Snook Invasion Part 2

We made another trip up to see our great friends Brian, Emily, Max and Jack Taibl. It had been a year (which is WAY too long!) and last time we were there it was such a zoo with all the kids that we jokingly called it the Snook invasion. This time was no different...probably even more chaotic now that Jalen and Jack and are that non-sharing, hitting, shoving phase. Em actually threw a couple toys off the back deck after we had all we could take of the fighting. We got a babysitter and enjoyed a grown up dinner, Em and I got to meet Jenni and Megan for lunch (seriously the sweetest, cutest baby...I couldn't stop kissing that little head), Jamie got to visit old friends at Pinnacle and to end the weekend we took the kids to the Seattle Aquarium. The fish, starfish and seals were a big hit but it is amazing how much 5 kids can outnumber 3 adults! It seemed like everyone wanted to go in a different direction...especially the little ones! As crazy as it is I love being able to spend time with such wonderful friends...the only sad part is when we have to leave again.

Into EVERYTHING!!

You always laugh when people say boys are so different...like it's so sweet, and most of the time it is. Jalen brings me more laughter but along with that some real frustration! He is so busy...and into everything he shouldn't be. We have baskets full of toys, enough balls to fill our own ball pit but none of that is interesting to him. I can't clean without him climbing into the dishwasher or dryer or spraying the cleaner that we all know is not so good for babies. I can't cook (not that I was really good before) but I mean I don't cook because he climbs into the refrigerator, onto chairs to help me by the stove or he disappears into some other room since he knows I am in the middle of something and can't come chase him. And there is NO relaxing...he can't sit still to watch TV so therefore I can't sit and watch TV. Honestly, some days I would do anything to watch the Backyardigans...at least I could be off my feet for a minute! He is into the girls toothbrush and toothpaste (another toxic item if ingested), he has dumped out an entire bottle of laundry detergent, he empties the tupperwear cabinet on a daily basis, he climbs on any counter to turn the faucet on and wash his hands, or any other part of his body he can get in the sink. He has emptied most of our pen and scissor collection into the heat vents and he is an expert on the electronics. But this week was a record week for him...if he was in a "who can make the biggest mess" contest he'd win hands down. He emptied half a jar of bagbam onto his head and rubbed it into his hair so good it took three days of multiple washings to get it out. Two days later he used my jar of lotion as a full face mask as well as a conditioner for his hair. And to top it off last night he shattered our shower door. That's right, the tempered glass that's not supposed to break easily, or shatter for that matter...yep he managed to do it! I know what you are thinking...who supervises this kid? I have to take complete responsibility (except the shower door was on Daddy's watch) but in my defense he is so fast...literally in the amount of time it takes me to poor a bowl of cereal he can create his very own spa treatment! So today the last of our house and any sort of convenience we used to know got the last touches of baby proofing. I mean we can't even open up a cabinet to put face lotion on or get the toothpaste to brush our teeth without taking apart a gadget that is almost too tough for us to get open. I know these days to will pass, and as exhausting as it is we love him and wouldn't want him any other way!

Valentines Day

It was a low key Valentines for us...we had to work since we make so many of those cute heart shaped pizzas! Jamie and I celebrated on Thursday by going down to Portland City Grill and then on Saturday after the girls got all their little gifts we laid around and shared the love at home!

"Sick"

Every year the second grade classes at Stafford put on a music and poetry night. They all sing together and then get up in front of everyone and recite two poems. One is a partner poem and the other is a solo poem. Ellie chose by far the longest poem, memorized it and did an amazing job speaking in the microphone. Jamie and I went along with Papa Scott and Grandma, Papa Bill and Grandma Elsa and Papa Ben. Papa Ben even brought her a Valentines balloon which was so sweet! We were all so very proud of her. I will share the poem with you but it will not be nearly as cute as it was when Ellie was reading it with all of her theatrical expressions!

"Sick"

"I cannot got to school today,"
said little Peggy Ann McKay.
I have the measles and the mumps,
A gash, a rash and purple bumps.
My mouth is wet, my throat is dry,
I'm going blind in my right eye.
My tonsils are as big as rocks,
I've counted sixteen chicken pox
And there's one more - that's seventeen,
And don't you think my face looks green?
My leg is cut, my eyes are blue-
It might be instamatic flu.
I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke,
I'm sure that my left leg is broke-
My hip hurts when I move my chin,
My belly button's caving in.
My back is wrenched, my ankles sprained,
My pendix pains each time in rains.
My nose is cold, my toes are numb,
I have a sliver in my thumb.
My neck is stiff, my voice is weak,
I hardly whisper when I speak.
My tongue is filling up my mouth,
I think my hair is falling out.
My elbows bent, my spine ain't straight,
My temperature is 108.
My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear,
There is a hole inside my ear.
I have a hangnail, and my heart is - what?
What's that? What's that you say?
You say today is...Saturday?
G'bye, I'm going out to play!

last chance for January!

So my dad just pointed out to me that I have a post for every month except this month. When he asked why I told him because there hasn't been anything too exciting to blog about. The usual routine...kids are back in school which means they are bringing home every germ that's out there. Of course Jalen gets it the worse of anyone which makes for pretty miserable days (and nights!) for all of us! I thought I had got lucky and it passed me by but not the case so I sit here with my box of kleenex writing on this last day of January. I have started a new project called Project 365. You all know how I love to scrapbook...well let's just say that in this way too small house with my favorite little monster into EVERYTHING there is not a whole lot of scrapbooking going on. So as an alternative my mom introduced me to this project which is basically a year in the life of our family. Granted you wouldn't do this every year, but it is quick, easy and does not require all the supplies, stickers, paper, cutters, etc. that I normally use when I scrapbook. Basically I take a picture everyday. I know what you are thinking cause I was too at first...EVERYDAY?! But it's actually easy and pretty cool because you get pictures of things you normally would not waste your time with but represent what everyday life is like in our family. When I look back through the normal scrapbooks most of the pages seem to be of special occasions, holidays or vacations. This way I am getting the silly, funny, happy, sad and even sick days (which we have had way too many of lately!) So every couple of weeks I print the pics and insert them into a page protector with 6 slots and then in the bottom slots I write a quick note about that day. It's easy, quick and even the girls have gotten into it by taking pictures at random times (some may not make the book...like me working out!) but it's fun to look back on! So that's it for January...hopefully I will have more to share in February! Happy Birthday to Papa Jack who is at the beach celebrating with friends...we hope you have a great birthday!

let it snow, let it snow, let it STOP!!

I can't believe how much snow we got these last couple of weeks! I now know why kids are always so much more excited about the snow...for little people with no responsibilities, obligations or businesses it means no school, building snowmen, sledding with friends and drinking hot chocolate like it's water! It even brings out the little kid in me but after a couple of days I'm back to being that boring mom who just wants to be able to drive herself to Starbucks for a coffee without the fear of sliding into a ditch! Anyway, it was good times...sledding down the hills at Grandma's,sucking on icicles like they were cigars and even sliding across the frozen pond! It is for sure a December we won't forget...

A Season of Giving

All day yesterday and today I kept telling Jamie it just doesn't feel like Christmas. I think mostly because of the weather...and things just came too fast this year! With the girls missing their last week of school before break they didn't have their Christmas parties at school, we still have their friends gifts sitting under the tree and because they were home I didn't get all the fun festive stuff done that I would have liked. Not to mention that we only have one car that works in the snow which meant whenever Jamie left to work or drive all his employees to work I was stuck at home (and yes I mean "stuck"!). The snow is fun...but only for a couple of days. The girls are old enough that they can easily bundle up and go out to play but that means that little brother has to follow and it literally takes more time to get him dressed than it does for him to play...just too cold for little hands that the mittens won't stay on! We also missed out on a few of the traditions...the church Christmas pageant was canceled, we didn't do our annual driving the streets to look at lights because of the snow and ice and there was no Children's Mass on Christmas Eve and we moved Christmas Eve to our house because no one could make it up the hill to my parents. I think it was a mix of all those little things that we missed that just made Christmas seem a little "off" this year. On the bright side...we adopted a family this year instead of drawing names within our family. All of Jamie's family as well as all of my family chipped in and we gave a family a wonderful Christmas. We got to go deliver the gifts to them out in Troutdale yesterday and meet the parents and cute 4 year old little girl named Sierra. It was important to me that the girls got to meet who we had helped, and especially since they used some of their piggy bank money to buy a toy for Sierra. It's a tough concept for kids as young as ours but we are doing our best to instill that "it's better to give than receive"...someday they will see but for now we will cherish watching their little faces light up just as much as Sierra's when they open presents from Santa and grandparents and aunts and uncles! Although we took it easy this year the girls got some cute clothes, High School musical barbies, their own girlie MP3 players and the big gift was a karaoke singing machine (thanks to Grandma and Papa Jamie and I will have a headache for the next few years!). All of you that know our girls can only imagine their excitement! Ellie especially has all the moves of a 14 year old pop star and not a shy bone in her body! Lily is still a little unsure but when they do a duet she lets loose! Jalen started his own tool collection as well as some fun cars and of course balls of all kind! So although it wasn't typical it was still a very merry Christmas that started with all the kids climbing in our bed where we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus and making some more great memories with family...and it was a white Christmas to top it off!