Friends and Easter Eggs

On Thursday we were able to get together with our good friends and meet baby Ike!  He is such a little sweetie!  So cute and such a good baby!  He just laid there and looked around while we ate lunch. 

It was really good for Boo Bear to meet him because when Ike’s family first got back (missionaries in Russia) his Mommy was pregnant with him and Boo was fascinated with her belly.  That was just weeks before we told her that we were going to have a baby too, so it was great for her little mind to see what you get when the “baby comes out of the tummy”.  She loved little Ike and wanted to give him lots of hugs and kisses!

Bug wanted to demonstrate her excellent big sister helping techniques. :)

Both sets of our girls are five months apart and these newest babies will be eight months apart.  It’s SO MUCH fun when they get together! 

Silly girls!

Since we’re closing in on Easter (how did that sneak up so fast??) Noni got everything we needed to let the girls dye eggs together.  Bug was so excited.  She loves to dye eggs!

Boo really got into it this year too…she just needed a little help.  Well, make that constant supervision. :)

And even then…

The finished product!  They all did a great job!

After the egg dying the girls all had a little playtime while we got the lunch ready.  Ike didn’t get very into it. :)

Boo was so sweet, she came up and hugged Ella and said, “I yuf (love) you Ey-ya.” (you can see her dyed fingers in this picture.)

After lunch the four girls started running around.  I could just picture two pesky little brothers chasing after them on their next visit in a few years.  Maybe we’ll have a little buddy for Ike, but if not, he’s going to be pretty outnumbered! :)

He was laying on the couch and I saw Bug go over to him.  I could hear her talking quietly so I got my camera and went over.  I heard her say, “You’re so cute!” He made a little fussy noise and she said, “You probably don’t remember me.”  Haha, she’s never met him before, but she hears people say that to her all the time.

Boo wanted to hold him so we set up some pillows and let her.  She was SO happy!

Kisses for baby…good practice for when she’s a big sister!

What a fun day!  When we left I told Bug that they were leaving soon to go back to Russia.  She was so sad!  She said, “No!  I don’t want Anneka to leave!  I want to play with her all the time!”

Thanks so much for getting together with us guys!  It was so much fun!

Good Advice

I seem to be on emotional house cycle.  It’s like a never ending merry-go-round. 

Phase one: apathetic, lackadaisical – “It’ll get done when it gets done.”

Phase two: irritated – “Ok, this is getting old.  When are we EVER going to finish this??”

Phase three: nervous breakdown – “If I trip on one more piece of trim or closet door I am going to seriously LOSE MY MIND!” 

Phase four: Some progress happens and I calm down again and go back to the beginning. 

Two days ago I was building up for a full-on phase three breaking point when I got some good advice from my youngest.

Thanks for stopping the downward decent Boo Bear. :)

We really are close.  The carpet is coming next Thursday!!!  These last few days just sometimes feel like they actually ARE going to kill me.  I just have to remember to “calm down now, don’t stwess” and “take it easy” Haha :)

Chatterbox

Boo has become quite the little chatterbox lately.  She very rarely stops talking.  It is constant!  I’ve tried to video it, but every time I pull out the camera she won’t do it.  So I decided to record our conversation as we sit here eating our breakfast this morning.  This whole thing occurred in about 7 minutes.  I’m a fast typist but she kept me on my toes!

8:27

S: Where my breakfast?

Me: Right there on the counter.

S: On the counter?

Me: Yes.

S: Rain stop.  I yooking my fowers, Mommy.  See back yard.

Me: Um-hmm.

S: I paint.  In dere. (pointing to the laundry room).  Rock coming street.  Right dere. Tu-yips!  Tu-yips coming.

Me: Yep, pretty soon.

S: What dat? (pointing to a movie sitting on the counter)

Me: A movie.

S: Doggie?  Yittle doggie? I yike it.  I yike dat doggie.  Izzy doggie.  Mommy?

Me: Yes?

S: Izzy doggie.  Snow melting.  It cold outside.  No have shoes on.  Outside.  Birdy Mommy!  Birdy no outside.

Me: No birdy outside?

S: No.  No birdy.  That soft! (referring to bread she’s eating) No.  Not soft.  Puppy soft!  Birdy!  See birdy!  No can see my car!

Me: Daddy took the car today.

S: Where my car?

Me: Daddy took it today.

S: Why?

Me: He had to go to town.

S: Why Daddy take my car?

Me: Because he had to go to town.

S: I love Daddy pick up.  No can ride Daddy pick up.  Hi Mommy.  Eating my yo-gut.  Eating my bu-berry yo-gut Mommy.

Me: Ok.

S: You eating one bite Mommy?  Dat doggie movie Mommy?

Me: Um-hmm.

S: Help my yo-gut. Yo-gut my chin.  I spill.  Oopsie-doodle.  No can dip my yo-gut.  I have my bread.  Back front.  Back front. I see back front.  Hi Mommy. What doing Mommy?  You eat yours yo-gut?

Me: Yep.  I’m all done.

S: (singing) Rudolph Reindeer. Rudolph Reindeer.  Rudolph Reindeer.  I yike Rudolph Reindeer.  Daddy take my car?

8:34

Whew.  It’s exhausting to keep up with this kid all day!  Especially now that her new favorite question is why.  Why this, why that.  All. Day. Long.  And she’s never satisfied with the answer.  We had this conversation yesterday after Bug tripped over a rock.

S: What dat?

Me: A rock.

S: Why?

Me: Because that’s what God made it.

S: Why?

Me: Because that’s what He wanted to make it I guess.

S: Why?

Me: Because.

S: Because why?

Me: I don’t know.

S: I don’t know eve-fer.

We have that kind of conversation about thirty times a day….or more.  When we were at the dr. the other day she was doing this million-miles-a-minute talking and he looked at her and said, “Boy, you know just about everything don’t you!”

Speaking of the doctor, I think I can officially say we are all healed!  We actually had to make another trip, last Wednesday, when Bug woke up screaming at 3 a.m. saying her ear hurt.  I took her in the next morning and he said that her ear was very inflamed, but not quite an infection.  He prescribed amoxicillin for her but told us to wait a few days and see if it went away on it’s own.  She woke up the next morning saying the other ear hurt, but by the third day she was fine and we didn’t end up giving it to her.  They both finished their medicines this weekend and are healthy once again.  Thank goodness!  Almost a full month of being sick!  It’s nice to be well…and back to answering question 347 of the day. :)

Weekend Fun

Well we have another busy weekend in the books.  We didn’t get a whole lot done on the house this weekend because we ended up going to town three times.  On Friday we decided to head in for our ever-growing list of supplies.  Lowe’s and Home Depot are frequent hot spots for us, but this was one of our best ever.  Two and half hours.  Two different Lowe’s: two carts and a basket at one, and another car and half at the other.  We made quite the entourage.

One of the doors we bought wasn’t going to work though, so since T had to work for a few hours on Saturday (I think for the first time since we moved here!) I was going to return the door and take the girls for a sleepover at Noni’s on Saturday morning.  I got them dropped off and the carpet people called and said our carpet was on backorder and they had no date in sight for when they might be getting more so could we please come pick out a different kind.  So I just got my groceries and drove my door (crammed into the Pilot!) back home to pick up T so we could go BACK to town and pick out new carpet. 

When we got there the guy was on the phone and told us to go ahead and start looking and we randomly found a big roll of our exact carpet.  They apologized for making us come all the way in and said they could come Tuesday to install (tomorrow) but now we have to custom order Bug’s bedroom door so we have to wait until we can get that in. 

T did manage to get a few hours of wiring done on Sunday,  with the help of a princess.  She’s actually pretty good at screwing in the switch plates. :)

And if you’re wondering our living/dining room currently looks like Lowe’s Isle 12. :)

When we went in for the magically appearing carpet on Saturday we got to go out to dinner and do a little shopping.  We came home with everything a little princess needs to practice up for her new career.  Glove, regulation Tee, and Little League approved squishy baseballs.  She and T worked on her skillz for over an hour in the backyard. :) I went out to take a few pictures and it looks like she’s forgotten everything she learned last summer.

Or maybe it was the dance classes that have made her “throw like a girl”.  Haha :)

Whoops.

Last summer she was smackin’ them out of the park, but I guess it is going to take a while to get in the groove.

Steee-rike!

Let’s try that again…

But at least she’s not as confused as some people around here. 

Boo had things a little backwards. :)

T-ball starts in a few weeks so Bug has some time to get things figured out. Hopefully the weather will cooperate!  After our four inches of snow on Thursday, Sunday ended up being absolutely gorgeous.  Sunny and almost 60.  We even had some of the windows open.  It was great, but today we woke up to rain and the forecast says rain all week.  After Sunday’s nice weather we’re all ready to get outside enjoy some fresh air!  Hopefully it will get nice again soon!  Come on Spring!

Be Strong and Courageous

Noni has been working on a few scripture songs with Boo.  She even taught her some motions.  It’s pretty cute.  She is usually more animated while singing it but she was a little nervous to be videoed.

Have I not commanded you be strong and courageous?  Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with, wherever you go.  ~ Joshua 1:9

What a Colorful World

We’re finished with the wall painting!  Noni stayed the night last night after Awana so we could get started first thing this morning and we finished!  All that’s left is trimwork, including the banister.  We have a very colorful upstairs! 

All of T’s comments have been interesting.  “Wow, that’s bright!” and “That’s blue!” and “Well it’s definitely purple!”  He does like Bug’s green room. Haha :) I think he definitely would have preferred some more muted colors but since he hates to paint he gives me the freedom to choose what I want.  And I like color!  Each of the colors I’ve chosen have made me sigh and say, “That just makes me happy!” 

Well…the purple is a bit much.  Once you’ve been in Boo’s room for about a minute it looks really pretty but when you first walk in it’s a bit of a shock.  Hopefully once we get all the furniture in and stuff on the walls it won’t look quite so bright.  I really should redo it…but I’m not going to. :)

The girls of course were very excited so we let them help a bit more today.

Boo was so funny today!  She kept touching the walls, then seeing that she had paint all over her hand she would exclaim, “Whoopsi doodle!”

And every now and then she would come over and pat my back and say, “Good girl Mommy!  Purple room pretty!”

I have to admit it kinda looks like a giant Easter egg exploded upstairs.  Green, purple, blue, and yellow.

Very springy!

But in my defense we woke up to this, this morning, so I’ve got to make my own spring around here! 

Thanks so much for your help Noni!  You’re the best!

Anticipation

“You’ve almost finished a three and half year house remodel, what are you going to do next?”
We’re going to Disneyworld!!!
That’s right!  In May we are taking our first ever family vacation!  To Florida!  This will be the first time all four of us have gone somewhere…with Daddy not having to attend conference sessions or meetings.  It will be Boo Bear’s first plane trip and it will be the first time any of us have ever been to the Southeast!   T has been as Southeast as North Carolina, but the closest I’ve gotten to that area is Texas.
I think Bug is the perfect age to experience Disney!  Boo is definitely too young, BUT we figured we’d better do this now while we are still one-on-one and everyone is potty trained. :)  My Aunt and Uncle live in Florida and have been asking us to visit for years so we are very excited that we finally get to go!  And as an added bonus, Noni and Aunt Karen are going to fly in and join us for the Disney portion of the trip!  And Auntie Katherine and Auntie Eve too! We are so excited!!!
The other day the girls received a package from Aunt J with some seashells and a sand dollar that she’d found on the beach.  They got very excited when I explained to them that we’d be going to a place where you can find shells in sand while walking along water called the Ocean.


The girls know that Disneyworld has something to do with Princesses but other than that they really have no idea what’s coming!  Good thing their princess knowledge is up to date. :)

I’m just counting down the days till some warmer weather!  Especially since it is the first day of spring and we woke up to a good inch of snow. :P  Bring on the sunny beaches of Florida!  We can’t wait!

The Bright Side

Okay, I promised no more complaining posts, so I’m going to give you all the bright points of our weekend.  Boo is definitely on the mend.  Since she wasn’t getting any better and still had lots of thick green stuff coming out of her nose, I took her to the doctor on Saturday where she was diagnosed with an ear infection (her first, so we’re doing pretty good!) and sinus infection.  Now she is on amoxicillin so we know she is getting better, and she is MUCH happier and obviously feeling the improvement!

Yesterday afternoon we noticed some eye goop gathering in the corner of Bug’s eyes.  I wanted to deny it but every time we wiped it, the goop just came right back.  It was the exact same thing we saw two Sundays ago with Boo’s eyes.  I had thought for sure we were in the clear since it has been 11 days since Boo had started the antibiotic drops, but alas. 
The bright side: it MUCH easier to reason with an almost five year old about the merit of eye drops and get them to be still and not scream their heads off while you put them in.  AND an almost five year old knows to go wash their hands whenever they touch their eyes.

As for me, I am feeling fine I just can’t stop coughing which makes for a rough night for T and I.  I was thinking last night that I should go sleep somewhere else so he could get some sleep, but there is literally no where to go in our house.
The bright side: …uh.  T is totally recovered!  Hopefully I will soon follow.
Some other highlights of our weekend.  Grandma and Grandpa came out for a visit on Sunday.  T got our new banister built!  It turned out really well.  I’ll post pics of it after I get it painted.  Our old banister was very low…it hit about knee high on an adult…the perfect height to trip someone and make them go head first over it. :P  Now it is a safe, up-to-code height.  And it’s much prettier. :)

And another highlight of the weekend is that Noni came over all day Saturday to help us paint again and we got Bug’s room completely finished and the hallway and stairwell finished!  We’re making some great paint progress!  The picture above was taken halfway through painting the hallway.  You can see the cheerful yellow color we chose.  It turned out a little bright, but it is just such a fun color!  It makes me feel happy just to look at it.  It’s helping me look on the bright side. :)

Oh, and P.S. I forgot the best part of this round of pink eye...I have a washing machine!  So hopefully we can prevent any more of us getting it! :)

Paint!

The drywallers finished on Wednesday!  It was expensive but WELL worth it to have it ALL done in a week and half.  With that much work, and T’s time limits it would have taken months and months for him to do that.  Plus that is one job he doesn’t like so it was definitely worth it.

I had to get this video of Bug sleeping peacefully through the racket they were making the last day.  It is so funny but after living in a construction zone for the past three and half years, both our girls sleep better when there is tons of noise.  Hammering, saws, machines, you name it.  Someone can be banging on a wall right near their heads but they sleep right through it.  On the other hand, when people aren’t working they wake up if it I tiptoe past their room. So funny.

On Thursday morning Noni helped us get going with the first round of paint!  I’m so excited that we are finally to this point!  We tackled the laundry room first so we could get the washer and dryer hooked back up and start on Mt. Laundry. :)

We had two little helpers who kept us on our toes. :)

Our hardest job all day was keeping them out of the paint.  Boo kept climbing up on the window seat and asking Noni, “What doing? What doing?”  Her only complaint about our new improved laundry room is that the little window ledge there is “No big nough seat! Me no fit!”

We got everything done but the ceiling, and I’m really looking forward to picking out cupboards to go in there.  My mom, grandma, and aunts all gave me birthday money last summer to pick out the ones I want. 

As soon as the girls go down for naps today I’m going to go get started on Bug’s room!  Yay for progress!  We’re getting there!

Sunny Arizona

Ok, I’m done with my sick complaining posts…even though we’re still not recovered around here. :P One of the perks of our sick week was that I may have been here in body but I was definitely not always here in mind.  From Thursday through Sunday I was living vicariously through my husband.  For his brother’s 30th we sent the guys to opening day of the Mariner’s and they loved it.  They are both huge baseball fans.  I knew I wanted to do something fun like that for T’s 30th and I finally came up with Spring Training. 

We went to school in Phoenix, and I’m pretty sure part of the reason T chose the school was so he would be able to attend spring training for the Cactus League. :)  What better way to celebrate his 30th than to send him back for the first time since we graduated!  With all the hard work he’s done on this house for the past three years and everything he does around here he definitely deserved the guys weekend!  And he was sweet enough to keep me well updated throughout the trip.  I thought I’d share some of the pictures he sent me while he was down there.

This was the first one I got.  Claim Jumpers.  Yum.  I think we only went there one or two times since we were totally poor college students, but I remember it was delicious!

The first game.  They got the good seats the first game, bleacher seats the second, and the outfield grass for the third.  I guess they wanted to mix it up a bit. :)

Here’s a pic of one of my favorite things about living in Phoenix…the year round gorgeous weather!  I remember going to the pool in January. So nice.  It’s hard to believe they have flowers this pretty when we are still getting snow!  Although I have to admit one of my favorite things about the Northwest is that we have four very distinct seasons.

Here’s a picture of the new pool at our alma mater.  T said they have totally redone almost everything and he hardly recognized it.  He said he almost got lost there are so many new buildings. 

One of the nights he was there he was able to have dinner at the home of some of his good accounting buddies that he went through school with.  There was a group of them that always hung out and they got along really well so he had a great time catching up with them and meeting two of the couples first babies’.

Night game.  Nothing like a baseball game under the lights!

And this was one of the last pictures he sent.  Giant dog chillin in a jeep. :)

The guys had a great time even though T came back sunburned. :)  He’s already talking about doing it again, but this time he wants us all to go with him.  We have so many great memories of college.  It was definitely a simple, carefree time of life when our biggest worry was which paper was due when and where we should go out to dinner on the weekend.  I wouldn’t trade our life for anything right now, but it’s fun to look back on that responsibility free time and remember all the good times we had. :)