. And primered the cabinets. More on this house subject to come. Later.

Hey Dad!

Give me MY bike back! That's MY bike Daddy! Mine. MIne. MINe. MINE! My bike. Mine. I'm two. My bike. Mine. My bike.

Spring has sprung! Our bikes are out. The yard is calling our names. Kid by kid. But, just so you know. Morgann is always the first to go! She loves the outdoors!

Did I say, up next Morgann?

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Sorry, I just couldn't help this one. MaKenna, you make me so proud!

Is It Friday Yet?

Because this has not been my week, or theirs--all those M's I blog about. Probably FOR SURE not theirs because as MaKenna put it first thing Monday morning, "Daddy is nicer." That was in response to me asking her why she would rather have Daddy home instead of me, as we climbed the stairs into Kim's house. According to my boss, I set myself up for that answer. She's right. OK. They are right. I knew what the answer was going to be. But, he had just left Sunday afternoon. And things had not gotten that bad. YET.

I sailed through Monday at work. Came home. And. Whew! Cry. Scream. Ruckus. Fight. Squeak. Squeal. You name it, I heard it. Clever me, put the kids to bed at 7:30. Sound asleep they slept, right until the moment I sought out my shut eye. They were thirsty. One fell off the bed. And into the wee hours we slept like newborns. Catching an hour at most before a wake up.

That's right. I was late to work again Tuesday morning. One of them wouldn't put their coat on. The other their shoes. The next had an accident right as we all finally were ready to walk out the door. All I could do is yell at them. I know my Love and Logic. I have not been using my Love and Logic.

I only can wish that I had a video of Tuesday evening. Although it started off quite nicely. Kim must have noticed my rising stress levels and sent me home, when I picked up the kids, with a super tasty Mexican casserole. Mason had seconds. While the girls stood in the hall for what I don't have a video for. Screaming back and forth. Just making high pitched yelling sounds one after the other. Until they decided to go essentially into an all out brawl. Really? Over a, well to be honest I can't even remember!

When I arrived late my third day in a row at the Court, I shared my struggles of Wednesday morning (a crying for no reason child at 5:30 A when everyone could have used much more sleep) and then my entire week up until that point. As I shared my flood gates opened and my really- bad -really- NOT- Love and Logic- WAY- too -much- yelling- parenting- style- of- the- last- three -days- hit- me. I couldn't stop the crying. I have never felt like such a bad parent!

So, what have I done since my ah-ha moment? I brought Morgann her missing bum-bum (blanket) at nap time. I picked both the kids up, with smiles and in no rush to get back to the office, after school today. We went to Dairy Queen for dinner and ended up really only eating our ice cream! And while the older kids were at Awana's I snuggled with Morgann. Here's the proof!

And despite how bad I felt things were going at home this week, Mason still brought home the Super Bee today! And just because it's a good place, I'd like to add that last week he received all E's again-that's 2 weeks in a row!

I have a little secret up my sleeve for Friday. A surprise trip to the Pendleton Children's Museum. Just me and my M's. Hopefully I'm going to start going back up on their NICE-PARENT-METER! Because being a mean parent isn't fun. Neither is being a single parent.

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Uploaded from my Droid. Wa hoo. As for a Morgann update,she will be just fine.

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Family Game Night!

Our fave game, Disney Monopoly. MaKenna likes to be Tinkerbell and Mason Dumbo. Morgann LOVES the Lady and the Tramp game piece.

This Saturday night I happened to remember, from my Monopoly playing days, that you get a free turn with a "double" roll. But watch out three doubles in a row lead you to jail! Mason, our heavy spender tends to win the game each time we play!

We were interrupted for a moment to Skype with my parents. And Grandparents. Funny, Skyping with your ninety something grandma and grandpa. They might have been in awe of the whole thing because I don't know that I heard them say a single word. Or maybe that was because Morgann doesn't let anyone else get a word in!

Ready to Run

Check out my new kicks.  And feel free to remind me, whenever you feel it's necessary, that I am almost one hundred percent committing to run a marathon in October. That's 26.2, baby. A LOT of training. Many miles. Lots of sweat. I can feel the trails calling my name, now.

It's tradition, when the hubs leaves I turn to Internet shopping. This go round I have pretty much amazed myself, but not only with my deal finding. I've made fires, cleaned out and started parking my ride in the garage, shoveling snow, having Mason's lunch made before 7:55 A, took out the trash (twice), grocery shopped with three kiddos at 5:00 P and have only been five minutes late to work! Go me!

But really, don't let me fool you. Our sleeping arrangements, as always, have changed. All three kids are snug in my bed. And I'll probably just sleep on the couch instead of doing any transferring. That seems easier. And you know, I wouldn't want to work, would I?

Just to be completely honest, I have a small confession about the fire making. I gotta give credit where it's due. Yes. Mason built the fire, crumpled the paper and layered the kindling. Just like his daddy. And these fires have been HOT!

One Bike, Two Bike, Three Trike

Thank you Santa Claus! 

Twas The Night Before Christmas 2010

And it was a good one! Our family went skiing at Anthony Lakes, where luckily we ran into Santa Claus. Or as E put it a volunteer Santa because there were some serious questions about how he'd get everything done if he was at Anthony Lakes while we were skiing. Just because we had not yet sat on his lap. We have wrote letters.

What more could you ask for on Christmas Eve? Skiing. Santa. Riding up the lift right behind you. No stores. Pure family entertainment. This includes Morgann's Santa reaction as entertainment. She wanted nothing to do with him. What.so.ever!

He was a Santa at our disposal! These little peeps didn't mind. Not one bit. They kept saying we want this. We want that.

Morgann did mind. She wanted him to leave. Furthermore, she does NOT want him in our house tonight. She did NOT want to participate in leaving him cookies. I don't blame her. It's not like he needed anymore. Per the Norad....something.... Santa tracker he had eaten over 75,000 cookies at only 8:30.

We invited E's parents and siblings over for Christmas Eve dinner. I used our finest china fiesta ware. Our table was pure red, green, white, snowflakes, santa, yummy.

After they left, Mason started writing. Or riting. Gosh, he's cute. And completely thoughtful. Leaving gift wrap for Santa!

These kids are now resting snug in their beds. And I, my bloggy friends, have some serious work to do. Time to make some magic happen!

A LOT OF MAGIC. Mason has been scheming to have Santa and the tooth fairy here on the same night. It worked! First thing this morning he went in the bathroom and yanked that first tooth out!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOODNIGHT!!!