Dance puppet dance...

These are just pictures to prove how much Kolette loves her brothers. But she also has them figured out. Yesterday I was in the bathroom brushing my teeth while the kids were finishing up their breakfast. All the sudden I hear the boys running around the table. I peek out and tell them to stop. I ask why they are running around the table. Connor who was sitting next to Kolette says "Kolette put this in my bowl and it is Ian's" the this is a piece of toast. Ian says "No, it's not it is Kolettes". During the explainations from the boys Kolette is sitting there quietly w/a very satisfied look on her face. She had managed to get the boys to run around the table after each other and look completely innocent when all along it was her who had started it. The boys were completely oblivious to it and were going after each other Connor to put the piece of toast on Ian's plate and Ian trying to keep it off his plate. All the while Kolette has the look on her face of "Dance puppet dance"

Oh boy, what am I in for? Life is sooooooooooooo not boring w/Kolette in the house. The funny thing is she had a fever the night before that and felt good enough to be onery all day. She had another fever last night but you would never know today. She is sassy as ever. The lesson for me is onery princess' are worth it always over sick ones. I am thankful.

Black Friday Shopping

Yes, I am one of the stupid ones who gets up way too early and goes to the store. However I am only half crazy b/c I am only willing to brave the fabric store. I go to Joann's. They opened up at 6am but I stood in line starting at 5:20. I was out by 7:10 and home by 7:45 after going to McDonald's. We have gotten it down to a science I grab the cart and my mom gets the numbers. I took Corrin this year and I think she thought it was fun but a bit strange to get up that early for flannel. I will gripe a bit and say that this year the flannel was 1.49 a yard and last year it was .97 and they gave us an additional 20% off of that. This year they said the 20% was not off the doorbusters. I guess the economy even affects the fabric stores. So basically I got less fabric and paid more. But it is still cheaper and makes great pajama pants and rag quilts. Now time for the Christmas decorations to go up. I love it but dread it b/c the help usually results in s/thing getting broken but it is more fun when you have help. The countdown has begun and I still have lots more to shop for or at least it feels that way.

Squirrel

This is what happens when you leave apples in your garage. Last year we had a squirrel do the same thing but it only took a couple of bites and left it there for like a week. I kept waiting for it to come back. This time this squirrel was throughly enjoying the apple and even didn't seem to mind me sticking my camera out the screen to snap it's pic.

Thanksgiving

We had a lovely Thanksgiving with many things to be thankful for. One is my brother was here and it has been awhile since we had Thanksgiving w/him. Last year he left right after Christmas for Iraq and for him being safe while there I am very thankful. My brother in law was also able to be home w/his family and I know they were happy to be able to see him.

The kids had a great time and it seemed like a very peaceful Thanksgiving. The kids were at the table coloring before dinner and they were discussing their favorite colors. My neice who is 8 months older than Kolette was saying her favorites and none of them were pink. Now Kolette is convinced that Pink is the most beautiful color and only girls can wear it. When Kolette notices that Shelby hasn't mentioned pink as a favorite color she starts to ask her rapidly if she likes pink. Shelby says no. Kolette says w/her hands out to the side in utter shock "But you're a girl!" It was just beyond her to understand why a girl wouldn't like pink. Now my neice wears spiderman shoes, lightning McQueen bedding and will often say she is a boy. My daughter however is the polar opposite and is such a princess. I am glad she is a princess. It seems all too soon they don't want to wear the cute little dresses w/all the fluff and pretty hair bows so for now I am going to enjoy my little princess.

Thankful for songs

I am so thankful to hear Ian singing at the top of the stairs his self written song. The words are "I love my mom" and repeat it over and over and over. He says he has 3 songs "I love my mom", " I love my dad" and "I love my friends". I hear the "I love my mom" song the most and I have to say it is the most beautiful song I have ever heard. He has such a soft voice while singing it but I love it. Kolette has tried to sing her own version and it has the same exact words and they are very beautiful as well. As long as they don't both sing at the same time we are ok or else they fight over who has the right to sing at that precise moment.

Ian is telling me right now "I love you mom" and "You are my best Mommy ever". I tell him he is my "best Ian ever" Melting heart right now.

Thankful school is out

Yahoo!!! My kids are out of school today early for the weekend. I love having my kids home they make me feel normal. When they are in school I feel like my heart is wandering around too far from me. Next year I will have 3 of my hearts wandering to school and only 1 at home what will I do to stay sane and keep Kolette sane?

Connor brought home a Thankful book and he is thankful for his mom for cooking, and coming to his class and he says I am nice(spelled nise by Connor). He is a great kid. Ever since he was able to talk he has always said he is "Mama's boy" and I love it! He even made "cracked hearts" because he loves his mom and his dad. What a boy.

Anything my kids make is always better than anything you can find in the stores for it comes from the heart.

I think I know the "F" and "S" word

So a continuation of earlier. I am on the phone relaying the conversation w/Ian earlier. Connor can hear me and says he knows the "S" word. He says it is "Shut up". I said it isn't a bad word it just isn't nice and it means I don't want to hear what you say. He then says I know the "F" word. He whispers "Is it Fart?"

Aren't innocent kids cute?

"What's the "B" word?"

Lately Ian has been asking me how to spell things. Not that he knows all his letters but he wants to know how to spell stuff. So this morn this is the conversation:

Ian: What's the "B" word?

Me: I don't know

Ian: Is it Dumb?

Me: No that starts with D.

Ian: I think it is Butt.

Me: Yep, that is the B word don't say it ok?

Ian: Ok

So later we are eating lunch and this is our next conversation:

Me: Ian why are you growing up so much?

Ian: Coz I want to be a grown up.

Me: What are you going to do when you are a grown up?

Ian: I am going to still be loving you.

Ok, my heart is exploding and melting all at the same time. Gotta keep that kid...

thankfulness cont...

I am thankful for active kids. I am glad they are healthy, breathing, full of energy and also make sure my brain is always working. They are great and I am so very blessed to have them. When we got married I was ready after one year to have a baby, Donnie was ready the next year. It then took 3 years to be able to have a child. The tears I cried in the process have been worth it all for Corrin, Connor, Ian and Kolette. We had to get help from the doctor for the first 2 kids and the last 2 were homemade. I always wanted kids and the journey has been a great one full of challenges and joy. I wouldn't trade my life for anything in the world. Thank you Jesus for my babies!!!

Thankful for Holly

Ok, I am going to be double thankful today since I missed yesterday and tried to make it up earlier. While playing w/my blog I thought to myself why not change my theme to a Christmas theme. I do know in my heart that I am a true rookie w/the computer. I should subscribe to a magazine or book called "Blogging for Dummies". However since they don't have a book I tried to do it all on my own.

So I tried to delete s/thing and little did I know it deleted ALL my posts except for the headings and the date. AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! I went into sheer panic. What do I do? I tried to backtrack what I did but it appeared to be too late. So I called my unofficial hotline aka Holly. Thankfully she was home and online blogging at the same time. She didn't quite know what I did either but figured out s/thing to try and it worked. Thank you Holly from the bottom of my heart!

So my advice to everyone else don't delete anything unless you are positive that is what you are susposed to do. I tried to add a background and am not totally thrilled w/it but am too afraid to change it. So for now I am going to live w/it.

Are you smarter than a First Grader?

The answer is no! I went into Connor's class to help yesterday. She usually has me help w/math which I can easily do one would sure hope so. However yesterday she had me help w/Phonics Bingo. I don't remember doing phonics the way they do. They have a saying for each one and alot of hand motions. I have helped w/it a bit in Corrin's class so I knew a few of the things. However she was just saying the sound and they had to find it. Ahhhh... I felt so stupid b/c they are looking at me the adult to help them out and I am trying hard to find some of them. Now in my defense I knew most of them by the sound like e double ee always says e. But some of the sounds were not ones I practice very much. I can spell pretty good but man they had me stumped. I might have to sit in during phonics more often so I am perhaps smarter than a first grader.

Thankfullness day 2 & 3

Ok, only lamebrains forget to blog their thankfullness daily when they say they are going to. So here is yesterdays and todays all jumbled together. Does it help I had 2 extra kids over yesterday?????

I was so excited to say we had been germ-free for 2 months the other day that yesterday after coming home from helping in Connor's class I was not wanting to see Kolette coughing on the couch. But still no fever and she can still breathe. Thank God in all things.

Today I am thankful that my brother is arriving at the Boise Airport in a couple hours. Yahoo!! The kids are so excited. I am not going to the airport b/c I have to finish his Christmas gift and they are finishing how to do it at 1:30. So we will be the welcome home party when he gets to town. I am so thankful that he has had 2 tours in Iraq and he is coming home in one piece.

Thankfullness

Holly started a great idea. Not a official tag since she says people hate them. But it is to blog s/thing you are thankful for everyday until Thanksgiving.

Me, I am extremely thankful for good health. In the past we have not been blessed w/it. For those of you who remember when Kolette was born and the germ nazi I was after that I am much calmer. I am just thankful it has been 2 months since anyone has been sick. Nada sickness!!! It is beyond wonderful for me. My kids have had their flu shots and I am going to get mine when I remember. But for me this is the longest stint we have gone other than in the summer. I am so thankful to not be kissing fevered heads and wiping up puke. Thank God for everything for He is truly wonderful

Naked wonder

Seriously I have yet to figure out Kolette. I am starting to think we should have named her Birth Control. She is a doll and I love her to pieces. But I am having a hard time figuring out why she does the things she does. Her latest thing to do instead of falling asleep it take off all her clothes and be stark naked all night. I tried to put jammies and panties on her a week ago but it woke her up. Ahhhh!!! I just keep thinking of what if an emergency came up and I had a skinny naked 3 year old to take out of the house. I would love to just duck tape her clothes on her but what a pain to take off when washing. Also it would leave a sticky residue.

During the day we start out w/a outfit on and if it lasts an hour it is amazing. She LOVES her dress she wore for Halloween. Granted she is a very beautiful pink princess I would like to see some variety in her wardrobe. Of course as soon as I think that she is back into wearing her Ariel swimsuit. Of course that is what she loves to wear when she wants to pretend that she has a baby in her tummy. Crazy girl...

cranky Sunday

This is what I came home to last Sunday after church. Donnie doesn't go w/us to church so the kids and I go to Sunday school and church. Recently our church started a Childrens church during regular service. Ian is old enough to go. However he was beyond cranky and crying easily. I said I would call his dad to come and get him. I think he thought he was going to go home and watch Star Wars since Donnie said he would wait until they got home from church to watch it. But Ian was wrong he had to wait until Connor got home. Instead I found both my guys crashed on the couch. Donnie really is a big fan of having his picture taken when he is asleep. He remembers the flash going off. Oh well... Notice what is in his hand?

Are you kidding Tiff????

Tiffani tagged me w/a tag that you have to take a picture of your living room and area where your computer is right now. The catch is you can't clean it first. Thanks alot!!! Since we have 2 living rooms I took one of both.

This is my upstairs living room where no toys are susposed to go. I tried to upload the other pic I took that shows where my dear husband has stacked all his car parts behind the couch to the right but it wouldn't let me put on another picture. Seriously that isn't pretty.

This is my actual living room where we spend most of our time. The messy table in the corner is where all my craft and sewing stuff lives. I have way too many projects on my plate right now.

This is the other end of the living room where Donnie is working on a puzzle. I actually started this post last night and didn't finish so the puzzle is now done. I told him I needed my cutting mat so he had to get it done. Of course I can't take it apart immediately b/c it took 3 days to do and it deserves the respect of not being touched. We also got new carpet this summer after a flood in our basement. Was I clearly thinking when I decided this was the best color w/4 kids? Probably not but the old carpet was brown sculptured carpet that was beyond dark and ugly. So I am glad I wasn't tagged before June or I would have been seriously embarassed w/the ugliness of the carpet and I banned some of the toys from the room. Now they have to go back to their homes after being played with.

This is my Computer area. It used to be used as a canning kitchen. Now it is my craft area. Also lego graveyard. Up on the counter is the lego city that has been messed with by Ian and Kolette and is waiting for Donnie to fix for Connor. Frames on the floor for my stitchings.

This is the computer area. Messy!!! But thanks for the inspiration w/the paint color Holly. Your bathroom inspired me. I love it! So now onto those that I will tag.

Rachelle at luv4girls

Buffy at fibibuffy

Please don't hate me girls it is all in fun!

Is it December yet???

Ok, I need to slow down I know. But really being super busy is making me insane. After soccer I looked forward to a down time. I forgot that our school carnival was coming up. It is tomorrow. I had to get donations for it and we wanted to make sure we had enough. Anyhow yesterday I was asked to cook 20lbs of hamburger. I don't think I mentioned to the person that asked that cooking hamburger makes me want to puke. Seriously it started when I was pregnant w/Connor and I have never gotten over it. When pregnant I can weinie it up and ask Donnie to do it for me. However volunteering to do it makes me not able to pull the weinie card. So today I cooked up about 30 lbs and pawned off 10lbs to a friend. Thank you Anna! It is all cooked and has to find itself a tight spot in my fridge until tomorrow. Did I mention that I also volunteered to watch my neighbors 3 yr old today too? So that meant no nap for Kolette and Ian. ugh... Papa called and asked if Ian could come to the shop and tear s/thing apart. Right up Ian's alley so he went w/Papa. My house was torn up by 2 3yr olds b/c I tried in vain to clean the toy room. Stupid me...

Tomorrow I get to help out in Connor's class and that will honestly be my highlight of the day. They are doing a craft so that will be fun. As soon as that is over I will have to go home grab the younger 2 and go back to school to help out setting up for the carnival. Then after braving the carnival and telling the kids no we aren't getting any more tickets for oriental trading junk that I could buy for WAY less out of the catalog. Send them home w/their dad and help take all the carnival stuff down and put it away. Can it be Saturday already?

Saturday I get to go make crafts w/a friend. So that will be my excitement for the week.

My brother is coming home!!!

This is a picture of my brother Mac. He is receiving an award in this picture. He is coming home from his 2nd tour in Iraq. He was stationed in Baghdad. I am so proud of him. He is so happy over there being able to help. He has always loved to help others and we are just so proud that he is making a difference in the lives of other people. For those that don't believe that we are doing any good over there and that the troops just need to come back, just come and talk to my brother and you will know what a difference the American troops are making in the lives of the Iraqi's.

My kids are so excited that he is coming home to see them around Thanksgiving. Corrin and Connor have both asked their teachers if he can come to their classes and talk about being over in Iraq. Corrin is counting the days only we don't know for sure how many days that will be until he is here. The kids love when he comes to visit they think he is a human jungle gym. They are under the belief that the world revolves around them when he comes to visit. We can't wait!

God Bless America and Please pray for our Troops!

A House full of Geeks

One of the days I have been dreading has finally arrived. I am so not into Science fiction. After growing up w/Star Wars and having to be subject to it because of my brother I have been happy to be away from it. My sweet husband loves it and now Connor wants to watch it. Connor gets scared very easy so I didn't think this day would happen for awhile. But since he is in school and the other kids are all talking about it he wants to see it.

So yesterday he watched part of Star Wars and the rest today. He is currently watching The Empire Strikes Back. AHHHHH!!! I guess it is rather funny to hear Connor ask questions literally every minute and have to hear Donnie answer them all. Mainly he answers the same questions many times and new ones too. Corrin is watching it too. A bunch of geeks they are. I guess it could be worse it could be Star Trek. However I know that is coming but then I will literally be bald b/c I absolutely detest watching that!

After all these years of living in the supreme position of the BEST in Connor's eyes I am going to have to share. I have always asked him "Who's boy are you?" and he always says "Yours Mommy". Today he said both of ours. Daddy is good for video games and geek shows and I am good for loving I guess. Daddy deserves it he is rather great!

Halloween

Here is a pic of the kids and I on Halloween. Corrin is a cowgirl, Connor is Bumblebee Transformer ( don't you dare call him a power ranger), Ian is spider man, Kolette is a pink Princess and I am Super Mom. It was perfect weather for trick or treating and the time not changing until after is wonderful for light. They raked in the treats just in our small neighborhood. We had a blast!

Chewing gum

Have you ever wondered where a good place to store chewed gum would be? I am crazy b/c I think it should be in the garbage. Kolette on the other hand had another idea which I don't think or at least I sure hope she doesn't try again. She put it in her panties!!! Seriously she gets up from her nap that she happened to take in just her panties and it is the day after Halloween. I notice her panties are all bunched up in the front. I pull them away from her skin and for a split second I think s/think medically is seriously wrong w/her. But then I ask her if it is candy. She says yes. So I lay her on the counter w/a towel and use a warm rag to get it off. WRONG! It is only getting worse. So I figure out it is gum. After some soap we finally get it off. Needless to say she has been banned from gum for a week. Crazy girl what will she think of next? I am afraid to ask...

Tagged

My friend Rachelle tagged me. You have to blog about the picture in your 4th folder in your My Pictures file and the 4th picture in that file. This is Kolette at 2 1/2 months old. She had just gotten out of the hospital and off of oxygen. My friend Amy Parsons a professional photographer who lives in Northern Washington came down and took some family pics and some of Kolette. It was so great to see Kolette smiling after all she had been thru.

Consider yourself tagged!!!

Sad

Sorry this is not a happy post. I am just sad today. I went to the viewing of my friend's son tonite. It just doesn't make sense and I know it never will this side of heaven. I can't stop crying today it seems so much more real seeing him. Tomorrow is the funeral and I am taking my kids. I hope they are quiet and respectful. I don't believe in sheltering kids from death but this is a particulary hard one to deal with for adults let alone kids. Mainly they can be a support to their friends by just being there. I wish there was a way to make it all better. I pray I can be a supportive friend. Please remember them in your prayers.