Ash the gut buster

Ash (fooling with my coupon file) "Mom, why do you keep your coupons in here?"

Me "So I can find the ones I need when I'm shopping to save money."

Ash "So you can save money?"

Me (folding laundry and half paying attention) "mmm hmm"

Ash "Save money, live better, Walmart!"

Ash "Mommy is this macaroni the cheesiest ever?"

Me "Uh, yeah."

Ash "Good! Cuz I like it cheezy!"

Me "Why are all these toys in the closet?"

Ash "Emma's kids are sleeping in the storage room for the weekend and I'm watching them."

Ash "Mom, did you go shopping without me again?"

Me "No."

Ash "Good. If you go shopping, be sure to bring me!"

Ash "Lightning stuck!"

Keeping up

I'm shooting for about a post per week, so far I'm doing pretty good--if only I could keep up as well with my house keeping.

Ash was well for two days and then Camille started throwing up. Luckily she has it under control and i haven't had to clean up messes. I really hope Nate doesn't get it.

Justin has a work dinner tonight, so we are having eggs for dinner and then I promised Ashley I would take her to Toys R Us to spend the gift card Nana sent for her birthday. IF she gets her room cleaned in time, of course. A tedious process of tattletelling, screaming, bossing, and whining. I'm going up to split up the jobs now so she and Camille can finish their work at their own pace. Snail's pace.

Slow day

Ash is sick today. She woke me in the night to say that she had thrown up. She isn't my best throw-upper. She keeps coming to me with her hands over her mouth and then it explodes everywhere, even up her nose. I have given her a bowl, but she still comes to me. It makes a lot of loads of laundry when you have a sick kid. We have already been through several pairs of pjs, lots of towels, and thank goodness my friend Holley has a carpet cleaner! I've put that to good use--it is keeping me sane.

Tomorrow I have to decide whether to go to a feng shui lecture in my interior design class or to a three hour training meeting for our stake pioneer trek. That would be fun, too, I just wish I didn't have to miss class. What to do?

Did you know...

That it snows in Dallas? I heard it did, but in two years I'd never seen it and didn't quite believe it. Who knew that a state that melts me at least 6 months out of 12 could also look like this:
We got about 7 or 8 inches total, but (don't laugh CO) school was cancelled.Today was supposed to be my day to catch up, clean, finish laundy, organize. Instead:

Each of the girls had a friend over (in an attempt to keep them away from my immediate area) but my diabolical plan failed and I spent the entire morning at the beck and call of seven little children who wanted to play in the snow. I hunted mittens and hats, tried to mediate fights over the two pair of boots we have, answered unending knocks at the door, put Nate on the tramp, took Nate off the tramp, got snacks, provided dry pants and socks, refit wet mittens, answered more knocks at the door, tried to keep wet boots off the carpet, made slushies, wiped up spilled juice, answered calls for Emma on MY cell phone, etc. etc. etc. They were so loud coming and going that Nate never took a nap. I took a picture of each girl with her friend.

Ashley and Meghan

Camille and Mackenzie

Emma and Abby

Now all the friends are gone, and it is still a disaster, and I'm out of here. I called a sitter and I'm going out to dinner. I'll worry about the rest tomorrow.

For those who have been watching...

Some random daily life:After a holiday of road tripping and watching lots of movies, I can't tear Nate away from the TV. He loves to watch Dora the Explorer, Handy Manny, Max and Ruby, Spongebob, and most especially Disney's Cars. If Lightning (pictured above) was not lost, Bubb would be have him in his hand still. Nate doesn't like to run errands with me, he would rather stay home and watch TV and play around the coffee table with his cars. If I do entice him to go with promises of watching Lightning McQueen in the car, he is mad when I turn off the car to run in a store and throws tantrums. He carries on and on in a very dramatic (older three sisters) kind of way and tells me "I'm crying!" When I try to talk to him reasonably.



Nate and Ashley are such good buddies. They play all day happily with each other and unless Ashley mothers Nate too much things go pretty smoothly. He is always looking for her when she isn't around, and he runs to hug her when she has been at school. She helps him with things (like getting snacks) and wants to be the one to wake him up from his nap. All the kids like to do that, they fight over who's turn it is to get him up.



Emma is growing so big. She acts like she is 16 and not 9 going on 10. She is so responsible, I never have to ask her to do her homework or shower and get ready for school. In fact--she often wakes me up for the day telling me what time it is and giving me a report on what the other kids are doing. She has choir practice every Wednesday, and it makes Justin crazy when she reminds him every Tuesday night. He has told her he can remember, he is the one who drives her to school those mornings, but she reminds him every week anyway. I have a little trouble with her because she is so grown up and responsible, she doesn't like it when I say no to her and always wants to know why or tries to change my mind with reasoning.


Camille is Camille. Mornings are not her thing. She has so many tardies now that if we get any more we get in trouble. Last week she was sick, and stayed home Monday and Tuesday. Then I sent her back to school Wednesday, and she did just fine. Thursday I had just driven 25 minutes from home with four small children in my car, marched them all into the mall and we had just met my SIL at a play place when I got a call from the school nurse. I had to march the four kids back out to the car and drive all the way back home to pick her up. It was not my best day, the little four weren't happy either! But Camille bopped her way out of the school with a big smile on her face and happily settled into the lazy boy to watch TV. I didn't even bother to send her Friday.

Christmas is coming

I told my kids yesterday that if they would get their rooms cleaned they could help decorate the Christmas tree. They did their job but the day got away from me and we never did the tree. While I got ready for a work party Justin had, Ashley talked me in circles and accused me (in angry tones) of "tricking" the kids because we didn't do the tree.
So today I repented, and put up the lights so we could hang ornaments. All the kids had fun helping, and I tried not to wince when they put the ornaments too close together. The end result is pretty charming. But the best part was when Bubba came down while we were finishing up and said in an excited voice, "Mommy make it Christmas tree!" He went around several times repeating it to everyone. It was so fun. The kids debate over which stocking belongs to whom (I still have temporary substitutes up until my masterpiece is finished) and I feel nostalgic of my own childhood Christmases and try not to feel old.

Grab the popcorn, here we go:

Black=Ashley talking Green=Me talking Blue=situation description

Mommy, what apple is this? Is this a play one or a real one?
Real.
Can I have a bite of it?

Mom, can you get a toothpick out so I can get that? Showing me apple in her teeth.

Is this a new bracelet?

Pointing to a box of cookies, Mommy what are these for?

Mommy howcome...what are you going to do with the graham crackers?

Watch me how I do it. Biting the apple.

Mommy. You gotta take a bit of this apple, it's soo good! Mmm, yummy yummy yummy.

Mom what did you do?

Mom are we going to play in the nursery? On the way to a Relief Society activity.

Mom what are you going to be making?

Can I have some Honeycombs?

I slowed down to make a left, Mom why are you stopping when there's a green light?
Hey mom I think I saw a police car.

Mommy I made a double sandwich for Bubba. Out of Honeycomb cereal.

Pulling into the church parking lot, Where's Anne Copelands car?

Do we have church on rainy days?

Mom, when can we go camping? I don't know. Howcome we can't go right now?

Picking her up after the Relief Society activity, Mom are we going somewhere else, like shopping?

Howcome you writed a list down? That's why I reminded you.

I am so funny!

Can I have a drink of that?

Mommy, howcome you wroted a list down? No answer, I'm writing.
Mommy! What is that list for?
I'm writing down all the questions you ask me.
Why?
So I can put it on my blog.
So you can read it like every day your on it?

Uh, Mom can I have a drink of your shake?

Mommy howcome they make the tall tower? Driving past the radio tower near our house.

Mommy don't you think it would be cute if I had a tall pony in my hair? And put like a clippy in it.

Mom the garage door is all the way open! As I sit in the driveway writing down the last question.

Grabbing my hand and holding it. That reminds me what I want to make with you. I want to make those yummy cookies that you gave your friends at church today.
No, you have already had ice cream so you can't have anything else until you eat the rest of your apple.
FINE! After all of these apples are done than I'm finished! And I'm not eating anything else!

Why?

What was that sound?

Can we eat kiwi tonight? While still working on her apple.

Wiping the windows inside my car, Can I wipe the other windows Mommy? Because the other window is pretty dirty!
Sure.
Where is the paper towel?
In Nate's car seat.
This is a great day to clean the windows!

Howcome I can't do the other side of the front seat door?

Why?

Hey, what's on me?

Playing with an electric toothbrush, Mom what if the doctor's office had a toothbrush just like mine and they had to spin it on your hand and it tickles?
That would be funny.
That would be hilarious! Can I try that on your hand?

Mommy howcome you're writing like a whole... She's on to me.

Hey Mommy let me show you something it's going to tickle so bad! Sticks the toothbrush under her armpit.

Hey Mom, what if I was eating with my armpit and I had to toothbrush it!

I asked her to do something, I'm too busy brushing my shoe. That head is going in the trash.

What?!

I asked her to scratch my back, Hey Mommy can I scratch it under your shirt?

Mom are you writing me down as laughing?

Mom, tell me all the words you writed down.

Mommy can you read me this page?

Can I walk on your back?

Howcome I can't brush your hair?
You can.
She comes back with a brush and I hear a noise.
Don't toothbrush it!
Howcome I can't toothbrush it?

Mommy can you take your clip out?

Your hair has enough hair for filling the whole entire comb up with hair!

Mommy are you going to write this down?

Did you write my name on there?

Mommy, are you going to make a list every morning?

I'm laying down resting, Mommy where did you get that sparkly eye shadow?

Mom when the little hand is on the four we are going to clean the closet.

Mommy how do you get your nails all shiny when you put nail polish on it?

Mommy, can you read this list? Pointing to a page. This one?

Can I write down a page? No. Howcome I can't do it?

I am trying to take a cat nap before the girls get home from school, Howcome we can't clean the closet right now?

Mommy can you do this so I can pop it? A little toy you turn inside out and it pops back.

Mom, when are we going to have a snack? Cuz I'm hungry.

Mommy can I have some gum? I don't have any. Can I just look?

Mommy can you read the list to me? Not right now. Why? I'm resting. Tomorrow can you read it to me?

On the way to Emma's soccer game, Next time we come to the game can we bring stachios?

Mommy how much water does a firetruck hold? A firetruck doesn't hold water. The hose does?


I pretty much gave up after that. We had the game, came home and ate, and put them to bed. Repeat process tomorrow. Get an idea of what being a mother to a small child is like?

Just Wait...

Tomorrow, Ashley does not have preschool. To help me make it through the day I'm going to jot down all the questions she asks me so you can get an idea of what it is like to spend the day with her. This should be amusing!

Soccer Saturday

After nearly two weeks of rain, cancelled practices and games, we finally had our first soccer games today. I think Ash likes her new uniform. She was so cute, and had a great time. She scored a goal! She was at the front of the bumblebee pack and took it to the net. When we cheered for her she got a shy look on her face like she felt bad about it. Later in the game she had a great assist. She put if right on the line and a teammate tipped it in.
Ashy's coach is fantastic. At first I was worried because he is a little die hard--he wanted to have two practices a week. (For 4 year olds I think it's a little aggressive.) But I will say he runs a great practice, and despite multiple cancelled practices he had the girls ready for their game. The best part about him is his talent with interacting with the girls. He is able to motivate them without threats or anger, and is great about being sympathetic without encouraging drama. He gave one girl some extra play time today because she really wanted a goal.

Nate was good during the first game: there was a baby behind us he played with. He also spent some time shooting on a free goal with Emma and eating snacks I brought.
Smack in the middle of the other girls games Emma had pictures, of course. I had to leave Ash and truck clear across the fields, lugging the chubby kid who refused to walk. On the plus side I was able to steal a great team photo so I don't have to pay 30 bones for it. Cha Ching. There is one girl with her eyes closed, but it's not my kid!

Then we hoofed it back over to pick up Ashley and catch the end of Camille's game. It was getting pretty hot by then, and Nate still wouldn't walk. Not sure why. He had a harder time during Cam's game because he always tries to go for Justin when he can see him across the field. He made a couple escape attempts, and made it to midfield one time but luckily the play was at the other end.
Camille played well in her game. Ironically enough, she is not aggressive at all on the soccer field. She hangs back and follows the play from a distance. She did get a foot on the ball a few times and loves to do throw ins. Three out of seven players on her team no showed, so the four played the whole game with no subs. They were beat by the end.


Notice Emma's cute flower clip, the latest outlet for my craftiness.


This is Nate showing me his "truck." He loves to bite one corner of a cracker and then say, "Mom, truck" and drive it around with sound effects. He even says, "beep, beep, beep" when he backs it up. All in all a good soccer day.

Family Fun

We took the kids to the Heard Museum in Fairview last weekend. It was rainy, but we still had fun. They have a great collection of rocks and minerals, so if you are into geology you should stop by. They also have a small animals of the world exhibit, and a little butterfly house. The walk down to the outside exhibits is on a wood planked ramp, which was wet. Ashley and Camille both slipped on the way down, and they were not happy!

In the animals of the world there was a crazy cockatoo. It climbed all around it's cage using its claws and beak. It could catcall, which the kids really liked, but then it made the loudest alarm type noise I have ever heard. Camille especially didn't like that and said she was never coming back.

It was a little muddy at the entrance to the butterfly house, and we had the funniest experience. There were a few ants trailing across the doorway, and since it was brown and muddy the girls thought they were walking in a giant anthill. Justin, Emma and I hopped across the puddle, then Ash went. She attempted a wild leap, slipped to one knee in her flip-flops, then jumped up screaming hysterically and stamping her feet like she was being attacked. Justin and I laughed so hard we couldn't stand straight and I had trouble assuring her that there were no ants on her and she could stop crying. She was also covered with mud, you can see it on her knee in the pic above. She tiptoed on one foot all around and was not content until I had taken her into the bathroom to wash off her shoe and her foot. I told her people pay for mud, that it was good for her skin, but that only prompted a storm of questions about why people buy mud and why it's good for her skin. I didn't have a good answer for that so I tried to change the subject. In the meantime it took quite a while to convince Camille to hop over and come in the butterfly house. She told me strongly that she didn't want to hold a butterfly and was a little paranoid in there. She stuck close to me and worked her pouty face.

While we were washing up Justin and Nate found a centipede inside. Nate thought it was great and this is him squatting close and saying, "HI BUG! HI!"
Despite the comedy of errors, we had a pretty good time and the best part was the kids were happy to get home and played with friends the whole afternoon.

time for updates

Happy Birthday Billy!

Camillly is the cutest little seven-year-old you ever saw. She has a fun smile and a great sense of humor. She loves Tom and Jerry, Spongebob, and all things High School Musical. She is a sensitive thoughtful girl, and I worry sometimes about her fragile self confidence. One of her latest things is wanting me to pick out her clothes for her. (Perhaps it stems from her getting dressed inappropriately for the weather and me telling her to change--she hates that.) She will make some man so happy some day: for her birthday she asked for BBQ brisket, sausage, and bacon. So we had them all.

She has turned into a great little reader, it is cute the way she shows me the pictures and reads me the books she brings home from school. She also is doing so well with reading the scriptures, I'm amazed sometimes at the words she figures out. She is a great little organizer. She likes to put her own clothes away, and organize the barbies in Ashley's doll house. She loves to write notes and leaves us little love notes almost daily. She is a great kid.

I love this smile.

And our little Bubb is starting to talk! Oh my, nothing gets my heart like little baby words. It is so hard to catch him on video, but I'm trying. In his vocabulary:

Mom

Daddy

Emma

Ashy (poor Camilly, he hasn't figured out how to say her name yet and it breaks her heart)

bird

doggie

woof

ba ba, passy, blanket (those three all sound pretty much the same)

mine

here you go (more like "eh go!")

please

thank you

bye bye

stuck

stinky Oh!

all gone

uh oh

and of course, ball

He also blows kisses, one of our favorite tricks.
It is my absolute favorite stage of babyhood, the learning to talk part. I finally get a little hint of what goes on in their minds and see the intelligence working, it just melts my heart.
He is such a lovey little man, he gives us lots of hugs and snuggles and pats. It is impossible not to adore him.

Bash on a roll

This kid is cracking me up today. First, she says to me, "Mom, who is coming over tonight? Tammy better be coming over!" Incidentally we had no plans for tonight.

Then she says (while standing next to me whining and talking about many things). "Mom, why can't we call Tammy and say, 'could you come over, my kid is freaking out." All said in a very monotone and manner of fact voice.

Then while playing with my cell phone and after Nate spit up on himself she says, "Mom, can I take a picture of that?"

There is just no end to her hilarity.

First Day of School!!!

This is such a happy occasion for me, and despite what it looks in the picture it is happy for my kids too. They woke up a 6:00 am on their first day of school. Emma set her alarm and woke Camille, they ate breakfast, got dressed, packed lunches, and were ready to go with time to spare, they were so excited. Camille was visibly trembling with excitement--I thought she might start bouncing. They are loving school and doing well, they both have made new friends they talk about and ask for play dates. Emma's friend is Marilee, and Camille's is well I forget, but we are planning playdates soon, so maybe I can post pictures of them.

The only one it is sad for is poor Ashley. I am just not exciting enough for her. I am hard pressed to keep her little busy body occupied. I signed her up for a dance class, so we'll be happy when that starts Monday. I think she will love it. We'll keep you posted.