a quick hello :)

man, i haven't blogged in forever!

we got back last night around midnight from minnesota

i have lots to unpack!

i have 2 sick kids who are going to the doctor today

i'll be back soon with some stories & pictures (we got a new camera!!! now we just need a new exernal hard drive so i can download the pictures.)

but i'll leave you with one lesson learned from my travels...
you know a pot hole is bad when it wakes sleeping children.

we learned that lesson several times on hwy 94 :)

we're very happy that we won't be driving back to minnesota until next fall :)

oh and if i could figure out a way to get groceries delivered today that would be swell...i think i've forgotten how to take care of 4 kids all by myself!!! everyone here is either naked, half dressed, still in pjs...and all are in need of breakfast/snack/drink...

you know there's a lot of snow when...

you see someone x-country skiing down the street.

wordless wednesday

click on the picture to see why i've recently been saying "ouch" when josie falls asleep while nursing...

salty

as you can see from her face, the green beans had been eaten

the boys were still playing in the playland

josie was getting restless

clearly it was time for josie to try her first mcdonald's french fry!

'tis the season, part II

'tis the season for holiday baking with the kids :)

and 'tis the season for ryan to be...well, just ryan

a charlie brown christmas & polka dots

~ with kindergarteners, 1st graders & 2nd graders ~

our little tree

a little pre-show fun

doesn't her dress look christmas-y?
ha ha
it's a long story that involves a tired girl, tears & lots of drama
the phrase "my friends are going to laugh at me" was heard several times
man, and this is just at age 6!!!

of course she'll smile for grampie & grammie!!

repressed anger

garrett says the most random things. it must make sense in his head, but to the rest of the world it's odd.

take this morning, for example...

this past june we went to disney world. there's a fairly new monsters inc. show in the magic kingdom. basically you go in and sit down and they tell a bunch of jokes and use the audience. it's not the most exciting show ever, but it's a nice cool spot to take a break.

so, when we were there, they used olivia and put her face up on the big screen. she had to answer a few questions. that was the end of it. it was 6 whole months ago.

so today we're in the car listening to christmas music and talking about stopping at mcdonalds for lunch. just a regular old day in the car.

out of the blue, in a very upset & serious voice garrett says "mom, i'm soooo mad! next time we go to monsters inc i'm using the microphone, NOT olivia!!"

that's garrett. totally random. i can only imagine the repressed memories he'll come up with for his therapist in 20 years. and until then, we'll keep laughing at him and wondering what goes on in his little head :)


i should add that as soon as he said that ryan started saying "monsters? monsters?" ...to which garrett replied "be quiet ryan, i'm taking a nap."

the only solution...

the other day i asked ryan if he was going to be so crazy when he went to pre-school next year.

his answer: yup!

then olivia said very matter of factly, "well mom, i think you'll have to homeschool him then."

favorite time of day

bedtime at our house is a tad crazy

the short version is that at least 1 kid ends up sleeping in our bed

so before we go to bed, we have at least 1 kid to transfer back to their room

that's my favorite time of day {or should i say night}
before we move the kids, i crawl in bed next to them
they are so warm and cuddly
they look so sweet
and they are so quiet!!!
i forget about all the craziness {i mean naughtiness} they accomplished during the day

i love having those little moments to regain my sanity and remember why i like being a mom :)

now if only they would all agree to take afternoon naps...
talk about regaining my sanity!!

wanna hear a story?

just a little background... ryan is not a huge talker. he can say lots of words, but he prefers to let olivia & garrett talk for him. when he does talk, it's just little words here & there - not really any sentences.

yesterday while taking olivia into school, both boys fell on the only patch of ice in the parking lot. garrett fell first, then ryan proceeded to fall on purpose. classic ryan.

as i was buckling ryan back up in the car i jokingly asked him what happened on the ice. he looked right at me and immediately said in a very serious voice, "mom, a car hit me."

apparently my non-talker can talk in full sentences...and make up stories as well!

at a loss for words - garrett style

garrett: mom put your grossies away.

me: what? what are you talking about?

garrett: mom, you're gross. you stink. {with a total smirk on his face}

me: that is not a nice way to talk to me. why did you say that?

garrett: well... i just didn't know what i should talk about.

tis the season

10 months!!

that's right!

i'm 10 months!!
and i can almost sit up :)
life is getting lots more interesting!!