Grant's PEACHY KeenSpringtime Fun at the Park

Sitting Up and Playing

Last night was Bailey's final 7th grade chorus concert. Her teacher asked if I would help out before-hand to corral the kids, etc. I hate that job! Basically I just hung out with a couple other parents and tried to make sure they all sat in their seats. The could talk - but they were supposed to stay sitting in their rows as if they were on the risers. Well....they are 7th graders...and they are incapable of sitting still apparently. There was lots of texting (you know - to the person right across the table from you) and picture-taking on the phones...there was a lot of dancing (not part of the concert), a lot of hair flipping, a lot of group bathroom trips and a lot of interesting outfits. I guess this is the age where you figure out your style. Some kids have a lot of figuring out left to do (I hope!).

Anyway - back to the kid police...I HATE confronting other people's kids! Especially when some of them just look at you and then continue doing whatever they were doing before. And then there are the glances from my daughter - half embarrassed, half checking to see if I'm looking....ugh. Miserable.

Finally it was time for the kids to line up (30 minutes later). As one of the other parents put it...."there's 30 minutes I'll never get back." ha!

The concert was nice - I actually enjoyed it. Looking around at all of the 7th grade kids - my daughter included - I just can't believe how much they've grown in the last few years - and how much farther they still have to go.

Toto.....We Aren't In Mother's Day Anymore

So yesterday was the perfect Mother's Day. Loved it! But this morning Grant had a fussy night - was up a lot (I let him cry awhile and he fell asleep again every time), I was cold, Lauren was up before 6 a.m. and had her first time-out by 6:23 a.m.

But enough about that....let's talk about my WONDERFUL day yesterday!

I woke to a freshly poured cup of coffee - one sweet & low and creamer...just the way I like it and a slice of wonderful cinnamon/buttery goodness coffee cake. Then the kids and Mark brought in the homemade cards (love that!)

and GIFTS! (Hey - I just wanted everyone to be nice to me on Mother's Day...but gifts are fine too). There are only 2 cards...because Bailey wasn't finished yet - still isn't. Read: hasn't started. Oh well - her mood was pleasant all day...what more could I ask for?!

Here's what I got! A portable speaker system thingy for my iPod! Now I can take it outside with me while I'm planting flowers, watching the kids, grilling - whatever! Love it! I also got a cotton nightshirt (very cute) and a gift card for more shopping. (I love that Mother's Day is BEFORE Father's Day, don't you?)

Then we got ready for church. I took Lauren to Grandma's house instead of the nursery so they could have some fun together. Mark & I led the songs for the 9:30 worship service and then Mark had to stay to play at the 10:30 service too. So after the first service the kids and I headed over to my Mom's to give her a Mother's Day present and to spend some time w/her. (hanging double impatiens basket was her gift). I THINK I got a picture of the kids with me (probably not though - when do we EVER get a picture with our kids...not even on Mother's Day!). I DID get a picture with my mom...but it is on her camera...so we'll have to wait til she emails them to me.

After Grandma time we headed back home. This is where Mark grilled cheeseburgers for lunch (I didn't cook the night before either - so now this is THREE meals where I didn't have to cook...at all. LOVE THAT!).

After lunch the kids took a nap (and so did I! Woo-hoo!) See how this is framing up to be THE PERFECT Mother's Day?! After nap, I headed outside to finish planting flowers.

When Lauren woke up she "helped" me plant something in the back flower bed. She was amazed at all of the "beautiful yellow flowers!" (umm...yeah...need to weed out there...darn dandelions). I'm really excited about my flower beds this year. Finally - the teeny little perennials I bought three years ago are taking off. You can see I didn't plan out the placement of things too well - but oh well - green and blooming and GORGEOUS! This is the south bed...I have several others but I'll show those to you another day.

Still full from lunch, Mark started making dinner. (Not lifting a finger count: FOUR MEALS!) Dinner that consisted of completely unhealthy but DEEEEEE-Licious high-carb wonderfulness. Here's the recipes and the pics. First - Creamy Biscuit Chicken Second pic - Cheesy Potato Casserole (the way to my heart)

I didn't do laundry. I didn't cook. I didn't change many diapers. Instead I opened gifts, received hugs and kisses and heart-warming cards, took a nap, ate wonderful meals and loved life.

Thank you, Mark! Thank you, kids!

Mother's Day 2009 Countdown? 364 days.

Saying Thank You

2008 Overweight Mommy Swimwear Dilemma/Poll

Ok - so swimwear is a mandatory, despite how much i HATE baring my upper arms and thighs in public. I need to be able to get in the water with the kids - it's just something I can't escape. So, I want something that doesn't make me look like an 80-yr-old at swim aerobics at the "Y" yet covers the most unattractive pieces of my body...as many as possible anyway. I need it to mask my stomach as much as possible - hold in the ladies and cover up the upper thighs. This is probably impossible in anything that resembles fashionable anyway. So here is what I've found so far. Please leave a comment and vote for your favorite. Realize if I get NO comments on this post I will be extremely sad - might eat brownies.....therein worsening the already depressing swimsuit situation. Don't be an enabler.....COMMENT!

Wow - I've been MIA on the blog-front lately! So much going on! Here's the recap:

Last Sunday: Grandpa's birthday! Oh how my kids love Grandpa! My Mom is in Kentucky watching Wyatt while my brother and his wife are in San Diego, so Grandpa celebrated his birthday with us! Look what my Mom got him!

Mark set it up for him Sunday night and we all had a BLAST playing with it. By Monday morning I had sore muscles from fake tennis. How sad is that? Lauren loves her Grandpa - but she thinks all birthdays are HER birthdays...look how tempted she is here:

Here's a shot of all the kids with their Grandpa:

Monday I went to the dreaded Wally World for groceries and we had Financial Peace University in the evening. This week's lesson was about how to find a bargain (of all the things Dave Ramsey teaches - this is NOT an area where he can teach me something new - ha).

Tuesday we played outside a lot - GORGEOUS day! Bailey had a track meet and we had a home improvement guy come to look a few things over and give us estimates. Big on the list is a front porch area. Our front steps are pulling away and it just needs fixed. Our home is a 1950-something (I think) very FLAT FRONT home...and it desperately needs some dimension. SO....since the front steps need to be replaced anyway....here is my vision:

And here's what it currently looks like:

Obviously we aren't going to have such a fancy door and probably not as many beautiful details - but the first picture is the IDEAL...and then we go from there. We don't have an estimate yet...but I'm guessing it'll be a lot higher than I imagine it should be. Hopefully it comes in affordable though so I can say - BEGONE UGLY AWNING! Hello beautiful porch entry! (note: please notice the tulips on the right - beauitful in-person...and purchased VERY inexpensively at Aldi last year....yeah, Aldi!)

I also made a quick run to the mall/Target for another tower fan because I REFUSE to turn the air on in May...at least in early May. =-) Anyway - The Children's Place is just steps from Target...and they had a killer sale online (only 6-9 months sizes left) - so I thought I'd see if the actual store was having a good sale too. Well....not really..but I was able to score these cute shoes for only $6.50! You can't really tell from the picture - but they are very sparkly! I got these for Grant at Target - but they were actually clearance in the store...so cute with an orange tee today!

And then here we are at Wednesday. Sigh. Today I don't have any really big plans - more playing outside...more laundry..yada yada yada. However - With all the nice weather...it has me thinking about summer...and how I'm going to have to find a non-maternity swimsuit (EEEEEEEEEEEK!). I hate that...but the kids should be able to go to the pool...so Mom has to suck it up (and in - big time) and wear a suit. So I'll be hunting online for options today - will post a few and hope you all weigh in on the best one for me. (yeah - I'm talking to you two people that read).

Have a great day - go enjoy the Spring weather!!

Garage Sale Friday...

The weather has NOT been cooperative this Spring, so I have only had the opportunity to go to a few garage sales so far. Today I heard of a neighborhood garage sale (30+ homes) in a nice neighborhood. I loaded up the kids and headed out even though the sky looked very promising for rain. I only stopped at a couple of sales and unfortunately didn't find ANY clothes for the kids. This is always my goal - good clothes for NEXT season. Zippo, zilch today. I did however spend approximately $10 on stuff we absolutely did not need.

In this picture - from left to right:

1. A cool wire meshy basket thingy. I think I"m going to decorate it with ribbon or a tag or something and maybe it will hold the day's mail? Other ideas being accepted. 50 cents. (i wish they had more of these - i love it)

2. A Fisher Price Makeup compact thingy. You open it up to find a mirror attached to the lid. It has an applicator for eye shadows that aren't real, a comb (already missing - probably in the van) and a perfume bottle. It was a buck - and Lauren loves it.

3. A Fisher Price tackle box. Finally a place to house Lauren's play tools! Maybe even her doctor "kick" - one dollar.

4. Hey! It's Franklin! He talks. - $2

And finally - something I absolutely could NOT resist....a vintage Little People airport garage! I LOVED this toy when I was little! This came with several cars, a few wooden Little People - painted (probably lead paint)...the gas pump, the tow truck, the lift for the cars so you can fix them. LOVE IT! It needs a lot of cleaning - a lot...but for five bucks? worth it to me anyway. I looked up how much they were going for on ebay....not much. =-( Oh well - guess I'll just HAVE to play with it.

I haven't posted in a couple days because I've been DROWNING in laundry. I did not meet my goal of all laundry done before Mark came home from Boston. I think this is a sign that we have too many clothes - so I'm now sorting what to keep and what to sell at my upcoming garage sale. Lauren is also in a defiant stage - she simply answers "no" or "unh-uh" when you tell her to do something. So lovely to have one of THOSE kids....again. Thank God Bailey grew out of it...it gives me hope.

Speaking of Bailey - she has her 7th grade "social" tonight after school. Basically it is a dance and there are refreshments...but they don't call it a dance for some reason. Then she'll be spending the night at a friend's house.

Grant is the only one not giving me trouble these days. I love that boy.

I'm hoping to get outside to a couple garage sales today...before the rain comes again. Garage saling w/2 kids is not fun....but it must be done.

I know, Grant...it'll be okay....only 7 more months to go til November....



If this post is upsetting to you - if you think it is disrespectful....please know it is was JUST a joke (kinda). Now - for a little fun...please post comments on the photos below - leave me a fitting caption for each!

I had hoped to have this sudden burst of taking care of myself be a surprise to my husband when he returns from his trip to Boston....but sorry, honey....my blog-readin' peeps gotta know! As you may have read (what? you didn't? you aren't reading my blog daily? You haven't subscribed in a reader? - shame!) that I wanted to get my hair cut and colored this week. Well guess what?! I did it! Thanks to Stacy and my Mom for pinch-hitting for me with the kids. Man it feels great to take care of myself like that!

Anyway - I've tried to take pictures of it for you...but do you have any idea how hard it is to take pictures of yourself in a mirror? I was trying to get good shots of the hair - so please disregard any messes you might see in the background, any unflattering views of upper arms, etc. It's about the HAIR people.

I think I'm going to like the cut - I can tuck it, pin part of it back, wear it all down, cover up the little bangs, allow just the little bangs...versatile...and I like that. The color I love. It isn't Aveda (my fave)...but it didn't cost Aveda either...so there. Anything was better than blah natural color I had goin' on.

Here it is:

Mark left this morning for Boston. He'll get home Thursday afternoon. This is the first time he's traveled in a loooong while. I have very high hopes of getting A LOT done this week while he's gone, but the reality is that it is just the same as any other week except I'll have NO help from 5:30 til bedtime. Soooo...that probably means I'll get LESS done...not more. Oh well...it doesn't stop me from making my gigantic to-do list:

* Haircut/color (I really think hair places should be open on Mondays. If I owned one it WOULD be open on Mondays to steal business away from all of those places that are closed on Mondays). I haven't had a cut since Christmas-time. This is what is called "letting yourself go" by the way.

* Paint. This one makes me laugh while I'm typing it...but one can dream. I really want to paint the entryway to our home. I haven't really liked the color since I painted it three years ago.

* Organize. Again - laughing. I want to organize cupboards and drawers!

* Laundry. I want to get ALL of the laundry done! This is a doable goal I think...if I ignore the first three items on the list that is.

* Scrapbook. I put this on my list every stinkin' week...and every stinkin' week I don't get to do it. Still....it needs to know that I'm thinkin' of it...all of that beautiful paper and adhesive and piles of photos...they need to know that I still love them.

* Cook as little as possible. Totally doable. I'm stickin' to this one!

* Work. It must be done...at least 10 hours this week.

* Rearrange Lauren's room. Maybe.

* Attend Bailey's track meet. It is really going to depend on the weather - but I just hate missing these things even if she says she doesn't care. I think every kid wants an audience, don't you?

* Clean master bedroom closet and sort through other items for garage sale (MUST!)

Ok - there's a lot more...but I know you're already laughing your heads off. I am too.

7 Months OldToday Grant is 7 months old! The slippery-slope to ONE! (weeping now). This month he's shown us a lot of new tricks. He still doesn't sit up the best, but he can do it...until he falls. Now when we put him on the floor to play he rolls to his belly and then does this half-inchworm and sometimes rolling thing to get around. It is subtle - you wouldn't even really notice it even if you were watching him...but suddenly he'll be 5 feet away from where he was playing!

He continues to light up the room with his still toothless smile, but as you can see from some of the pictures below - we are definitely in a put-everything-in-your-mouth phase. I think teeth are well on there way. He soaks through bibs and shirts every day with that drool of his.

Grant babbles more and more these days - ba-ba, ma-ma, da-da and strange variations of the three. Sometimes he just lets out a long gutteral noise with a very serious look on his face. He knows he's talking....wonder what he's saying? ("You are so beautiful, Mommy! You are absolutely the best Mommy in the whole-wide world! I Love You, Mommy!!!"???)

He is getting better at eating. Opening his mouth wanting bites now...whereas before you'd have to wait until he smiled or cried to get something in there. Green beans, peas, peaches, applesauce, mangoes, rice cereal, squash, carrots, sweet potatoes...he's tried them all. He LOVES applesauce...and seemed to dig the green beans too last time.

He continues to be my mostly-mellow dude. He gets mad when he's tired, hungry or needs changed....that's MOSTLY it. I so deserved that - thank you, buddy....for cutting this Mom of two girls a break with your mellow. Shwew! ALTHOUGH...you are the worst sleeper of the bunch. You think a 20-minute nap is ok...you think it is ok to wake up at 4 a.m. - not cool. But oh well, you're so cute...I guess I'll just deal.

I've noticed recently that he likes to play "rough"....no sweet little tickles for him...he'd rather you make a monster voice and eat his rib cage or wriggle him up above your head, or bounce him up and down. Very different from the girls at this age. Speaking of bouncing - the boy LOVES to bounce! If you stand him on your lap he immediately starts bouncing. He also likes to rock his exersaucer back and forth...and hit things. Sometimes it is hitting a toy against his high-chair or maybe it is slapping his hand against my cheek...but he loves it.

Lauren seems to be going through some delayed jealousy lately. She wants to be a baby like Grant and not so much of a big girl anymore. (great - hmph.) She has really gotten the "apologize" command down-pat. Here she is acting all innocent ("I didn't Dooooo it! face) after she knocked you in the head with a book or something. Good thing your pastey-white skin shows every little mark.

* note....sorry I keep switching voices within this post...sometimes I'm talking to Grant...sometimes I'm talking about Grant. Whatever...if you wanted a wonderful writer you'd be reading someone else's blog. =-)

Bailey continues to be Grant's favorite person...Dad and Lauren are a tight second though. =-)

I can't believe he's 7-months already. Seriously unfair how quickly that goes. Until next month....thank you for not crawling or walking yet, Grant...plenty of time for that stuff.

Grant at 7 months is mostly wearing a size 9 months...or 6-12 depending on the sizing...although this shirt he's wearing is a 12 months from Target. I think this picture is funny....his mouth kind of looks like the mouth on his shirt. Mr. Funny.

I love my little man! Little drama and BIG smiles....that's just the way he is....PERFECT!

Is there really anything wimpier than going to the doctor for a broken "pinky" toe? I don't think so....but there I was this morning. At least it was confirmed that the toe IS broken. A clean break - clear through...but aligned just fine despite the mangled exterior appearance. So $43, a couple x-rays, some tape and a sexy shoe later..I'm home and hobbling around. Did you know they can view x-rays digitally now? How cool is that?! He even burned the images to a disk for me....but the file format is funky and I can't figure out how to upload them to the blog. I'll have Mark help me with that tonight - cuz I just KNOW you are dying to see the bone images of the largest female feet known to man. =-)

Confessions of an old transvestite

Ok, so I"m not a transvestite...but if you looked at my feet, you might wonder. Before kids I wore a women's size 11. After kids, a 12 WIDE. (Hold the Sasquatch jokes, please). This is a horrible predicament for a woman. Shoe shopping has NEVER been an enjoyable experience for me. IF a store carries my size, they tend to be the most hideous looking shoes - ever. There's the whole men's shoe solution, but what woman wants to wear Men's shoes?

Last night around Midnight I completely and totally rammed my foot into the glider ottoman in the baby's room. My little toe was bent outward and upward in an awkward position and I was (am) in pain! Now, the toe is either broken or dislocated and footwear is not really an option at all right now. I know doctors can't really do anything for a broken toe except maybe tape it....but I think I'm going to go see a doctor because I"m afraid it will heal in this jetted outward position...thus making Amazon foot even WIDER and harder to fit. (sigh).

Life is so not fair. I want to wear cute strappy sandals with kitten heels, but noooooo...I have to wear shoes that my husband slips on to get the mail. NOT RIGHT! So off I go this morning to the doctor - where I"ll hang my head low, embarrassed of my large and now swollen foot....hoping they believe I'm a woman and not a transvestite. Actually, it would be nice to know a fashionable transvestite...because the first thing I'd ask is where do you buy your cute shoes??

Lauren had a wonderful time with her Grandma yesterday (read: was SPOILED ROTTEN). She and Grandma went to get pictures taken, enjoyed a nice lunch together and each other's company. Thanks, Grandma! Here are a few of the pictures from yesterday's photo shoot:

Bailey & Mark returned safely from Omaha where they saw Santana. They both had a GREAT time and Mark says it was the best concert he's ever attended...ever!

Today Grandma took Lauren to get her picture taken in the dresses she sewed for her. They aren't back yet, but I'll post her pictures later. While the 2-yr-old was elsewhere I took advantage and took Grant for his 6-month pics (since I only have a few days left before he's 7 months!). Here are the pics we ordered....the first is my favorite but he did SO great today that I had to leave dozens of fabulous shots behind. =-( Here are the three I ordered:

And here are a few shots when we got home....Grant and all of his double-chin smiley-guy goodness.

Run, Bailey! Run!

Yesterday afternoon I packed up the little ones and we headed to Bailey's track meet. Of course the very minute we got in the van to drive over there it started raining. Not enough to cancel the meet - just enough to make it absolutely miserable. It was still warm and humid...but WET. Luckily a rain cover came with our double stroller and that saved my life! Grant was cozy and dry under there and Lauren? Well...she was excited to see sissy "win the race." (even if she had come in last, Lauren thought she winded the race (toddler speak).

Even more lucky, Grandma & Grandpa live right across the street from this track, so after Bailey's first event (4x800 relay), Grandma & Grandpa took Lauren back to their house. She had to take her new watering can...since it was raining she thought she needed to collect the water. Yup - like I needed ONE MORE thing to haul to the track meet.

It is definitely difficult attending track meets with two little ones - but I'm not going to miss Bailey's activities - it isn't her fault her brother & sister are 12 and 10 yrs younger than she is! Because I had the double stroller, that meant that we didn't sit in the stands - you know...where you can actually SEE something? And because Grant is still cranky around the 5 o'clock time....that meant I had to stay in-motion! I was able to watch her 4x800 event and thankfully Grant held out until her 4x200 event. Bailey was anchor for that relay and came in 3rd.....I thought it was a strong finish and was very proud of her.

I'm looking forward to a sunny track meet someday soon.

Tonight Bailey & Mark are headed to a Santana concert in Omaha. Mark won tickets (I swear - he is always winning tickets to something!). I'll be home alone w/the kiddos.

Later!