Suprise Shower

We weren't sure Lace would make it to her surprise lunch/shower today but the baby decided to stay put for a couple more days. My mom and I had planned a little surprise shower up at the Oregon Golf Club and we knew we were cutting it close but it was the only date that worked for everyone. Lace didn't want a big shower so we kept it simple with a few close family and friends and met for a late lunch. She did the baby's room in a monkey theme so we carried that over to the shower. My mom made cute little monkey favor boxes with blue and brown m&m's in them along with some mints wrapped in blue. We got blue and brown cupcakes and set it up as the centerpiece with the monkey in the middle. We're not sure how the baby will turn out but Lace pointed out that Addie is quite the little monkey already so he'll have a good teacher to show him all the tricks! I got a call at 10:30 Friday night saying she was going to the hospital to get checked and I thought for sure I'd have to call everyone and say the shower is off but after keeping her there until 2:00 am with contractions 4 minutes apart and being dialated to 4 cm everything stopped and they sent her home. So...baby boy Prueitt...the shower is over, you have everything you need and we are ready to welcome you into the world...just go easy on your mommy and give her plenty of time to get to the hospital!

Busy Weekend

This weekend definitely tops the charts as the busiest weekend...I am just imagining what it will be like down the road when all 3 of them are involved in activities! It started Friday night with the annual Father-Daughter dance up at Oregon Golf Club. I got the girls all dolled up with curled hair, special earrings and even some make-up and sent them off to have a fun night with Daddy. It was a 60's theme so they had the old-fashioned milkshakes, hula hooping contest (which they both won!) and dancing to a lot of Miley Cyrus, Jonas Brothers and Taylor Swift. I got a little one on one time with my little buddy and after some cuddling on the couch laid him down early and had some peace and quiet. Saturday got started early with a softball game at 9:00 which Jamie coached while I took Ellie to her rehearsal for her first communion. From there it was rushing around to get birthday presents for the 3 different parties the girls had that day and a lot of dropping off and picking up. Ellie's friend Rae was having a sleepover because her mom was in Arkansas so after the party I brought the girls back here to play...luckily it was a nice day so they stayed outside. I spent the afternoon cleaning the house and running to Party City to get the supplies for Ellie's special day on Sunday. The girls decided they wanted to have a lemonade stand, however, it turned into selling blue gatorade, skittles and gum and giving away "free" water to all the people walking by that said they had no money. It was pretty funny, there was no cute little stand or even a table for that matter...they just had all the cups lined up on the pavement and a handmade sign sitting on top of a fence post. When I asked for a drink they charged me which just made me laugh...I give you all the supplies then I have to pay for a sip of gatorade?! I have to say I was a little sad for them...not one car stopped! What has this world turned into when you can't stop and give a kid a quarter to make their day? They did have some 4th grade boys come by on their bikes and buy some gum so I think they ended up making $1. They had fun though so I guess that's all that matters. After a lot of negotiating I got them to bed at a somewhat decent time...got a few hours of sleep myself and then started Sunday off with more cleaning and getting ready for the party at our house. Jamie and I double teamed it...he did the outside and I did the inside. When I say I did the inside keep in mind that I had 3 little "helpers" running behind me so I seemed to picking up the same things over and over again! Finally...the time was here...off to Ellie's first communion! She wore a beautiful white dress, with tights and shoes that Nana got her and the veil that her great-grandma June made my mom for her wedding which was really special. She was excited and nervous and kept grabbing my hand and telling me her heart was beating so fast. She has such wonderful family and friends that came to support her and everyone came to our house afterwards to celebrate. It was a beautiful day for a beautiful occasion. So it is 8:24 on Sunday night and as I nag the girls to brush their teeth I am off to tuck them into bed, say our prayers, good night kisses and take a huge sigh of relief that this weekend is over!

Now I lay you down to sleep...again...and again...

So we've officially hit that impossible and heart breaking sleep stage. The "I'm almost 2 and I don't want to go to sleep...and I am definitely not sleeping in my crib!" Ever since we went to Arizona and then up to Seattle and he got to sleep with us he has decided that it should be that way every night. We obviously disagree. So the battle of the wills has begun and so far he wins. We have spent the last two nights putting him in his crib only to have him climb out and walk out of the room. Last night we stood at the door and the minute we heard the "thud" we walked back in and laid him down again and again and again...After he realized he couldn't get out he just stood there and cried and cried and cried. There is no wearing that kid down and I think Jamie and I have gotten soft in our old age. With the girls we would let them "cry it out" and for whatever reason we just don't have the heart to listen to it with Jalen. For one I don't remember the girls lasting as long as he does, a few minutes and they would fall asleep. Maybe he got his dad's persistence and stubborn personality because we try to let him cry it out but after a couple of hours and him still going strong, we are both emotionally and physically tired. So he ends up in between us in our bed and within minutes he is out. Aren't we just the suckers?! Nap time isn't much easier, and since we are up he thinks he needs to be up too. We again, lock him in his room but unlike night time he's cool with it...he climbs out of his crib and plays with his toys. Half the time he will fall asleep on the floor or the rocking chair like I found him the other day...but hey whatever works for me to get my few minutes of quiet during the day! I know this too will pass, and I think secretly I don't want it to...he's my last baby and I just want to enjoy every minute of it...even if it means being waken by little hands and feet all night long. So for now, he wins, and I'm sure we will be paying for it when we still have a 5 year old sleeping with us...just kidding...

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!