Beautiful Day!

Today's weather was unusually warm and since I have been couped up in the house for what seems to be months (only weeks) with sick children, I was very eager to go for a nice long walk with the girls.

Before Neil left for work I enthusiastically skipped to the garage to dig out the double jogging stroller. As I raised the door I realized that this wasn't going to be an easy job. I needed to move the trash barrels, a cozy coupe car, two scooters, a bike, the snow blower, sleds, and three hula hoops. Surprisingly,this amazing discovery didn't dampen my spirits. After I shoved all of the stuff back into the garage (why do we even call it a garage? In the thirteen years that we've been here, I have never seen our car in there?) I realized that I needed to move the mini van over in the driveway because I can't fit the wide carriage by. After thinking about it for a moment,I decided to move it after Neil went to work so he wouldn't be late.

Once Neil left, it was clear that Allyson (the baby) was in no mood to go for a nice long walk. I surrendered to her whines by nursing her and she quickly dozed off. The poor sweet girl has had a terrible time with this cold and is completely off of her schedule. I am also convinced that she has BSPS --boogie sucker panic syndrome. Every time I come near her with that syringe thingy to clear her nose she goes nutty. I feel so badly for the poor love, but she can't breathe unless I help her.

(This is turning into a much longer story than I had planned, but I am going with it.)

While Ally slept, Lindsey did a little art project and I caught up on emails. It seemed like forever for the baby to wake up. She very rarely takes long naps but of course she is sleeping like my father in law on Thanksgiving. I could hear her snoring on the monitor and while I was happy for my darling child, Lindsey and I were ready to go!

I decided to go out to move the car and be prepared for the "awakening." I packed a little bag of toys, a blanket, and a juice box for our journey. Lucky for us all, Allyson woke up as chipper as can be.

Our walks are like therapy for me. I love to exercise! It lifts me and makes me a better mom and wife (I think?). We sometimes walk for hours just laughing and chatting away. To be perfectly honest, half of the time I have absolutely no idea what Lindsey is saying to me. I just "Um hum," her as I breathe the fresh air and enjoy the change of scenery. For all I know I could have promised her cheese curls for lunch!

Unfortunately for me, Lindsey wasn't enjoying today's walk as much as Allyson and I, and after a quick twenty minutes she declared she was cold and wanted to go home. I reluctantly headed back. It's okay though because it's going to be even warmer tomorrow and maybe I'll convince Lindsey to stay out longer in exchange for cheese curls for lunch.

(Mom, I am just kidding.)

Kissing Cousins

Happy New Year everyone! The kids went back to school today, and boy did I miss them. We had such a nice Christmas and a warm and cozy vacation. As you can see, my niece Kayli came over for Christmas dinner (she brought her parents and her baby sister Mady too LOL!) My parents, my brothers and their spouses all came. It was fabulous!! Lindsey and Kay got along really well. Lindsey adores having friends over and was "out of her mind" excited to share her new toys with her cousin. The two of them enjoyed their time together.

Sorry that this entry is a short one, but I really wanted to pop in before homework time to send you my warmest wishes!

The Toilet Paper Challenge

It is now day three of my toilet paper roll challenge.

On Wednesday I noticed that yet again nobody replaced the empty roll in the upstairs bathroom with a new one. I am fully aware that this job takes two seconds to complete, but it is the principle of it that is forcing me to conduct this experiment. (As I write this I am questioning my mental health status so I am not offended in the least if you are too.) Instead of replacing it like I always do, I merely put a new roll on the side of the sink and left the empty cardboard roll on the dispenser. So for three days now, nobody has put the new roll on. (It's a double roll so this may take a while.)

This happens all of the time in our house. The paper towels, empty milk containers in the refrigerator, trash barrels filled to the rim. I continually ask for help with these menial little jobs and everyone agrees to help but they rarely follow through. If I was really serious about this, I would hide the toilet paper, but I'm really not that upset.

Last week Zachary left two little squares of toilet paper on the roll. When I asked him why he didn't get a new one, he replied, "There is still some left on there." Who (besides Cheryl Crow) uses two squares of toilet paper?? Perhaps Zach is trying to save the environment. Good job buddy!

Same thing with the milk. Ryan will leave a tablespoon of milk in the carton and put it back in the fridge. Again, I understand that if this is my biggest problem in life, I am doing really well.
It's just a little pet peeve of mine.

I am predicting that I will have a bunch of empty cardboard toilet paper rolls lined up on the side of my sink...I'll let you know what happens.

Oh boy

Last night Lindsey and I were snuggling in her bed reading a story before bedtime. I thoughtfully chose a nativity story to read because we've been trying to keep in mind...the reason for the season. Our precocious (yet sweet) almost four year old knows the story well. We have many different picture books about Baby Jesus that we both enjoy. (Is it weird that I sometimes get choked up while reading this story?) Anyway, when we turn to the last page, there is a beautiful drawing of the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes. "Aww," I softly exclaim referring to Jesus, "Isn't he just so lovely?" Lindsey quickly replies, "Is he naked with a penis under there?" Gulp.

Please smile!

Before we got a digital camera, taking the Christmas card picture was a disaster. Neil and I would argue, the kids would end up crying, the photo developer guy at Walgreens hid behind the counter when we walked in, and we always spent way too much money on film and developing. Now we do all of the above except the last part.

This year was no different. I was the director, wildly flailing my arms while making obnoxious noises so that Allyson would look at me. Neil was the photographer, crouching down, banging his head on the chandelier, and mumbling some words that I hope the kids didn't hear.

We took twenty pictures, put them up on the computer, voted, argued over which one was the best, and wondered what the heck that smudge is on the wall behind Emily's head? By the time all was said and done, nobody was even all that thrilled with the picture.

Why do we do this? It's become one of our many holiday traditions I suppose. I even have a "Christmas card bloopers" file that I plan on making into an album someday. Every year I look at the pictures and laugh, remembering all the bribes I offered just for a smile.

So here it is...this years (kind of okay) Christmas picture. Merry Christmas!

Rush rush rush

When Neil and I started our family we both decided to try and keep our lives as simple as possible. We have done fairly well so far, but lately it's been a bit tricky. Three of our children are in school now, I have a high maintenance three year old and a baby who loves her mama, so I have been working on my juggling act...and dropping the ball more than I had hoped.

Anyway... I needed to pick up the kids from school yesterday, and I was really hungry. (I am always hungry! Is it a nursing thing?) I quickly slapped a PB and J sandwich together and woofed it down while trying to find Lindsey's left shoe and a missing mitten. I triumphantly got the girls ready and set off in our nice warmed up car (I remembered to do that!) to get the kids.

Confidently I park, unbuckle Linds, wrestle the carriage out of the back and pop Allyson's car seat in, all the while thinking... I think I've got my groove back. We strut to the doors a bit early and wait. I chat with some moms about the weather and how the baby is growing up so fast...you know small talk. After a few minutes a good friend of mine approaches.
I smile, she smiles then bursts out laughing. "Kel, did you have peanut butter and jelly for lunch?" Gulp. Apparently I had a big old glob of it on my cheek! LOL! I had two choices in this situation...

A. Meekly wipe the smudge of sandwich off of my face while thanking my friend(feeling like an idiot).

B. Or burst into laughter while asking my friend if she would like some.

I chose B.

I do have my groove back! I'm just tweaking it a bit. ;)

How the time has passed

I can't believe that I have been an at home mom for 12 years. You'd think I would be better at this. LOL Some days it feels like I haven't really done much of anything at all, yet I honestly can't recall sitting down and relaxing either? I know I know... I am doing a very important job, a job that I absolutely love (most days). In fact, this is the job that I dreamed of having. Is that weird? I've always wanted to be a mom.

Yay me! ;)