How to look like a SUPERHERO. By Baden

This is how our Friday started. Can't wait to see what the rest of the weekend has in store.
This is the last Saturday before soccer starts next week so I've got lots of honeydos planned.

What's mine is yours...

Little miss is going to have to make room for baby in a few short months (as you can plainly see). These middle-of-making-dinner cuddle dances probably won't happen 'on demand' as much as she might like. I suspect that #5 will rock everyone's world a little. Probably mine more than anyone else. We will all have to step it up a little, and learn self-reliance in the process, which I think is a good thing.

Fixed

The video really was short and sweet. I fixed it so it's not that short.

Short and Sweet

Source: Here

Today I'm going to create this special hem for my too-long-for-my-short-legs-pants.

The truth

Out of the blue conversation with Carson yesterday morning.

Carson: Mom, I already know that the Easter Bunny isn't for real.

Me (a little surprised): Really? Who told you that?

Carson: No one, I just know.

Me: How do you know?

Carson (In a "duh" mom tone): Mom, like a bunny hopping down the road??? Like who could turn into a bunny. I just know, it doesn't make sense. He's not for real is he?

Me (smiling): Nope he's not, Carson.

Carson: Then who brings the stuff? (side note: By stuff he means a pair of sunglasses or something like that. And treats.)

Me: Mom and Dad

A smile spreads across his face.

Then I swore him to secrecy.

I figured there's no point in lying to him about a silly Easter Bunny. After all, there is a greater reason to look forward to Easter. (here are some ideas to incorporate)

Later, after school, I thought I'd gauge where the elder brother stood on the issue. So I asked Chandler if he's excited for the Easter Bunny to come. "Yeah," he said, with no thought to question validity. Guess we know who has the imagination.

All I had to say was...

"See Baden, you need to listen when Mommy tells you to not get things off of the mantle."

I think I handled it quite well.

Weekend Plans

Last weekend, party in the garage

No such luck this weekend. 10 Saturdays till D-day.

Isn't he romantic?

Humor

Oh, yes we need more of it don't we?

Sometimes it's easy for me to find the humor in this day-to-day life.

Like the other day when I caught Kate scooping and licking the frosting off her fingers from a cake I had just made.

Or, when Baden creates a mishap and comes to me and reports what he did and says, "I'm sorry, mom, it was an accident I totally did it on purpose."

Then there's Carson who every single day can't seem to find anything to wear even though there are 10 clean shirts hanging up in his closet!

And then the nightly pleadings with Chandler to practice his piano and he reacts as though I just asked him to run up to Walmart and buy a gallon of milk, his dramatics usually make me smile.

And then there are the times when it's really hard to get myself to muster a smile.

For instance, last night, I was trying, trying, trying to get the boys to go to bed while they are engaged in wrestle mania and wreaking havoc ever so diligently. No humor in that. So I issued a threat (one that really hurt no: 10th Avenue), gave up, went downstairs; and let them put themselves to bed.

I was really mad. Then about 15 minutes later Chandler launched this at me.

Made me laugh.

Later, I came upon this and convinced me that I need to try a little harder to laugh.
It just may lighten the load.

What's making you laugh?

What's up

Now, you all come here to read about my kids right? OK, good. Because that's all I've got besides heartburn troubles, large and in charge feelings and why this is the longest pregnancy of my life complaints. But I'll spare you those woes and instead share kid pictures and details.KATE crying because that is what she does best, at the drop of a hat. On a lighter note, we are on our way to only buying one size of diapers by the time May rolls around. Alleluia!!! She also gets props for being the best eater under 8 in the house. I hope that she remains oblivious to onions and 'green things' for a long, long time.

CHANDLER all smiles after his "papa's interview." (Wish I could say the same for me. Oh sorry, now you're all jealous that you don't get to have a couple interview with your dad and get all blubbery.) I got his whole interview on video from the closet. Priceless footage to show him in 10 years. In other news I'm contemplating sending him to school with volleyball knee pads to alleviate all the dang wholes in his jeans. Every morning: "Mom! I don't have any clean pants without holes" "Then quit getting holes in all your knees, for heavens sake."
BADEN playing chess, looks like momma needs to learn how to play chess. On second thought it kept him quiet for 15 minutes. Maybe I should keep the chess set in his room so that he can play it instead of coming in our room at the crack of dawn on Saturday morning to show us that he can hop on one foot in the dark.
CARSON finally lost that 2nd tooth on top. That's right, I said 2nd tooth. After I pulled it out he went to look in the mirror and said, "Now it lookths likthe I losth sixth teeth." He's starting to experience the joy that comes from sounding out words and reading on his own. (With that cute little lisp.) His smile of success is priceless.

So there you have it. Is it Spring yet?

Rockin' Valentines

Valentines that are boy approved. Get your digital file here.

I just got the two cards to fit on a 4x6 photo and sent it off to Costco for printing. For a total of $5.51 for the file purchase and printing of all 3 boys' valentines. Sweet deal.

Wanna go for a swim

These gray skies are driving me batty.
So are my kids, stir crazy I tell ya!
And what's up with no school on Monday?
Are you nodding your head in agreement?
I've got a solution.
Swim party. At the farm.
And no, I'm not crazy, it's indoors.
So bring your suits, floaties and towels.
And you have two choices:
Come between either
10-12 or 1-3.
We'll be around for both.
I plan on getting these bundles of energy nice and tired.
So come one come all and
email me if you need directions.

1 minute with Baden

Baden: Dad won't let me get on the erplane. (Coming out of Brian's office)

Me: Why do you need to get on the airlplane?
(at this point I start writing down because I know it's going to be good)

Baden: Cause I have to go to my chicken farm. I'm going to go outside.

Me: It's too cold to go outside.

Baden: I HAVE to go to work.

Me: No you don't.

Baden: I have to work so I can get money to pay for Georgia's (1 of 6 imaginary friends) house.

Me: Why do you have to pay for her house?

Baden: Because she losed her job on Christmas and she doesn't have any money, so I have to pay for her, and she has to go to high school.

Me: Ok, get your coat on then.

Baden: I have to take my gun cause there woofs (wolves) and bears. I need to call some phone calls.

Me: Why?

Baden: Cause I need some people to come and feed the chickens. Ok, so I gotta go now. (slams the door)

When I told Brian about this exchange, he said, "The recession is hitting imaginary people, how sad."

Answers

sometimes come in the form of a conference talk.
It's just what I needed to read. Maybe you'll find it speaks to you as well.
Read it here.
I think you'll be glad you did.

This was taken last Sunday. I just had to document that Kate had mini-pigtails in her hair (which she promptly removed). Today I quarantined them all and stayed home from church. Too many coughs, sniffs and other nastiness to pass on to other children at church.
And by the way, it is WAY easier to go to church than stay at home! We all felt the void today.

last hurrah

It's the last weekend of being in my twenties.
(30 sounds exciting, doesn't it?)

I am hunting for my cake.
Since this is the big one, it's got to be good and chocolate.

Last year my Grandma L. called and upon hearing I was cakeless said,

"It's better to make my own cake,
than cry because I didn't have one."

Words of wisdom, I'd say.

So I've turned to foodgawker.
Because a picture is worth a thousand words.

What will it be?

This?
This?

or This?
Decisions, decisions...

Lunch Bunch

I'm so lucky I get to eat lunch with them everyday. No matter that they each request something different.
They're with me, in my kitchen every day for lunch.
Within the next 5 years they're all going to trade me in for a noisy cafeteria and wish they had Wonderbread sandwiches like the rest of their friends.
I should know, I did the same thing.

Have you seen this?

Just finished season one. I'm hooked. Who knew?

you just never know

1st day of the 3rd grade

I can assure you that it never occurred to me that I'd be asked to speak at her funeral on that first day of school 22(!) years ago. That is until I recieved a phone call requesting that very thing this morning. I was happy to oblige.

What to say? Well, that's easy. There's so much to say. See?

What to wear? When you're 24+ weeks pregnant with #5? Well, that's the hard part.

I will be taking a Unisom tonight.

Princess Indeed

And from a princess herself, words to live by:

Princess Grace of Monaco
“I am like anyone else trying to keep a home together. I must fight, I mean fight, for the time to be with my children. My husband and I spend every spare moment we have with our children in an effort to share our lives with them. And where there are no spare moments, I struggle to make them.”

Stupid wind

My neighbor just came by to ask how I like the wind. I told him I hate it. "How's your trampoline?" he asked. I told him Brian just got home from a meeting and was changing to go and move it. "Too late, it's over the fence and wedged between our house and your fence." Sure enough, over the fence and nice and bent.

Stupid wind.

The kids seriously jump on that thing every day, unless it's loaded with snow. Makes me so stinkin' mad.