Boys have chests...

Kolette has a huge fascination w/boobs so it isn't hard to imagine that Ian is trying to see what the differences are. I had always called chests on boys and girls chests b/c as children they don't have boobs. Until Kolette that worked just fine for my kids. However s/where Kolette caught onto the fact that they are also called boobs on ladies. She is ready for boobs now! Just ask her. That is why Ariel is her favorite princess it is all about the boobs and those wonderful shells. This is her only exception for s/thing not being pink since Ariel isn't pink at all.

Getting the kids out of the bath and drying Ian off.

He says as he points to his chest and says: "These are called chests"

I say "Yes they are"

Ian then pulls out the collar of my shirt and says as he is looking in the top of my shirt
"Those are called boobs"

I say "Yes they are"

I have learned w/Ian not to make a big deal over s/thing or else it becomes a fascination to him. I guess after breastfeeding 4 kids they loose their sex appeal and just become another body part w/no bells or whistles. Although maybe I should buy a bra w/a bell in it and maybe the whistles would come back... I don't think so gravity isn't such a wonderful thing s/times.

Are you kidding me?

This has been a hectic week for me. I am really a homebody at heart. I love to have s/thing to do but like to be home too so not too much away from home or I feel out of sorts. Soccer does it for me since we are gone at least 3 days a week w/that. Also helping out at the school and other things makes for a busy week. So this week w/all that is going on I haven't been home all week. I know it is only Wed but the days have flown so fast.

In the midst of it Kolette & Ian are still finding creative ways of decorating my house. Kolette has found that the most entertaining thing she can do if I am busy say w/the phone or cleaning or anything productive is take all the blankets and clothes she can hold out of her closet and throw them on the floor or her bed. AHHHHHHH!!!!! She did this on Mon during the time I am getting the horrible news about our friends. I needed to rush to the hospital and I walk into her room and it looks like her closet threw up on her floor. She KNOWS that she is not susposed to do that since she has gotten it trouble before for it. Seriously 3 is the hardest age to me. "WHY?" is at an all time high right now and no answer cures it. None of my kids used that word as much as she does.

Ian on the other hand has a fascination w/taking things apart. Bless my father in law's heart he finds things for Ian to dismantle and he is in heaven. For example so far a broken food saver, a radio and a couple cell phones. Unfortunately Ian wants to bring all those pieces home and they are honored treasures. But in the middle of the floor is not where we should honor them. But on the other hand it is fun to see him so enthralled while taking them apart. Maybe I should just check Donnie & Bob's trucks for his Christmas presents this year.

Grief

I have had a very hard day. A good friend of mine was in a major car wreck and her oldest son has died. She and 4 of her kids were hurt. 2 of them are released. They could all use some prayer. Please pray God knows who they are. One of the boys is Connor's best friend and Corrins friend is still in the hospital. Pray, pray, pray...

How to really sparkle

I guess I am getting paybacks according to my mom. She says I used to change my clothes all the time when I was little. It dosen't hurt that sweet Kolette looks so much like me. Spitting image more like.

Anyhow I made the fatal mistake yesterday of putting Corrin's sparkle lotion on Kolette after a bath yesterday. She smelled like blueberries and slightly sparkled. She was thrilled. So today as I am making a way too late dinner of chicken enchiladas
Corrin yells to me "Mom you need to see your daughter"

I say: "My hands are all slimy"

Corrin " You REALLY need to see her"

Me "Can you carry her up?"

Corrin "NO way" (she has a thing about getting dirty)

Me " Can you carry her under her arms?"

Corrin "No way you have to see her"

Me "Kolette come up here right now"

She was covered from head to toe in sparkles literally. Corrin had left out lip gloss w/sparkles. I threw her in the tub and scrubbed her from head to foot and she still had sparkles.

Note to self... Never Ever let Kolette near ANYTHING. Seriously that girl is lucky she is the 4th or else our family size would be much smaller. Corrin made life so easy never getting into anything. Connor couldn't get into anything w/o making a ton of noise. Ian is quiet but not so enamored in covering his body w/lip gloss, markers, crayons, food or whatever suits his fancy. Kolette was clearly cut from a mischievious mold. Tomorrow is another day but what kind of day is still to be determined...

Busy Day

Today started out w/me walking the kids to school w/a crockpot in my arms. Then I came back home to head back w/Ian and another crockpot in my hands. Our parent teacher conferences were starting today and the CPT (like the PTA) provides soup, rolls & veggies to the teachers for dinner so they don't have to leave. So I set up the soups and headed back home to get Connor's bear he apparantly needed for class and headed back and went in to check on the soups and went back home for my 18qt roaster since we needed another one. (The teachers & Aids love it by the way!)

Donnie had stayed home to watch the younger 2 while I was jaunting back and forth getting my exercise for the day and Kolette was changing her clothes over and over. She was in a swimsuit when I came home, then a ballet skirt she was trying to wear as a dress(try again sister) I told her to put a shirt on, then she settled on the fluffy slip. I told her she had to wear a dress over it. I asked Ian where the cereal was and he said "In Kolette's room"(apparantly hidden under her bed. So get them both dressed by now and they decided the best use of their time is to take multiple dresses off of hangers and at least 7 quilts & blankets out of Kolette's closet and scatter them all over her bed! Ahhhhhhhhh!!! Get the put away and go downstairs to paint a frame for my heart sister, stain the stitching and make lunch. Also finish snipping a baby quilt. Try to attempt cleaning hoping that Ian & Kolette don't make more for me to clean. Get them in bed and have 1 hr before I have to be back at the school. We are home for an hour & a half and go back to the school for both conferences. Thankfully they went pretty well. Corrin does really well but apparantly has been kinda tired lately. Guess more early bedtimes for the 9 yr old. Connor is enjoying school so much and it is fun to see him learning to read and all the other things he is learning. I am in the class so much I feel like the conference is almost unnecessary. But what mom dosen't want to hear how great her kid is? He has 2 best friends and they are so cute together. They are like the 3 musketeers. Thankfully they both make friends well and they are good kids they choose.

As soon as conferences are over we are home for 1/2 hr before Church carnival. It is chaotic but the kids get money from the games they play and get to buy toys. Just what I need more things to clean up. Our school is having a carnival in 3 weeks and you spend your own money to get junk kinda silly huh? Here's hoping the 4 day week go very calmly. Yeah right!

Telemarketers

Yesterday started out quite interestingly. Besides the normal bickering between for starters Corrin & I over hair or clothes or why it takes her soooooooo long to get moving in the morning. Then after getting them off to school. Ian & Kolette find reasons to argue. Grrr... Anyhow Kolette decides she is going on the truck w/her dad. She finds a red sweatshirt w/a snowman on it and puts tights on and then puts her red pajama bottoms back on since red matches. I then said she had to change. So she insists on wearing the dress she wore w/Kelsee's tall sister when she was a princess. I asked her what Kelsee's tall sisters name is and she smiles and says "Kendee". So we get that accomplished.

Then the phone rings and says "Out of Area" which can mean the school and I am thinking oh no is one of the kids sick since we were so close to the pukey flu zone this weekend. Fatal mistake I took the call and it was not the school. They ask for Amy like we are friends and I said "Yeah" and they tell me they are Car Craft magazine. That my subscription for "Robert" is about expired and the price is going up to $40 a year and they can give it to me for $20 if I get it right now. Donnie is still home so I ask him if he still wants it. He said it was susposed to be for one of the boys. I tell her it was susposed to be for my son and that it has only been 6 months since ordered and I don't see how it can be ready for renewal already. So she drops the price to $16. Donnie says they didn't even get some of the issues. I tell her that she drops the price to $14. I told her since I don't think it should be expired yet and since we aren't even getting all the magazines unless she wants to give it to me for $6 a year I am NOT interested. Thinking this is the end of the conversation she says I can give it to you for $6.99 a year. SOLD!!! I am slightly amazed at myself.

I am currently trying to see how many more cans of worms I need to open. I feel that you should always stand up for what you believe in and then you have to decide how handle it. Corrin's big stress is kids in her class who want Obama for pres. I didn't think 3rd graders worried over these things. So I am trying to help her handle herself. Yesterday no one said anything to her so hopefully it will be the same today. All I can say is I am proud of her for standing up for what she believes in.

Pumpkin patch

We went to the Pumpkin patch w/my neice Shelby and Corrin's friend Kelsee. The weather was wonderful and the kids had a blast. Last year it rained and was super muddy. They were having so much fun jumping off the bails of hay and landing in the corn. Kolette wouldn't jump except off the ground. They were absolutely filthy and tired but loved their pumpkins and gourds. Now time for the corn maze...

Last day of Soccer

Today was the last day of soccer for both. Connor's team won all their games and Corrin's team did about half and had their hardest game today. I heard the other team only lost one. Our girls were the only all girls team and in my humble opinion they ROCK!! It has been fun and the weather was fabulous what a great way to end it. Now the cold can come on I guess.

We had a Soccer potluck for the teams this afternoon in the church basement. One of the girls on the team got sick and threw up and looked like she was very miserable. So after the potluck we had to rush to the Harvest Carnival at the Baptist church. The kids wanted to dress up and they looked cute. Corrin had 2 friends w/her so they were improvising what they wore. Thinking my night w/puke was over we were ready for fun. 1/4 of the way into it Connor throws up inside the Baptist church. I guess it was a day for puking in other peoples churches. It makes it more memorable I guess. I think his was from too much sugar and running around. At least I am hoping it is that and not the "Amy gets no sleep for a week and has to clean up couches, floors and beds flu" Time will tell.

Now they are all in bed and the house is quiet. Donnie is in bed w/a migraine and I am just going to rest in the peace. Good night to all...

What's that smell?

Ok, last weekend there was a bad smell in my coat closet. I asked Connor to pick up all the disgarded coats and see what we could find. Other than the coats it was 2 backpacks. I had no idea where the smell was. I was getting ready on Monday to walk the kids to school and Corrin needed help putting her stuff in her bag. Ding! Ding! Ding! we have found our smell. It was rotten carrots in a ziploc. Gross! So I scolded her and we went to school. She had a book in the bag and it even smelled. I put a bowl of baking soda in the closet and plugged all my Scentsy's in. I walked up to her room later that day and the second I get to the top of the stairs it reeked. I made her come up and help find the smell. We found nasty broccoli and a moldy sandwich that Marie Currie could have used to make her penicillian. I am so disgusted that a 9 year old didn't throw out the food after coming home from school. Ugh! I guess what I am saying I would rather clean up Ian & Kolette's cereal than anything that stinks and is moldy. Granted they were in ziplocs but that didn't keep the smell out. Here's hoping for a sweeter smelling weekend.

Blow kisses

Kolette is the most peticular child I have. She comes up w/the strangest things and insists that everyone abide by her wishes. For example "Blow Kisses" she doesn't want you to directly kiss her owies. She wants you to kiss close to it and blow. She just smashed her finger in a cubboard and was crying holding her finger up to me. I forgot and kissed it directly and she cried and told me "No, and made kiss sounds and mmm... sound for blow" since she was still crying. It takes alot more blow kisses to heal her owies that a direct kiss did for my other kids. She also insists that her eyes are pink. She finally will accept that they are pink chocolate. I now know that the pink is the eyelid and the chocolate is the eye color. Now boys never have pink eyes they just have whatever eye color they have. She also will tell you that she has pink hair. Donnie used to argue w/her and tell her that her eyes were brown and her hair was blonde. I however can do w/o the tears and don't mind indulging her. She has known her colors for over a year so it isn't that she is colorblind she just knows that pink is for girls and clearly the only color acceptable for her. I don't know how long this stage will last it has been at least a year so far.

1st grade wisdom

Tonite as the kids were cleaning up and getting ready for bed; Ian said he had to go pee. Connor pipes up and says "You mean you need to empty your bladder?". They are learning about the human body right now. They have cut their bodies out and they are plastered on the walls in the hallway. They keep adding different parts like the heart, lungs, brain and of course the bladder. That Connor is a walking book of information. What am I going to do when he is ahead of both Ian & Kolette and he learns much more interesting info in health class??????

Flu Shots

Today the kids got their flu shots. Now out of all 4 kids who do you think would be the bravest and the most upset? Well if you guessed that my boys were brave you get an A if you guess that Corrin would be the most upset you get an A. If you guess that Corrin also gets the award for crying when her sister gets a shot (before her I might add) and then makes her sister who was dealing very well w/it cry you get an A+. Now it would be fair to not mention that my boys got the Flu mist. The girls since they both has asthma can't get it. Ian however smiled right after he got his. Connor just sniffed. Connor did however have a sudden urge to go to the bathroom when the girls were going to get their shots. Becca (the best nurse in the entire world) had given Kolette hers but not Corrin by the time he got back. So he decided that he was going to hang out in the hallway. This isn't all that suprising to me since he saw Kolette get poked enough when she was a baby. He is such a tender heart. They all are. I am so getting mine A.S.A.P. I got the flu on my birthday last year and didn't get to go to the kids Christmas parties at school b/c I had a fever. I am NOT doing that this year. My wish for my b-day & Christmas combined is no sickness and esp. no more hospital stays for Kolette. I told Kolette that if she got the shot it helped her stay out of the hospital.

Flasher

Today we had 2 soccer games in the freezing windy weather. I guess there was even snow in Boise. Brrr... It isn't even Halloween yet.

Anyhow after the games we went to Carl's Jr. The kids were having a ball playing. Kolette however won't go up and play it scares her. So she plays in the little kids section. She came out after a couple minutes and told me that a little boy showed her his business. Yikes! So I told her to show me which boy it was. I however was able to figure out for myself as he had his pants down when I got there and he was clearly doing it on purpose. He pulled them up as I yelled out "Who's boy is this with his pants down?" You have got to be kidding me that my sweet precious 3 yr old had to be exposed to a Flasher. Kolette wouldn't even go back in there until the boy was gone. Then she wouldn't play unless I stood at the doorway. Now she is by no means sheltered from her brothers yet but apparantly my speeches of we keep our business covered it's private has sunk in. Of course I am a mother bear about the entire situation and worried for her but I am thankful she told me. I however wish the dad had apologized to me or had his son apologize to my daughter. Tomorrow is church so here's hoping for a great day w/no more flashers.

Washing dishes

Isn't it amazing how he can stay on the counter w/so little space for his feet? I am glad he didn't break anything esp on his body. Takes after me I was always a climber

Soccer Dad

I can't tell you how proud I am of Donnie. He has been a soccer coach for 10 years. He started coaching for our neice and took the team thru till they were in 8th grade even though she was on ly on the team for the 1st season. I told him it was time for Corrin to have him coach her and he happily agreed. Last fall he started an all girls team for Corrin and in the spring I volunteered him to coach for both Corrin and Connor. So he has 2 teams to coach. It has been a juggling act but he has managed to make it look easy.

I however am the mother duck who picks up all the little ducklings from school. Since our house is across from the park we are the changing and bathroom for the teams. I am happy the kids are able to feel comfortable in our home. However I am ready for soccer to be over and not have almost the entire week filled w/games or practice. On avg we are at games 3 times a week and practice the other 2. There are quite a few other parents w/kids on both teams. I am a home body so being on the go so much drives me a bit crazy.

I do love that the kids are able to get out and do some thing but w/the weather turning cold it is harder on the kids. Corrin has been sick during the first half and now feeling better. I just love to see Donnie helping out my kids and others. He has a gift! Did I mention that in Jan they have a team at a church in Roswell for kids 3 to 5 and I volunteered him to coach that one last winter for Ian & Connor? He will have Ian & Kolette this year. Now if Ian will just decide to play that will be a HUGE accomplishment. You can lead a boy to the soccer field but you can't make him move.

Cereal Capers

This is how we started the day. Ian & Kolette thought I had nothing else to do so they decided to give me a chore. It was called clean up cereal. I thought it was funny a little bit when they were just eating it. However I turn off the camera and set it down and Kolette has decided that the best thing to do now is to take handfulls of cereal and put them on Ian's head. He thinks this is a great idea and recpricates and the cereal war is on. Kolette thinking she is the funniest girl ever dosen't want to stop and is giggling like crazy. She is such a turkey w/a gleam in her eye. I shooed them out of the kitchen and swept up at least 2 adult sized bowls of cereal to throw away. It was Honey Bunches of Oats so it had alot of flakes to clean up. That girl gives me a run for my money. Ian trained her but she has surpassed her teacher. What would I do w/o them to brighten my day? My house would be cleaner but my day would sure be dull.

Best friends

These two are so cute together. Amazing how much they love each other and then the next minute are arguing about s/thing silly. Ian knows that if he says Kolette is his "Baby sister" the fight is on. A few words that are off limits to Kolette are "small, little, baby, scrawny" when describing her. She is "big and tall" according to her. She of course only has to tell Ian the opposite of what he is doing and he is heartbroken. She could say his green shirt is red and he is in tears b/c she clearly can't see. Next year is going to be a tough one for her when he goes to school me too...

Go Sarah Go

Ok, Fri I am Connor's class helping and his teacher says she knows that Mrs Shuster would love her shirt. She unzips her sweatshirt and it is a picture of Sarah Palin and says Go Sarah Go. I told her yes I loved it and had to stay up late to watch the debate since the original was during a soccer game. I asked where she got it and knew I HAD to have one. Just in case you don't know me at all I totally support McCain/Palin and Obama scares the daylights out of me.

So I go to Fred Meyer yesterday and find one but it is too big. Dosen't matter I just have to have it. I can make it work. So my mom is w/me and gets one too. She is in line in front of me w/Connor. The elderly lady checking her out asks her if she supports Palin. My quiet mom says yes. Duh! What did she think she wanted the shirt for? Anyhow I jump in and say "Isn't she great?" "I just love her morals and how she dosen't want to kill babies" The lady is glaring slightly and I continue. Connors looks up at me and I told him " Do we like people to kill babies?" He of course being so bright and 6 says "NO" I told him "Aren't you glad I love babies and have 4 wonderful kids?" "We love people who support babies". I left it at that. However that lady didn't look thrilled that I had graced her line that day. But I hope it left an impression on her. Think! I mean really. Ok, I am a bit opinionated and not afraid to say it. But for goodness sakes stand for something and make sure it is the right thing. I haven't explained abortion to my kids but they are going to grow up knowing that their mom loves them and will stand up for the right thing.

Anyhow I am going to wear my shirt to school when I help tomorrow and to Connor's soccer game. I figure wear it proudly and make sure it is seen. Go Sarah Go!

Ian's future bride

Ok, my Ian is my quiet one. However after hearing Connor talk about who he is going to marry Ian has made up his mind as well. One day I was sweeping the dining room to get ready to mop. He asked what I was doing and I told him and he asked why. I said so it wouldn't be dirty. He said "When I grow up I am going to have a messy house" I asked him what if he wants it clean? He said "My grandma will do it" He says he is going to marry Grandma and take her to lots of stores. We also saw the Astronaut Farmer and he came in at the end and said he is also going to take his Grandma to the moon. Connor says he is NEVER going in a rocket. Kolette is however going to marry her Daddy. And Corrin says she is never getting married and if she does she is living here. I said maybe your husband will want to have a house of his own. She said "well then he is going to have to buy it himself, but I might give him a couple of dollars" What kids... Connor has picked out his wife and remained true to his choice for 2 yrs now. She lives all the way in Tennessee. However I am vowed to secrecy and can't reveal her name. He says she isn't his girlfriend he is just going to marry her b/c she is his friend. What a perfect reason. However he has lowered the number of kids he wants which was originally 9 girls and 1 boy to 2 kids. His reason is it is too expensive to fly. Gotta love them!

What exactly is a refrigerator for???

Ok, I am confused. Since when is the refrigerator for non-perishable items? Apparently my youngest thinks is it the place to store all that is dear to you. Today that includes her markers for her princess book. I have found jewelry, toys of all kinds and babies in my fridge. I have repeatly told her it is not for her toys. However almost everyday I find a new "treasure" that Kolette has placed in my fridge. I was excited to think she had actually decided to follow the rule of food only in the fridge. We had gone almost 3 days w/o putting a toy in there. But low and behold Ian found her markers in there. Ahhhh!!! 2 was an interesting age w/her I can only imagine what 3 will behold. Of course since toys go in the fridge that would explain why food goes in her room? I am constantly finding a new food item hidden. However the banana that no longer looked like a banana was my ultimate favorite. I also love being told "It not been me" then when showed what I am talking about I hear "oh, that been me". Silly girl.

Overcoming

Every fall I am taken back to when my precious little fighter was born. Kolette has had a rough start but she has sure overcome. When she was 7wks she was hospitalized w/RSV & double pneumonia. That was the scariest time in my entire life. Seeing my little baby hooked up to all those machines w/doctors & nurses threatening to intibate her and wondering if she would ever be able to breathe w/o oxygen. She stayed 13 days and after that got pneumonia every month till hospitalized again at almost 7mos. She only stayed then for 3 days but by then her left lung had collasped. Both times she went home on oxygen for a week. Dr. Matt gave her prednisilone 2 wks later and it was a God send b/c it helped her lungs to heal. We didn't have another hospital visit until she was 2 1/2 and this time we had a wonderful and expensive ride in the ambulance to Boise. Granted everytime was in Boise It is sure harder to have them in the hospital when they are older b/c they fight it more verbally. If it wasn't for Mac & Cheese I don't know if she would have survived in her mind. The last pic is to show you what a healthy girl she is now. Granted we still get pneumonia some but are hoping that it dosen't land us in the hospital again. She has a bit of a fear of doctors other than the 2 she likes and needles are her dire enemy. I guess I just feel blessed to have her up and running and getting into WAY too much mischief. So please forgive me if you are subjected to my germ warfare talk. Just know I am for one a control freak and a bit neurotic about germs. But truly I never want to see my precious girl or anyone elses in the hospital. Also you never know what you can handle till you are forced to.

Enough of the sickness already...

Ok, we have officially been sick for a month. It has taken turns as to who's turn it is but I am so done w/it. Corrin came home after school yesterday w/a fever. She continued to have a 103.3 temp all night. Donnie isn't feeling good whether it is a lingering cold or what I am not sure. I need a huge dose of calgon right now. Either that of Florence Nightingale. We have soccer games all week for the next couple weeks. I feel bad for Corrin since she can't practice today or play tomorrow. She says she is ok w/that but she won't be when it is time for it. Her asthma is acting up w/it as well. I have a friend who just had a baby and I would LOVE to hold him but I don't think I am safe as long as we are germy. But all in all we are good and not in the hospital and that is a blessing.