All that glitters

I was so excited with the free reign that we have been given for our bridesmaid outfits for James and Jes' wedding. Our only stipulations are shorter, black dresses and gold shoes. I may be pushing the envelope a little with my choices, but luckily Jes is the type to find that funny, rather than be mad. I've ordered my exciting new items, and was thrilled to get my shoes in the mail today. Ella helped take pictures of my shoes and then asked if she could wear them. After walking around a little bit she asked "Where are my new shoes?" Hmmm, I wonder if they make tiny little gold sequin shoes.

On the Birght Side I was Bitten by a Pig

My hands were repeatedly scraped and cut by gross, rusty, dirty nails last night and in the midst of it all I had to laugh, at least that pig bit me last year so I don't have to go get a tetanus shot tonight. On the bright side, to quote my mom. Last night, while Eric was gone, I tore up the carpet in our living room. I have wanted it done, and although not opposed to the idea, I don't think Eric wanted to spend his very little spare time on yet another home project. He was gone arguing a case in the appellate court so I took the opportunity to get it done, and have a "fun" surprise for him. It took most of both days, but I got it done in time for Eric's return. Our new couch and entertainment tower were delivered, so the new room was complete. Sure, the floor has lots of gouges, and nail marks. Sure there is an area where the boards were replaced, but not stained to match, but I got rid of that nasty, gross carpet. I will not even scare you with the horrors that abound when you lift up carpet, but don't do it if you are a neat freak. So long story short, I redid the living room (or is it family room, I can never remember which is which). I now have an area I can have people over in, that hopefully will be a respite from toys (yeah right). Now on to one of the other hundred things we have planned for our house. I think the porch is next...

Neither Rain nor Sleet....

Livi has taken to carrying things around. She is mobile enough that she can carry something that seems to weigh as much as she does room to room. She will carry one shoe into another room, making morning time a little stressful as we hunt for the errant shoe. I have seen her carry her blanket all over the house, even through the pile I just swept in the kitchen. Today at the Bagley's house Maddi was nice enough to let Livi carry around her stuffed penguin (I almost wanted to carry it around it was so soft!). The funniest to date was actually today where she dragged the toy baby stroller all around the house. The thing is SO awkward, but she was determined to take it everywhere she wanted to go. Don't even try to tade her for something lighter, that little girl has already mastered the art of the temper tantrum.

If it Walks like a Duck...

As requested by grandparents, I give to you Olivia walking. She has been walking for a while, but just this week she has perfected it. Only 10 1/2 months old, prodigy anyone? (just kidding)

Rools

Ethan came home from his first day at school exited about all the things in his classroom that were different from last year. There is Tattle Toad who HATES it when people tattle, even and odd number poems, and most importantly there is a list of rules on the wall. Ethan came home and decided we needed our own list posted by the door.

Translation:
Rools (rules)
listen to Mom
To be Kind
Dont Run
Listen to Dad
Be Safe
Be Respectful
Be Responsible
Be Careful to Baby

Ethan is always drawing. Even in the shower. Eric says he will ask him to do something, like wash his hair and Ethan will write "N-O" on the shower door in the steam. I came in the other day and he was drawing faces.

He also drew on the back of his school work. He and a friend were having their pencils battle, so he thought it would make a great picture. Ethan's pencil, the taller one, is hitting the smiley face pencil and saying "awesome, awesome" (osom, osom) while the poor little smiley face pencil calls for help. I guess the thing above the smiley face pencil is a shield that Ethan's pencil threw on its head. I am a little concerned with the violence of this picture (we may have to stop watching pokemon) but I am also amused at the depiction of pencils fighting. Hmmmm, which side will win out, the appalled mother or the british humor lover in me?

Child Prodigy

I bought Ethan some piano books at our local music store, and since I live in Scottsbluff Nebraska and not Los Angeles I got to talking to the owner of the store about teaching kids instruments. I myself started at age 8, and Ethan will be 6 almost 7. Normal, yes. He told me that a parent called asking for flute lessons for her 2 year old daughter. Okay crazy people. I realized with this story, and after talking to some parents at Ethan's school, how the average IQ is 100, there have to be people like this out there to bring the average down. Crazy flute mom is a waco, but I am not (okay yes I am, but I am on medication so it doesn't count). I know all parents think their kids are prodigies, but I know I am right in saying that Livi is a musical genious! (Heavy sarcasm is so hard to type)

First Day of School, or My Car the Prison

School has finally started and it is nice to have the 2 hour "break" where I get to play with Livi one on one and she has a little nap. What I don't like is the morning Ella doesn't have a playmate, making lunches that only get half eaten, the constant driving in the car, and waking Livi up from her afternoon nap so we can race off to Ella's preschool and then race to Ethan's school. On the bright side next year I'll just have Livi during the day, and she'll still be napping (maybe my house will get clean, ha ha). On the sad side, next year I'll just have Livi during the day. I miss my little ones while they are gone. I may not love playing pokemon with the kids, but I enjoy hearing them play pokemon, I love hearing there little games, the funny things they say.
So on to happier things, Ethan has a great teacher, Mr. Behnke (yes pronounced like the baby pacifier) and there are only 16 kids in his class. Yes, you read that right, take that California! He LOVES Mr. Behnke, and has actually come home excited to tell me things that he did at school. My little shy guy is growing up.Growing up, yes. Still making goofy faces in pictures though.

Ella also started school, and I think it is a big adjustment for her. After we dropped off Ethan she was ready to go off to preschool, just like last year. I explained that we would go after lunch. She looked concerned and said "But I'm not hungry for lunch." After laughing and explaining that we weren't moving lunch up, but moving preschool later, she was very upset. It didn't help that all summer she had her best friend, Maddi, all to herself, and when she walked into the preschool Maddi was playing on the swings with someone else. She teared up, and didn't want to go outside. I felt so badly for her. I know that feeling, of being left out, and it breaks my heart to see it in her eyes. Luckily Mrs. Hessler, the best no nonsense preschool teacher in the world quickly assessed the situation and paired Bella up with another little girl. Ella still got to sit by Maddi, and she was pretty stoic about it when I picked her up. All in all it will be an interesting year.

Chocolate Baby

Another example of my fine parenting on display. In my defense I DO have a really bad sinus infection and I want to lay around and sleep all day. I was laying on the couch after church and heard some rustling over by the table. Eric and the kids were in other rooms, so no one was there to check what Livi had gotten into. It hurts to move my head too much, so I thought it probably wasn't a big deal, I thought it was a cracker wrapper for saltines. Not great, but I thought I would let her eat some crackers and I could clean it up later. Well, it wasn't crackers.
It was Ethan's Kit Kat that he hadn't finished. It made me laugh so hard to see her grubbing away on the chocolate, and that Ethan hadn't finished a Kit Kat. Who's child is he? I picked her up before it got too bad, and let her finish in the kitchen over the sink. I probably will regret this later when she's gumpy from a tummy ache, but I figured she was already grumpy from teething and this at least would taste delicious. Bad Mommy 101, taking applicants now.

Attack of the Livi Grizzly

Some more cute growling from Olivia. I just love the sounds that come out of her mouth!

Frankenstien Walking

Livi is walking. She started taking steps her and there last month, and started perfecting her technique in Canada. Now she is taking several steps all the time, and yesterday she walked across the room. This morning I got a couple of steps on camera. I love the little lurching.

Staying Sane, or Furniture Shopping

Well, we are at an impasse in our future planning. Eric can waive into other states next April, so it makes sense to wait until then to job hunt, but we have outgrown our little house here. I am quickly going crazy in the cramped quarters, but we really don't want to buy a new house (because we may only be here for a short time, and it's nice to have a small mortgage payment). After several LONG phone calls to my mom, trying to make the best of the situation, we've decided to try and make the basement more liveable to make spending time down there more palatable. One thing we did was move our ultra comfy couch downstairs, plus move all the entertainment stuff down, so upstairs can stay neater (I hate when your best friend drops by to drop off the yummiest salsa, and your living room looks like Tornado Livi struck). Long story short, I went furniture shopping to get a new sofa for upstairs. The kids actually had a blast and had their favorite types of furniture. Ella truly got into the spirit of things, and I'm a little concerned we will being seeing her on the Price is Right as a model in about 16 years. We didn't get any of the pieces she is showing off, but her poses were so funny I couldn't help adding them.

All Tucked In

Ethan is such a sweet little guy. He LOVES stuffed animals. He has such a great imagination each animal has a name, personality, likes and dislikes, and special friends among the other stuffed animals. At night he loves to have them all in bed with him (or at least some of them).
A couple of nights ago I came in to turn off the light from his reading books in bed and realized that he had organized his friends. His two pokemon, Sneasel and Sudoowoodoo (?) where laying on a pillow by him, tucked into the blanket he had me knit them. The rest of the stuffed animals where "cuddling" each other at the end of his bed in groups according to size. Okay, maybe he's a little type A like me, but there are worse ways for it to exhibit! He just wanted them all to comfortable for the night.

Mad Mommy Skills

My kids always ask how I can do things. I always, jokingly, answer "Mad Mommy Skills." This time I am not joking. I braided Livi's hair. Yes, her very short, very fine baby hair. How did I do it, yep, Mad Mommy Skills!