Mr. Thomas...Lord Help Me!

This morning I am driving Emma to school and we approach the student drop off and who do we see on duty out front????  Mr. Thomas!!!!  Emma begs me to unlock the windows to say hello as we drive by so I do, she sticks her head out the window and so cheerfully yells, "Hi, Mr. Thomas!" to which he says, "Good morning Emma!" she sticks her head back in the car turns to me with widest eyes and happiest look and says, "He said my name!"  That was 15 minutes ago and I still can't stop laughing.

Annual Boys Ski Trip

So, it's that time of year again...

My Natie, my Natie!  Nate has been taking an annual trip with his friends from back home since long before I was in the picture and the time varies from year to year...however it always seems to fall at the wrong time!  I can't recall each year the troubles or dismay, but here are a few to speak of, one year I was only weeks pregnant and while he was away I experienced some bleeding which is SCARY for a pregnant woman, another year Emma convinced me to drive his jeep to go get donuts as a treat and we ran out of gas and walked over two miles with me carrying Lauren in her carseat and carrying Emma at three years old in the other arm...oh and on the way back to the jeep carrying 1.5 gallons of gas too!, last year the trip was planned the weekend I had promised my sister to keep her children so she could celebrate her 30th birthday in style (in Vegas) so I was alone with 4 kids and blew a tire on the highway, this year we had a storm blow through on Saturday night that got my allergies going and I have had nose bleeds, sinus pressure, a gone through a full box of tissues in 3 days.  Today was a half day at school so I decided to leave Emma at the babysitters with Lauren and enjoy my afternoon, I treated myself to lunch at one of my favorite spots and headed straight to redeem the gift certificate that Nate got me for a mani/pedi (guilt pay-off).  My lunch was amazing, my phalanges and tarsals look camera ready and the massage chair was bananas, but somehow the "ski trip curse" had to continue to haunt me.  I spent the afternoon at a friends house assisting with draperies and on our way home we got caught in motorcade traffic for President Obama and couldn't escape.  Everywhere I tried to turn there were police or unmarked vehicles blocking the road.  I had no choice, but to follow a million police cars and several limousines and suv's.  Once we were free all the girls saw ahead was golden arches and I was stuck eating and feeding my children McDonalds for dinner.  The only thing that feels worse than that brick in my stomach is the one on my head.  AND the only thing that looks worse than the bloated belly is the bloody tissues stuffed in my nose to stop my 3rd nose bleed for the day.  My husband works hard and deserves this trip more than I'd ever admit to him, but why oh why does it come at such a price to me!  3 more days or 68 more hours if you are counting...

Baby Riley!

Aunt Nay Nay and Baby Riley came to spend the weekend with us and the girls were so excited.  I guess I had an epic fail as a mommy because this is the best picture I have of the girls.  Riley is on the move and Lauren and Em are trying to wrangle her.  Lauren is obsessed with her and turned into quite the little helper for Aunt Nay Nay.  Emma just wanted to get her to laugh.  It was very heartwarming to see them with her.  Love it!

Disney's Toy Story 3 on Ice

Myself, the girls, Natie, Aunt Nay Nay, Baby Riley, Ender, Adelade, Body, Steve and last but not least Andrea went to go see Disney's Toy Story 3 on Ice.  I have seen a few of these shows before and they don't disappoint.  We (and by we I mean I) decided that it would be fun for us to take the Light Rail downtown for the kids to be able to ride the train, however all the website says is the train leaves every 11 minutes.  We arrive, we park we ALL hustle across the street to the station, buy the tickets, board the train, give snacks, eat snacks, realize that the train will get us there 15 minutes late, get off the train, scurry to the cars, speed down the freeway jump out at the door, rush in to our seats, miss a few moments of the show, wait for the men to park cars and join us, watch show, spend too much money on popcorn, a straw and a snow cone with commemorative Jesse cup, walk to cars, drive to train depot, wait for train, take train to depot closer to home load back into cars waiting and head home.  Ideal, no, but you live, you learn.  I had fun.  The girls had fun.  That's really all that matters...right.

Just Because...

Rover, just because you put a pillow on top of Sly Guy doesn't mean that you aren't laying on your dad.

Louie, Louie!!!!

My little Louie is turning into quite the character!  She is in a phase where she has to pick out every piece of clothing she wears, right down to the jammies she sleeps in.  This was the outfit she choose to wear to "Grandma" Karen's today.  Karen looks forward to whatever she will decide to show up in...usually it is just a hat or some princess shoes, but sometimes it's more serious.  Oh, Louie, Louie!!!!!!!!

Oh Daddy!

Nate has always loved the soapy hair spike!

Kindergarten Lyrical Genius!

Rhyming is such a big part of Kindergarten.  Emma is a rhyming genius.  I almost feel like she may just be a rapper (as previously mentioned in the blog).  I don't want to forget this phase as it seems she is learning and changing daily.  Today at Wal-Mart I asked her a question and her answer was, "sure." quickly followed up with, "sure as the cure, pure, on a tour, bonjour."  Yesterday I say, "Em, feed the cat." She says, "Cat, hat, bat, mat, fat, that."  Such a goof ball.

Here We Go Again...

I swore up and down that I wouldn't potty train Lauren since I endured such a nightmare with Emma, but she is SO interested in the potty that I guess I can't avoid it.  Emma and Lu are reading The Story of Jesus while taking their morning potty break.  For the record, Lauren has yet to actually go potty in the potty and tells me she has to go after she just went.  We have a LONG road ahead of us.  Maybe my first thoughts were right.  Lord help me please.

Just Another Day In My Life...

Today we headed to Old Navy to check out the sale rack...while I was digging for my sweet bargains the girls were also digging.  Emma and Lauren come to me all decked out like this and Emma says, "Mom, I need this stuff for when I am a rapper!"  

Damn You Moon Dough!

This is why I said, "NO!" to the Moon Dough.  I made her play with it on the porch and it was everywhere.  It was all over her jeans, socks, the ground...everywhere!  Play Doh kicks Moon Doughs butt!!!!!

Boo!

Today my Emmie asked me if she could play with the Moon Dough that Santa brought her and I said no.  She plead her case and I still said no.  When is this kid going to learn?..when I say no, it's a NO!  Anyhow, I go to the restroom and she barges in the door, places a note in my lap and storms out.  In case you can't see it, it's a sad face and it says "bad mom".  Geeee, I'm so glad that she is writing now.  My first official note from her and this is it!  BOO!

Ho, Ho, Ho!

Dear Santa,

 Emma's Wish List:

Zoo Moon Dough

Teddy Bear

Mini LaLa Loopsys

Littlest Pet Shop Walkables

Fur Real Pets

Rapunzel Barbie

Francesco R/C Car

Lauren's Wish List:

Teddy Bear

Baby Doll Stuff

Baby Doll Highchair

Mater Toy

Nanni The Kindergarten Class Helper!!!!

I volunteer in Emma's class every Tuesday and I was so excited to find out that Nanni would be here on a Tuesday so that she could experience a day in Emma's class with me.  Knowing that Nanni isn't your regular Grandma she's more of a Glam-ma she'd do wonderful with the kiddos.  And she didn't disappoint!  

 I was doing a craft with the kiddos and sending them on a word search then they would go to Nanni for rhyming game.  Here is Nanni getting all the pieces sorted out.  She did SOOOOOOOOOOO great with all the kids that she worked with, learning their names, keeping them on task and getting results.  You don't raise 4 successful children without knowing how to work the kiddos.  

Here Nanni is with her favorite kindergartner!  Emma was so proud to have her Nanni in her class and helping her friends with their game.  She may have needed a nap after her hour of fun, but those memories will be with Emma forever and all of my co-workers keep telling me how fashionable my mom is.   I guess if they associate a fashionable, youthful looking woman as being my mother...who am I to correct them.

Singing At the Nursing Home

Today a group of us went to sing at the Nursing Home.  I have done this many times over my years, but today had such a new meaning.  This was Emma and Lu's first time and they LOVED it and I got to witness the joy first hand.  Melanie (our neighbor and friend) arranges it every year and bakes fresh bread for the patients and gets grape juice for those on special diets.  What a heart this woman has! 

Melanie,  Thank you for arranging, inviting and baking.  May God bless you in ways I cannot.  

Ender and Adelade colored pictures for the patients.  We got to visit 4 rooms each group and we had some lively gals.  Some were very talkative, and singing with us and some just smiled and nodded.  All gave high 5's and made the kids happy to be there.  Ender was shy for the first time in his life and only got lively when we were singing.  Somehow we just couldn't get 'Frosty The Snowman' to go off without a hitch.  We'll stick to some other Christmas classics.  I am so thankful for this opportunity for myself and my children.  The only thing that would have made it better is if my hubby were there.  Maybe next year.  If you haven't done something like this this season...go do it!

Lunch Date at Rubios

After our wonderful morning at the Nursing Home, Andrea (with baby #3 on board)  and I were STARVING!!!!  What do 2 girls, with 4 toddlers and a baby on the way do when they are hungry???  Head to Rubios, of course!!

 Lauren and Adelade on their lunch date!  They are immediately eating, chatting and laughing.  I can't wait to see 20 years from now what these two are doing.  

Ender and Emma look like an old married couple on their date.  Ender is looking off at the lake and the passing cars, Emma is looking at Adelade and Lauren wishing she was at the single table and there is silence coming from the table.  LOL!!!!  That only lasted as long as the photo...within no time they were laughing and having fun.  

No pictures of Andrea and I because we were stuffing our faces.  After our lunch we took a nice walk around the pond to see the majestic Canadian Geese...majestic till we had to dodge their droppings all around the sidewalk.  It disturbs me that their poo is as big as my 65 lb. dogs.  Anywho, I digress.  Lunch was YUMMY, the walk was fun and baby #3 was happy that "s/he (more she than he if you ask me)" was fed.

Emma Is Mommy's Little Helper!!!!

We were in a bit of a rush getting ready this morning because we had a fun filled day planned and I asked Emma to go dress herself.  She came out of her room and says, "Mommy, I have a surprise.  I got Lauren dressed for you too."  She dressed Lauren in one of her dresses that is two sizes too big for Lu, but they were both so proud of their accomplishment that I had to let her wear the dress.  

Why LuLu, Why???

LuLu was nice and clean, fresh from the bath and decided to go color on her sisters chalkboard...she did get 'some' of the chalk on the board, but most of it was all over her face, her shoulder, arms, (not sure how) and on her back.  Why LuLu, Why?  Just stay clean for 5 minutes!!!!!

A Harpster Dog's Life...

I have never made any excuses for the life that my animals lead.  They have two little girls here that love nothing more than to play with (sometimes torture) their two favorite dogs.  Sometimes even Nate and Ryan take part in the torturing.  Almost nightly, one of the Harpster boys will get Rover in a Full Nelson.  It's how it is.  Doesn't every dog need pink barbie glasses.