Random Thoughts Thursday

You know those days where you aren't sick enough to stay in bed, but too sick to do anything really productive? Yeah, that's today. Colds shouldn't be allowed in the summer.

School started this week. It has been a little bit of a rough transition for us. Abbie because she is at a new school and doesn't know anyone in her class, me because I miss her.

Savannah, however is chomping at the bit to get to preschool. Too bad she has had to wait until next week for it to start.

My brother moves to Australia on Saturday. Now if only Russ and I can scrape together enough money to go visit him.....

I was hoping to use today to prepare for a talk I have to give, and while I did some research on the topic what I really enjoyed was a long nap and vegging in front of the TV.

Mom Question: Do you ever feel like the balance between helping your children develop meaningful talents, family time, homework, and sleep is a no win situation?    Okay, maybe it's just me.


Sorry, that's all I've got. I'm tired.

Not so Random Thoughts Thursday

Last Friday night we had  family pictures taken. The first in years. So of course I planned the entire day around it. Zoo first so the kids would be tired, then a nap in the afternoon so they wouldn't. Baths. Dinner. Change clothes, then go.

Everyone followed the plan perfectly....except Nathan. He didn't sleep.all.day.long. Which, when you are having pictures at 6:00 at night makes for, um, some stress on the mother's part. Thankfully, he cat napped while the girls were having their pictures taken which cheered him up for about 15 minutes which then gave us enough time to snap some pictures before he broke down again.

(For the record, he woke up every hour that night. Seriously, I have no idea what it is with me and kids that don't sleep but it's killing me.) If you are a grandparent, you will be getting pictures so don't fret. We just got these last night so give us some time. (Which is why this post is all about pictures, because that is what is on my mind today.)Anyone else can let us know if they want any.

Random Thoughts Thursday

I am happier and more energetic than I've been in months....Maybe I should take an hour and a half nap every day.

Conversations with Savannah

Mom: Girls I made an appointment with the dentist for next week.
Savannah: We are going to the dentist right now?
Mom: No, we are going next week.
Savannah: How many days is a week?
Mom: A week is seven days but we are going to the dentist in about ten days.
Savannah: So we are going to the dentist tomorrow!

(Conversation with Uncle Chris while in Oregon at the beach.)

Savannah: Do you know what sand is made of?
Chris: What?
Savannah: SPARKLES!

This made me happy and hungry, except I have not invented Hot Chocolate Truffles nor can I make a perfectly roasted chicken.

We are having our first family picture in years taken tomorrow. I am thrilled!

Abbie starts school in a week and a half. I am really going to miss her. But I am so excited that we have an awesome neighborhood school for her to attend.

I am also not looking forward to having my life scheduled again. Coming from me that probably is a real shock but what I really mean is I'm not looking forward to having to get up and get Abbie ready for school every morning.

Random Thoughts Thursday

Best things (for me) about Russ taking the girls to visit Oregon for five days:

1 - Naps
2 - Reading, a lot
3 - Not fixing dinner
4 - One on one time with Nathan
5 - Missing my kids ( It is wonderful to know you miss them.)

Best things (for the girls) about Russ taking them to visit Oregon for five days:

1 - Being buried on the beach with cousins. (And the Beach Olympics.)

2 - Oregon Zoo
3 - Playing with Grandma Gray

4 - Great Grandma Delamarter

5 - Everything. The girls did not want to come home. At. All.


Best thing (for Russ) about taking the girls to visit Oregon for five days:

This story.

On the plane ride home Savannah talked non-stop. She yelled out comments constantly, such as pointing out her excitement of seeing a "VOLCANO!!!" as they were taking off, and "Zooming" when they were landing. Russ heard her many comments repeated quietly by the people around him. (Thankfully no one seemed annoyed.) Then just as they landed,

Savannah: "I have to go to the bathroom...really bad!"

Russ: "Okay we have to wait for all these people to get off the plane first."

S: [quite loudly] "Oh no, the PEEPS ARE ALMOST COMING OUT!!!!"

Miraculously the crowd parted immediately and allowed them to exit. The 5 or 6 rows ahead of them, having heard the conversation, was more than happy to let them through, with a smile. Then, as they walked quickly through the terminal to the bathroom:

S: "Peeps, stay inside, OK? Stain inside peeps."

Abbie, under her breath: "Sav - van - nah stop saying that. People can hear you!"

S: " I have to tell the peep to stay inside!

Random Thoughts Thursday

I finally have a picture of my house. And yes that is picture in the singular. Sorry, I feel like my life has exploded this summer and it is all I can do to live. Russ actually took this to help us figure out what kind of rug we wanted in the front room. It now has a cream super shaggy rug.

Russ and I just finished watching the second season of BBC Sherlock. Best. Series. Ever. Times Ten.

I am also reading Hood by Stephen Lawhead. It is a retelling of the Robin Hood legend although the time and setting are different. It is pretty darn good.

I have loved watching the Olympics with the girls this year. Although Abbie didn't want to watch the Men's Synchronized Diving because, well, they're boys, and Savannah just wanted to see the puppets from the opening ceremonies again and again.

Things you need to know about Nathan. His height is in the 80th precentile. He burps like a grown man. He still has the most adorable smile ever.

Random Thoughts Thursday

Last night I made Chicken Curry with Potatoes, Cauliflower and Peas, and I had some leftovers for lunch. After lunch Nathan woke up and I changed his diaper and fed him. That is when I noticed a spot on my jeans. It was the color of curry....and breast milk poop.  Which was it?

Who needs sleep? Well your never going to get it? Who needs sleep? Tell me what's that for? Who needs sleep? Be happy with what your getting. There's a guy who's been awake since the Second World War....Quiz: Who is the artist? They must be a parent.

I'm reading The Boxcar Children to my girls. I'm so excited that they love it. It was the first book I ever loved as a kid.

The girls and I made Congo Bars today. Blondies + Coconut = Yum! (Yes, my overly picky girls like coconut. Who would've guessed?)

This made me laugh out loud. A lot. It reminded me of this.

Yards: Love that I have a place for my kids to play outside where I feel safe leaving them there. Hate that they require so much darn work.

It was the curry. Thank heavens.

I wish my kids were older so I could buy this as their lunch box

I know I'm weird, but I think this is the most awesome lunch box ever. It almost makes me wish I were in school again so I could carry it  around with my lunch in it. I can just picture walking around a university campus with this in my hands. Sitting down and pulling my lunch out to eat. Pure genius.  You can purchase them here.

Random Thoughts Thursday

Tonight is our neighborhood patriotic parade. It is windy with dark clouds looming. This is going to be interesting.

I so badly need chocolate in my life.

I was just talking to a friend about babies sleeping through the night. Why is it that some parents have go through a major battle that lasts for many moons and other's children just start sleeping through the night on their own? Curses!

I am in desperate need of a really, really good book. Please, can you help me?

I had so many plans of what we were going to do this summer an adventures we were going to have. We've gotten to maybe a 1/4  of them.

Reams grocery store does not sell goat cheese. Seriously? I thought we were in the 21st century.

Sorry, that's all the randomness for now.

Happy Birthday Savannah Banana!

Today Savannah turned four! Savannah is my sweetheart. She has the most precious voice and has her parents and grandparents wrapped around her sweet little finger. My dad is always saying, if we all just talked like her we would get anything we wanted. Savannah is my cuddle bug. She loves to climb up on my lap and gives me a hug. She loves imaginative play and is on the constant search for companions to play house, Calico Critters, My Little Pony or anything in which she can act out events. Savannah also loves bugs and critters and and climbing in the great outdoors. She is also a tough little hiker but loves even more riding on someone's shoulders. While cautious on her bike she has no problems in new situations and being friendly with new kids in our neighborhood. She has such a sweet kind disposition that she is easy for us to love. She has grown up so much this last year, with her most recent accomplishment being that she has started reading! She is so proud of herself, but not nearly as proud as her parents. Savannah we love you so very much! Happy Birthday

Random Thoughts Thursday

Yesterday, I found a wonderful idea online for Savannah's stuffed animal party. I could use old fabric scraps and sew little blankets for the animals that the girls could decorate. It would be practically free and super easy. By last night I realized it was neither, practically free, or very easy, but at least it's cute...right?

I keep thinking things will slow down. I'm starting to realize that doesn't happen with three kids.

This last week Russ and I decided that later in the summer he would take the girls for a short trip up to Oregon to visit his mom and grandma. It will be just Nathan and I home alone. Now, what will I do?

I was reading over some old posts and realized they contained some serious grammar errors. I promise I went to college. But since then I've had three children, am currently sleep deprived, and most importantly, have been rushing the last few times I've posted, so I failed to proof read them. It still ticks me off.

This morning Savannah came to me wearing naught but a shirt, underwear, and a tulle fairy skirt and wanted to know if that was enough for the day. Sorry kiddo.

It is not the easiest thing in the world to keep an adequate breast milk supply for a hungry baby when you are out playing in 100+ degree weather.

Celebrity

Every morning he wakes up to entourage. They accompany him in all of his travels, he just can't go anywhere alone.  Wherever he sits someone is just hoping to get a smile from him in their direction. Unfortunately the paparazzi hasn't done their job quite as well as they should have. Although if the truth be told he doesn't smile for camera's much.(These pictures are the only ones I have of him smiling, and I took a bunch trying.)

 He handles fame well. He is generous to his adoring fans. While occasionally his smiles seem a bit contrived, he will still flash a sparkler most of the time. He really only complains when tired or hungry, and isn't picky about what he eats, he just wants a lot of it.

Random Thoughts Thursday

Fourth of July Fun = being in a parade with your cousins pulled by your grandpa on a tracker.

Unfortunately about 5:00 last night the going, going, going we've been doing, while tons of fun, caught up with me and I crashed and missed the family BBQ.  Have I mentioned that I don't function well when I don't get enough sleep?

There are clouds in the sky today. This is glorious news as it hasn't rained here in two months.

Tomorrow afternoon Russ has said I can take some time for myself while he takes the kids. (I think my running on empty for the last month is becoming really noticeable.) Unfortunately, I have that over-planned as well. I want to go geocaching (Love it!), go shopping for clothes for me, go shopping for the kids clothes to have pictures taken in,  take a long nap, read a book. take a bath, pick up stuff for Savannah's birthday next week, go for a bike ride, watch the wind blow through the trees out my front window, and veg in front of the TV for too long. Umm...yeah.

Speaking of geocaching, if you haven't tried it, you really should. It is completely, and totally awesome.

I have officially called a household prohibition on whine. Unfortunately, there is still plenty of bootlegging going on.