Things I've Heard (And Seen) Lately...the Moving Edition

So, things have been really crazy around here lately.  But, there have been some very funny moments.  Here are some of my favorites related to a move.

Mark: (trying to explain stepping out on faith to Aidan)  It's like stepping off a cliff and knowing that God is going to catch you (or something along these lines...I can't remember the exact analogy, but it was about a cliff).
Aidan:  Why don't you just turn around and walk away from the cliff?  (duh)


Mark:  So what do you think about moving?
Aidan:  Well, part of me thinks it could be really bad.  And, the other part of me agrees with the first part.


Aidan:  (while driving through a small town near where we are going to live)  Wow, this town is what they call a "fixer-upper."

This one has nothing to do with moving, but is still funny:
Ella:  Are the Veggie Tales real?
Me:  No, it's a cartoon.
Ella:  Well, who's singing then?
Me:  It's just people pretending to be vegetables.
Ella:  That's really weird.

We've had many misadventures while trying to rent our house.  And they all seem to involve the restroom.

For starters, we had potential renters show up an hour early!  I should have told them to come back, but we really want to get our house rented, so I said it was fine.  I had 6 kids here and we had just gotten back from swimming, so it was a little hectic.  I rushed all the kids to the car so we could get out of here quickly.  In doing this, I forgot Anna's diaper bag.  When we got to our friends house, she was in desperate need of a diaper.  "What's the worst that could happen?" someone said.  I took her soaking wet diaper off, wrapped her in a towel and headed home...surely she could make it home without incident, right?  Wrong.  She pooped.  And it was the worst poo you can imagine...of all the times to have diarrhea.  Seriously.  All over her, all over the car seat...but surprisingly very little on the towel.  You're welcome for that visual.

When we got home, the Realtor had locked our new kittens (that's a whole other story) out of the bathroom where their litter box was.  So, guess what I got to clean up.  More poop.

So, I decided to take the kittens to Arkansas so Mark could take care of them for a bit.  While we were gone, we had a showing and the Realtor let our outside cat in the house...and left her in...all weekend.  With no litter box, food or water.  So, guess what I got to clean up?  I'm really glad she was okay.  I'm not sure how much longer she could have made it without water.  :(

And one final incident...we were getting ready for a showing this week.  I noticed that the kids had left some clothes on the bathroom floor, so I asked them to put them in the hamper.  When I walked by again, they were gone.  So, naturally, I assumed the kids had picked them up.  When we got home that afternoon, I went into the kids' bathroom and guess what I found in the toilet.  Yep, the kids' clothes, a couple of diapers and 3 bath toys.  Have I mentioned that Anna has developed a fascination with toilets lately?  I hope the potential renters enjoyed that little spectacle.  And I hope the big kids learn to pick up their clothes when asked...or else they're going in the potty.

So that's been our life lately...2 more days and NO MORE showings to get ready for...alone...with 3 kids and a half dozen pets.  Hopefully, I can make it.

And one more funny thing...would you care to guess what both Aidan and Ella have been worried about lately?  Leaving friends?  Leaving church?  Leaving family...yes, but the main worry they've been talking about the last few days?  They are worried that Santa won't be able to find them in the woods.  It IS in the middle of nowhere...and there are lots of trees.  We'll have to get a spot light for Santa.

Have a good LONG weekend...and if you don't have anything to do, I know some people that could use help moving.  :)

Ella fishing in the pond

Things I've Heard Lately

Ella:  Aidan, do you like cub scouts?
Aidan:  Yeah, you should be in girl scouts.
Ella:  No
Aidan:  You get to sell cookies.  And, if you sell the most you get a prize.
Ella:  Oh!  I hope it's a machine gun.

Heaven help the girl scouts.  :-/

Anna:  Ella!!  (when they are supposed to be going to sleep)
Ella: Yes baby?
Anna:  gobbledy gobbledy blah goo gah
Ella:  Look!  Listen to me!  I know you want to play, but I am TIRED.  My legs hurt and I need to get some sleep.  You may not want to go to sleep but I do!
Anna:  Ella!!
Ella:  (Sigh)

Anna Speaks

Anna will turn 18 months old this month.  It's hard to believe how fast it is going!  She is at that age where her language is exploding.  I love all the little things she is starting to say.  Here are her top 10 favorite phrases right now:

1.  Outside!  We hear this about a gazillion times a day.  Outside is the only place Anna wants to be...

2. Bye-Bye Car!  ...except when she wants to be in the car...the girl loves to go for a ride in the car.  And, she says Car like she's from Jersey.

3.  Daddy!  She walks around the house looking for her daddy when he's not here.  It's so cute to hear her calling for him.

4. Tovey!  Lovey is the stuffed giraffe that she sleeps with.  When she gets tired, she will walk around saying   "Tovey!" (She can't say the beginning L sound).

5.  Ella! She loves her big sister, but she usually yells her name like she's in trouble.

6.  Good Boy!  She says this every time she sees Ranger. She likes to lay her head on his tummy.

7. Bubba!  She loves her big brother too.

8.  That!  The girl knows what she wants, and when she wants something, she points and says, "that!"

9. Mommy.  Melts my heart every time.  

10.  Gone-gone.  This is what she says when her milk is all gone---and she wants more.  Now.

Recently, she has also learned to give kisses.  She gives Aidan and Ella about a hundred kisses a day.  It is so sweet to see her with them.
We are having so much fun watching this little one grow and learn.  Love her so much.

Because I Just Realized...

...I haven't updated my blog in over a month.

Oops.

So, since life is crazy, I thought I'd share a quick list of what is going on with us.

1.  Anna is 15 months old.  She is not walking yet.  She is standing, cruising, climbing onto the couch, pushing furniture all around the room, but not walking on her own.  Aidan is convinced she is going to crawl down the aisle at her own wedding.  Has anyone else had a late walker?  I'm curious to know if this is all that unusual.

2.  She is, however, bossing everyone around already.  If you pick her up, she will point where she wants to go and say, "One, two, three, GO!"  She also loves to tell her brother and sister and the cat "No!"

3.  Ella is going to turn 5 on Saturday.  I still don't know how this is possible.  This was not cleared with me. She is alternating between excited and sad about her birthday.  She cried last night at bedtime because she does not want to turn 5.  In fact, at one point, she was sobbing, "Dear God,  Why are you making me have a birthday?!?  How can I stop it?"  She doesn't want to grow up, and she doesn't want to leave me.  She will, however, take the presents she would normally receive for having a birthday.

4. Have you seen the news about the kid that got suspended over a gun shaped pop tart?  Is that just beyond ridiculous or what?  Come on people.  Gun shaped pop tarts don't kill people.  People kill people.  (On a side note...have you ever noticed how many calories are in a pop tart??  It's crazy...so in a way, maybe pop tarts DO kill people.)

5.  Aidan and I discovered a really cool website today.  We have been studying continents in geography.  We are using Ann Voskamp's book, Explore his Earth, A Child's Geography.  At the end of every chapter, she has some outreach ideas to allow you to "reach out to his world."  Today's was a website that tells you about a different country every day and tells you how to pray for that country.  Check it out:  http://www.operationworld.org/today2

6. We are really getting into a groove with the home school thing.  At first, it was really stressful, but this semester, we have really started to figure out how to make it work best for our family.  I am so thankful that I am able to do this.  I am so excited about the education Aidan is getting, the experiences he is having and the memories we are making.

7.  I have been in a serious cleaning/remodeling/reorganizing phase lately.  I have redone our laundry room, reorganized our closet and taken a ton of stuff to goodwill.  Is it weird that I get an extreme amount of satisfaction from taking car loads of junk out of this house?  It makes me happy.  I am officially a nerd.

8. Since I started writing this post, Ella has asked me 367 questions and told me 114 facts about various animals.

9. Aidan has been working on a new art curriculum.  He LOVES it, and he's good at it.  It is such a fun thing to see.  He gets so much joy out of being creative.  I hope he chooses a job some day that will allow him to be creative.

10.  That is all I have for now.  :)  Which doesn't really deserve a place as #10 on the list...but you can't have a list of 9 things.  You just can't.

Anna Kate is One!

Can you believe that Anna turned one last week?  I cannot.  This year has gone by in a flash.  I took Anna to the doctor today.  She is still tiny.  She only gained 1 1/2 lbs. in the last 3 months!  She is 16 pounds, and 30 1/2 in.  That makes her 4th percentile for weight and 92nd percentile for height!  She wears 9-12 month clothing and size 3 diapers.  (Really, she could probably still wear size 2 diapers, the 3s are a little big...tiny baby). 

She is starting to talk up a storm (all 3 of my kids have been early talkers.  Maybe I talk too much?).  She says: mama, dada, bubba, Aya (Ella), and woof!  When she hands you something she says, "go."  I think she's trying to say, "Here you go."  She can point to your nose, your eyes and your mouth.  Her favorite games are patty cake and peek-a-boo.  She is a mama's girl...seriously.  Whenever anyone else approaches her, she grabs the back of my arm and holds on.  She does not want me out of her sight. The doctor assures me this is normal and that I will be able to go to the bathroom alone again sometime in the forseeable future.

She did the army crawl exclusively until she was 10 months old.  Then she started crawling up on all fours.  She is all over the place.  She is pulling up on the furniture and cruising.  She shows NO interest in walking on her own yet.  She hasn't even tried it.  She's my 3rd, so this is perfectly fine with me. 

She has 2 cute little bottom teeth.  She loves to hug Aidan and Ella.  She lays her head on their shoulders and says, "awww," while patting them on the back---sweetest thing, ever.  She has always been a very laid back baby, but in the last month, she's developed a tiny temper.  She growls at people.  It is hilarious to see such a tiny little thing growling.  If you tell her "no," she cries like you broke her little heart. 

She loves to dance, and therefore, loves any toy that plays music.  She is fascinated by dropping things into buckets.  She loves cashew chicken and cheesy chicken with rice, honey nut cheerios, and crackers.

She has 2 dimples and big blue eyes and is as sweet as she can be.  I can't believe a year went by that fast, but I also can't remember what we ever did without her.  We all love her dearly.  Ella says, "when she gets older, I'm going to tell her about how cute she was as a baby," and "she is so cute, I love her little head."  Aidan says, "she is the cutest baby ever, I just love her so much."  And her parents are just as smitten.  I foresee one very spoiled little girl.  :)

 

Happy birthday sweet girl.  We love you so much. 

I Am...

I am...

...teaching my 4 year old to read in 100 easy lessons,

...teaching my 10 month old to drink from a cup,

...teaching my 9 year old geography,

...and geometry.

I am...

...making breakfasts, lunches, and dinners,

...and snacks, lots and lots of snacks.

I am...

...cleaning,
and then cleaning again.

I am researching, reading and choosing curriculum.
I am writing curriculum.
I am doing a Bible study and writing a Bible study.

I am washing, drying, folding, and sometimes I even put away laundry.

I am blogging and scrubbing and vacuuming and nursing, and I even do windows.

I am facebooking, pinning and sometimes crafting.

I am refereeing, entertaining, enforcing and training.

I am snuggling, rocking, kissing boo-boos, singing songs, and telling jokes.

I am counseling, coaching, and encouraging.

I am wiping hands, and noses, and bottoms.

I am praying.

I am tired.

I am taking a nap.

The end.

10 Reasons I Haven't Updated my Blog in 3 Months

Three months!  It's been 3 months since I wrote anything.  Yikes.
Here are my excuses reasons:

1.  My laptop was broken.  We had to send it off for what we thought was a repair covered by warranty.  It turned out we had to get a new motherboard.  There was "liquid damage."  I'm still a bit baffled by this.  I don't recall there ever being any liquid damage, and while I don't doubt for a moment my children's ability to damage something with liquid, I do seriously doubt their ability to clean it up well enough that I would never notice.  Hmmm...anyway, it broke in June and I just got it back a little over a week ago.

2.  Anna is mobile.  In June, Anna started creeping, crawling practicing for basic training?  It's not exactly a crawl, although sometimes she gets up on her knees.  There is a lot of pushing with her feet, pulling with her elbows, rolling and sometimes pushing her face across the floor...I'm not sure what you call it, but she manages to get where she wants to go.  And, where she wants to go, is never where she needs to be. 

3.  It's summer. 

4. I have 3 kids.  wow.  I really have 3 kids.  And they need me.  A LOT.  Like, constantly...who knew?

5.  Television.  Well, not just any thing on television, but just this one certain show...I'm ashamed to tell you which one it is, because it is HORRIBLE.  I mean, it's good...the writing is good, the story lines draw you in, the characters are interesting...but I'm a little embarrassed that I like it so much.  I won't tell you what it is, but I will tell you it rhymes with "Raking Fad."  Don't blame me if you get hooked.

6. Mark.  Mark is a night owl and a bad influence.  He makes me stay up late watching TV (see #5).  Then, the kids wake me up early.  I think they're trying to break me.

7. I am going to home school Aidan.  Wow.  I'm a little terrified and a little excited at the same time.  I've spent a lot of time this summer researching curriculum.  He is really smart, so I think we can do some really cool stuff, and I think he will get a great education.  But, it's been taking up a lot of my mental energy lately.  And, I'm terrified.

8.  I have 3 kids!  (one of which just came out of her room at 10:00 at night with a puzzle that she wants to put together...she gets this from her father, see #6)
 
9. I have a stupid cat.  I don't know what that has to do with my blogging, but it's true, and I needed to get that off my chest.  Are there support groups for this kind of thing?

10. My family likes to eat.  And not just once a day either.  They like 3 meals a day, plus snacks.  Every single day.  And the little one...the littlest one, that doesn't gain weight...she eats like 10 times a day.  If they would just stop eating...or at least cut back...I would have more free time for writing.

It's good to be writing again...that first post after a long hiatus is always the toughest...and now it's done.  It's not going to win a Nobel Peace Prize or anything, but it's done.  Hopefully, there will be more posts to follow soon.  :)

5 Months!

Well, I can't even catch my breath.  It feels like I just wrote a post about Anna being 4 months old, I turned around and now she's 5 months old.  She is really growing and changing now!

Her name, which we debated upon until several minutes after she was born, seems to fit her perfectly.

Anna:  Grace of God
Kate: Pure

She is the pure grace of God.  I love getting to know this sweet spirited little one.  She is a watcher...always quietly watching everything that goes on.  She loves her family.  She always has big smiles for Aidan and Mark when they get home.  She reached for Mark the other day as soon as he got home from work.  She is laughing more and more.  I even got her to squeal with my silly antics the other day.  She thinks Aidan is hilarious.  She was watching him dance from across the room the other day and started giggling at him.  When he walked over to her she lunged for him.  She is going to be her brother's girl. 

She is eating baby food now.  Her favorites so far are carrots and apples.  She can roll over...front to back and back to front.  She is trying so so hard to sit up.  She loves to snuggle.  She is still sleeping through the night (yay!!).  She usually takes 2 good naps every day.  She still loves her baby gym...she will lie there and play with it for well over an hour.  She scoots all over that thing.  She also loves her exersaucer.  She really is aware of toys and loves to play with them.

She is wearing 3-6 mos. clothes and has finally progressed to size 2 diapers. 

It looks like she has chosen a lovey...a giraffe, just like her sister.  We'll have to come up with a name for him.  But, when she gets sleepy, I can hand that giraffe to her and she pulls it close, rolls to her side and goes right to sleep...just like her brother and her sister with their loveys.  I always wonder what makes them fall in love with that one special stuffed animal.  All three of my kids did...and it was right around this age for all of them.

What a beautiful, wonderful, whirlwind 5 months it has been with our sweet Anna Kate.

Today

Today, I am thankful.

Today, I am thankful that Anna's extra long nap threw off our schedule, so that Ella and I ended up eating our lunch in the car, while parked at the grocery store.  She loved sitting in the front seat with me to share our lunch.  And she chattered away...and for once there was nothing to distract me so I chattered away with her.

I am thankful that I had the time this morning to take Aidan's hands in mine and pray with him before he went to school...that he would have a good day, and be a light in the darkness, and point others to Jesus.

I am thankful that every time Anna sees me from across the room, not only does she smile, but she kicks her feet and waves her arms, and if I start coming towards her, she starts laughing.  Pure joy.

I am thankful that Ella pretends my book light is a cell phone...

...and she used it to call God...

...and told Him she really likes his dancing.

I am thankful that Ella helped unload and put away the groceries today...without being asked.

I am thankful that Ella was a perfect angel in the grocery store...that was never the case just a year ago...hey, this parenting stuff really works...if you keep at it, and never give up.

I am thankful that while we were waiting in the LONG line at the grocery store, Ella said, "I am frustrated that we have to wait!  I'm going to tell God." 

I am thankful that after telling God she was frustrated, Ella sang, "I told God I'm frustrated and he said, 'be happy,' so now I'm Haaaaaaaaaaaapppppppppppppppy!!"

I am thankful that Ella loves to find new ways to make her baby sister laugh...and always makes me laugh in the process.

Mostly, I am thankful that I get to be here for all of this...and not somewhere else...hearing about all this from someone else.  I'm thankful that we're making this one income thing work...even though insurance is going up (again), and groceries are going up, and gas is going up and the paycheck is staying the same (again)...I'll leave all that up to God...I'll just call him, tell him it's frustrating, and then, I'll be happy...happy to be here, raising my kids and filling them with good things.  Today, I am very thankful.

Anna is 4 Months Old!

Well, as usual, time has flown by at a breathtaking pace, and my little Anna is 4 months old now!  She had her check up today, and received rave reviews from the doctor.  She is long...25 inches, 85% for height, and lean...12 lbs., 25% for weight.  Her head grew a whole inch since her last visit, which puts her in the 10th percentile for head size...she's my little bitty one...much smaller than my other two.  I thought Ella was small, but Anna is even smaller.  Of course, all babies seem small after you've had a baby giant (Aidan was 30 lbs. when he was a year old!). 

This month, she is still sleeping through the night.  She is trying her best to roll over, but hasn't quite gotten all the way over yet.  She is babbling up a storm, and has even thrown a few consonants around lately.  She thrilled Aidan by saying "bu-bu" the other night.  She also tries really hard to say "mamamamama." 

The child never cries.  Seriously.  She cries a little bit when she's hungry, but I don't even know that it is a real cry.  It sounds pretty half-hearted to me.  She is the most laid back baby.  All of my kids have been easy going as babies, but Anna gets the prize. 

Her hair is getting longer on top.  It looks like it will be light brown, or maybe blonde.  She has a big bald spot in the back.  She really wants to sit up, and does a pretty good job of it, with a little help.

She is wearing 3-6 mos. clothes, but in some things can still wear 0-3 months.  She wears size 1 diapers.

She loves to hold onto my hair while she's sleeping.  She laughs if you tickle her, or make funny noises or lift her high up in the air like she's flying (think super baby!).  She uses a pacifier, but what she really loves is sucking on her middle two fingers.  We try to stop this, because when she's older, we won't be able to take away her middle two fingers...this is frowned upon.

 She loves to play with her toys on the floor.  She will talk and bat at them for over an hour.

She is sweet and cute and adorable, and she likes me best.  (Don't tell Aidan and Ella...or Mark for that matter).  I can hardly believe she's four months old and ready to start eating cereal already.  I call her a dangerous baby, because she's so easy I've started thinking I could have another one.  Maybe.  But, then I remember how tired I am and how old mature we are, and I think, maybe not.  I guess time will tell.  :)

Oh, and, she's beautiful.

The Ice Cream Alarm

So, a few months ago, I got this idea from a friend's post on facebook.  She and her husband put their kids to bed, and then sounded the ice cream alarm...everyone had to get up, get in the car and go get ice cream in their pajamas.  Tonight, seemed like a good night to try it.  It is spring break, the weather was pretty today, and let's face it...I wanted ice cream.  So, we got the kids bathed and in their pajamas.  I didn't want to go as far as actually putting them to bed, because that just sounded like a beating.  So, right before they were to go to bed, Mark got our weather radio and started sounding the alarm on it, and we ran through the house and told the kids to get in the car.  We were laughing and smiling, but the kids were a little freaked out.  They kept asking what was going on.  When we got in the car, I told them, "it's the ice cream alarm!  We're going to get ice cream." 
Here are just a few of the comments that followed...all of these took place on the way to get ice cream, or on the way back:

"What?!?!  You scared us half to death!!"  (Aidan)

"Mommy, don't do the ice cream alarm again.  It's not funny."  (Ella)

"Maybe yelling 'get out of the house! hurry!  get in the car!' was a little over the top."  (Mark)

"Don't worry about us, we're just sitting in the back seat, scarred, eating ice cream in our pajamas."  (Aidan)

"That wasn't funny."  (Ella)

"Ella, I have to tell you something.  Our parents have problems." (Aidan)

"Ice cream alarm.  Bad idea."  (Ella)

"I'm in my pajamas, but I didn't even go to bed.  I don't like the ice cream alarm." (Ella)

"Maybe next time we could just get ice cream."  (Aidan)

"The ice cream alarm is not funny."  (Ella)

So, maybe they were just a little traumatized by us running through the house sounding the weather alarm while yelling, "Hurry!  Get out of the house!"  (Okay, so that part was all me...I get a little carried away sometimes.)  At least they will have a good story for their therapist some day.  Sorry kids.

Still Here

I'm still here.  In case you were wondering...I was chugging along updating the blog on a very regular basis when the virus from #&!! struck our house...it won't go away...we've all had it now, some of us more than once.  Mark is its latest victim.  As I write this, it is 11:40 pm and he is out getting us a frosty.  The man knows how to be sick.  Ella has been hit the hardest.  She has been sick for most of the last 3 weeks.  She started antibiotics today, so hopefully, that will be the end of it.

We took Ella to the doctor today and I was reminded what a tough little kid she is.  The nurse did a strep test, and she didn't even flinch.  They said her tonsils were very red and swollen, and the inside of her nose looked terrible.  But, she has not complained one bit about it.  If it weren't for her fatigue we wouldn't have even known she wasn't feeling well.  I love that little girl.  She is fierce and fiesty, and sweet and loving, all at the same time.  She loves animals, she memorizes the names of everything and everyone (first, middle and last!), she's a scrappy little wrestler, and she would be on an all sugar diet if we let her.  I am so grateful she's my daughter, and I love her.

Anna turned 3 months old last week!  Wow!  That was quick.  She might be the happiest baby I've ever known.  The girl just does not get upset about much at all...she only cries if she is hungry.  Most of the time she sits around smiling.  Even if she's sitting alone, she sits and smiles...just because she is delighted that she can, I guess.  And when she spots one of us from across the room, she lights up.  We are having so much fun with her.  The kids adore her.  She is so peaceful and laid back.  This month, she has started sleeping through the night.  She has also started laughing out loud.  It is the greatest sound ever.  She laughs if you do funny voices, tickle her ribs or sway quickly back and forth with her (especially if you do this while using a funny voice...it's hilarious).  Right now, she is completely sacked out beside me on the couch...arms up in touchdown pose, and I love her.

Then there's Aidan...Aidan is a boy...all boy.  He tears holes in his jeans, laughs at potty humor, eats constantly, grows like a weed, hates homework, loves video games, just earned his bear badge in cub scouts, loves to go fast...except when he's getting ready for bed, or school, or doing homework.  He is sweet and funny.  His hair is too long, but he says all the girls like it that way (heaven help us), and when I lie down with him at bedtime, he tells me everything...everything that happened that day, good or bad, everything he's thinking, everything he's worried about, everything he thinks is funny, everything that 's in his sweet little head...and I love him.

And Mark...Mark buys me frostys late at night, takes off work to help me when I'm sick, and uses sweet little songs to be my ring tone on his phone...and I love him.

So, we're all still here...we're coughing, and feverish, and a little snotty and germy...but we're all still here...and I love us.  :)  I hope everyone else is enjoying better health than we are right now!

Happy Valentine's Day

I really hope you have a great Valentine's Day!

Check out last year's post:  Ten Things You May Not Know About Valentine's Day, if you have a few free moments today!

A Few Things...

Just a few random thoughts about our week so far:

1.  Yesterday, Anna reached for me for the first time.  A friend was holding her.  When she heard my voice, she turned toward me and smiled, and then she reached out for me.  My heart might have burst with joy, just a little.

2. Last night, Ella reached over, out of the blue, gave me a big hug and a kiss.  She said, "I love you mommy.  If I go to heaven you won't be able to see me anymore."  I am still a little creeped out by that.  I don't know what made her say that.  There's really no telling with Ella.  Does anyone else ever get creeped out by the things their kids say?  It was eerie. 

3.  This morning I walked into the kitchen.  I was very excited to see through the kitchen window that a hawk was sitting on our fence.  I went to get my camera to take a picture, he flew away.  I was pretty bummed that Mark wasn't here to see it, because we both love to see hawks.  Hawks Rock...Spring Break 2004!!  (Only Mark will understand that, sorry)

4. This is how Ella eats her powdered donuts.  Yes, on rare occasions I give my children powdered donuts for breakfast.  Filled with gluten and processed sugar, and who knows what else.  I am so ashamed.  Please don't turn me in to the FDA.  What's funny is I won't give them to them for lunch, but I don't have a problem with breakfast.  Hmmm.  Anyway...this is what Ella leaves in the bowl for every donut:

She eats all around the edges, and leaves the middles.  You may think this is strange; I think it's genetic.  You see, this is EXACTLY how Mark eats his hamburgers.  Who knew such a thing could be passed down to your children. 

5.  Anna has slept all the way through the night (from 9 or 10 until 6 or 7) for an entire week!  I am so excited about this.  Maybe, just maybe, in the near future, I won't feel completely exhausted. 

I hope everyone is having a good week. 

Jessica

Anna Laughs, an I-Phone, and other Randomness

Well, today was the day...the day that will go down in baby book history...Anna laughed out loud.  She's been giggling for several days, but today was the first real baby book worthy laugh.  My mom was holding her and kissing her little chubby cheeks and Anna laughed!  What a great sound!  She laughs with her eyes first.  Absolutely precious.  She is a very happy baby anyway.  She is so peaceful and smiley all the time.  I can't wait to hear her laugh more and more.

Today was also the day that I got my i-phone.  I was a little hesitant to get it, and I've really had no interest in having one.  I think they just might be our downfall.  True story...a while back, Mark and I were at the most beautiful, romantic wedding I've ever been to (besides my own) and at one point I looked up and over half the people there were staring at smart phones...twittering about the wedding, no doubt...and missing the whole experience.  Anyway, all that to say, I never really wanted a smart phone.  However, my old "dumb" phone had stopped working.  It was always freezing up, and to get it to work, I had to take the battery out and then put it back in.  So, when I came due for a free upgrade, smart phones were about the only thing they were selling and the i-phone was free.  So, I reluctantly got one.  How do I feel now that I have it??  Eh.  It's okay.  But, it stresses me out.  It has a glass screen and I have 3 little kids.  Do I need to say more?  I feel like it's another thing for me to keep up with and take care of...and there is not a lack of that in my life.  So, it kind of makes me feel burdened.  I haven't gotten to play with it much yet, so I'm sure it will grow on me.  I know I'll like the calendar/shopping app, and the traffic and map apps.  There have been a few times when that would have come in handy.  But, if you see me staring at my phone and ignoring my family, please feel free to slap my hand and give me a firm, "NO!"  Oh, and did you know you have to pay extra monthly to have a smart phone...that's dumb, not smart.  Maybe I'm just getting too set in my ways.

Should I even start a paragraph about the NFL awards show that Mark is watching right now?  Do these people really need more awards and accolades...or attention??  Good grief.  I do love how the last two guys have made a point of thanking Jesus...Mark and I were just talking about how everything we do should bring glory to God, so, way to go NFL guys that I know nothing about.

Okay, I'll close with a funny, slightly disturbing story.
Mark was at Chic-Fil-A today and noticed that they were having Daddy-Daughter date night tonight.  So, he came home and said, "Ella, do you want to go on a date with daddy tonight?"
Ella said, "No."  He asked again, and she said, "why?"  I said, "you're daddy's little girl and he wants to do something special with you."  To which Ella replied, "why does my dad always want to date little girls?"  Oh, heaven help us.  Can we all just stop right now and say a little prayer that Ella doesn't go to church tomorrow and tell our pastor, or her Sunday School teacher, or ANYone that her daddy likes to date little girls?? 

One last thing.  Does the NFL really need an "official tire?" 

Oh, and one more one last thing...who should I root for in the Super Bowl tomorrow night?  It would not be possible for me to care one iota less about either of the teams that are playing.  So, someone tell me who I should root for and why and I'll go with that.  I could just go with Mark and pull for the Giants, but he doesn't really know anything about who to root for (Steelers fan...it's pitiful).  So help me out...I need to cheer for someone.

Okay, I'm done,
Jessica
The official blogger of the NFL
(not really)

Anna Kate

I can't believe Anna is already 2 months old.  She has already changed so much.  She weighs in at 10 pounds and is 23 inches long.  She is a very happy baby.  She almost never fusses, unless she is hungry.  She smiles constantly.  If she is awake, she's probably smiling.  She loves to interact with all of us.  She especially loves her brother and sister.  She will stare at their faces and coo and smile at them.  In the last week or so, she has finally started sleeping most of the night.  She sleeps until about 3:00, eats and then sleeps until about 6:30.  She takes a couple of really good naps every day.  She loves playing with the baby gym that Santa brought her.  It has a zebra on it that she loves to stare at and talk to.  She has started swatting and grabbing at things with her hands.  She can hold her head up and move it from side to side pretty well.  She likes to coo, and when she's happy she kicks her legs.  She has a lot of fun during her bath.  She starts kicking her legs wildly and splashes the water.  She is all smiles while in the bath.  In the last few days, she has starting giggling a little.  I know at any moment she will bust out with a full on laugh.  We feel pretty blessed to have our sweet little Anna.  The Lord has been very good to us. 

Thankful

Lately, I've been feeling very thankful for all the blessings in my life.  I've had several periods of being overwhelmed by God's blessings for me.  It's a good place to be. 

Here are just a few of the things I have been feeling especially grateful for recently:
Last night, Mark and I took the kids out to eat in honor of the anniversary of our first date.  As we sat there with our 3 beautiful children, I felt in awe of it all.  It all started with that first date, and now we have this sweet little family.  My heart is filled to overflowing just thinking of it. 

After eating, we went to Lowe's just to look around.  If I had known when I was younger that I would one day think going to Lowe's was a fun night out, I would have cried!  But we enjoy going and looking and planning projects for our house (that may or may not get completed!).  Last night we bought another bird feeder and looked at fruit trees.  We looked at materials for building a fire pit, and the kids and I looked at vegetable seeds and contemplated having a garden.  It was a really sweet family time and I felt very grateful the whole time we were there.  I loved that my husband just had to get the last platform feeder that was there...it looks like a porch swing, and Mark hung it in our tree as soon as he got home.  I am thankful to be married to a man that loves what I love.

I remember when I was little, every time I spent the night with my grandmother, she would get into bed at night and say, "I'm so thankful for my bed.  Lots of people don't have a bed to sleep in tonight."  I thought of her last night when I finally went to bed...aching and tired, I was very grateful for my bed last night, and grateful that my grandmother set an example of being thankful for what we have.

In the middle of the night, Anna woke up to eat.  I was so tired.  I could hardly keep my eyes open.  But, when I reached into her bed to pick her up, she gave me a big gummy smile, and I melted.  It was all worth it for that smile.  I held her long after she finished eating, with her little head against my cheek, breathing in her sweet baby goodness.  I thought about how fortunate I was to have her, even at 4:00 in the morning.  How many  people out there are longing to hold a baby of their own in their arms.  God is good.

In the morning, Aidan was up and dressed long before I even got up.  He was excited because he was riding his new bike to school by himself.  I could tell he felt older...he was carrying himself differently.  And, as I watched him ride down the street on his bike without ever looking back, my heart filled with pride and gratefulness for this boy.

After I went inside, I sat at the table drinking my coffee and watching the birds at our feeders, and thought about how good this life is that we've built together, God has lavished upon us.

And later, Ella and I sat snuggled up together in blankets on the couch watching cartoons.  She wasn't feeling well, so she was particularly snuggly.  I loved having her there by my side, safe and warm.  I thought about how abundantly God has poured out his love on our family.
God has been teaching me about contentment lately.  I am so glad I have been able to step back and see what I have and enjoy it all.  I have a good life.  I don't have everything I'd like to have, but I have everything that matters, and for that, I am grateful beyond words.

You Owe Me a Coke

Remember as kids how we would all shout "Jinx!" if someone said something at the same time as us?  The other person couldn't talk after that until you said their name.  And then later, it progressed to "pinch, poke, you owe me a coke!"  I don't know of anyone that actuallly got a coke out of this.  Well, this kind of stuff still goes on in schools today.   But, it seems they have evolved a bit.   Aidan has been saying these things for a couple of years now.  But today, was the best one.  We were talking to Ella and we both said the same thing at the same time and Aidan shouted, "Jinx, Double Jinx, Super Blackout Waterfall Jinx!"

Super Blackout Waterfall Jinx?

I asked him what that meant and he said, "You can't go to the bathroom for 2 days."


Now, how do you enforce that one?

In other news, I am proud to report that I have been selected by Reince Priebus himself to participate in a Congressional District Census...commissioned by the Republican Party.  It is a very prestigious selection.  I am one of the "select few" (that was even underlined in the letter) receiving this census.  "Because of my high level of political involvement..."  Wow!  I didn't know yelling at the TV during the news was a "high level of political involvement."  I would hate to see what they consider a low level of political involvement!  I was a little flattered at first, but then I realized they really just want me to send money.  There are a few multiple choice questions to fill out.  The 2 page letter asks for money on about 6 different occasions.  If they really wanted my opinion, they should have given me a blank page.  I have a few ideas I could share.

Sadly, the candidate I would be excited about, probably wouldn't even want to run.  Where is George Washington when you need him?

Finally, this has absolutely nothing to do with this post...but isn't my baby just adorable?

Sisters

Today, Ella and I were talking about all the things that God created.  I asked her, "what is your favorite thing that God created?"  She said, "I like grass, and horses and bugs.  But my favorite thing that God created is Anna."   

Later, Ella was sitting with Anna and said, "You are pretty and kind.  But you are not brave.  You're still really wimpy.  When you are a big girl like me, you will be brave."

I love my girls...so thankful for the blessing of my daughters.



Straight from my Brain

A few random things:

-I tried the Shatter nail polish that I've heard so much about.  Everyone seems to love it.  Even the woman that cut Ella's hair was raving about it.  So I tried it.  I used silver shatter over bright pink polish.  It looks like somebody messed up my nail polish.  Is this the look we're going for now?  I don't get it.   Did I do something wrong?  Ella loves it, so maybe I'm just too old mature for shatter nail polish.  Thanks anyway, Santa.

-Ella and I were watching Wild Kratts this morning.  It was about elephants.  Did you know that elephants only sleep 4 hours a night?  And, they are not consecutive hours.  I think Anna is part elephant.

-I just began a sentence with "and."  My 5th grade teacher would be appalled.

-I've lost 3 pounds since Mark went back to work on Monday.  I think he is a bad influence on me.

-I told Ella to turn the TV down the other day and she refused.  So, I said, "turn it down, or I am going to turn it off."  She sighed, rolled her eyes and said, "You have SO many rules."  Is she 3 or 13??

-We haven't taken our Christmas decorations down yet.  I just can't seem to find the time, or the energy or the motivation.  I've seriously considered throwing them all away and starting again next year. 

-Ella wants to have a dinosaur party for her 4th birthday.  I would love for her to have a more girly party...like fairies or Alice in Wonderland...but, she wants dinosaurs.  Sigh. 

-I can't believe Ella is going to be 4 soon.  Wow.  That just astounds me...where has my baby gone?

-I went to the doctor the other day for my follow-up appointment.  She asked if I had felt sad or blue since the baby was born.  I honestly don't know.  With 3 kids, who has time to feel sad?  Or think about if they're feeling sad?  You know what I feel?  Tired.  That's about it.

-Since I've been writing this, Ella has colored her face and her tummy with lip liner.  Awesome.
I think that means this post is over.

**Oh, one more thing...see that gyro-bowl in this picture?  We got one for Christmas.  They are supposed to be "unspillable."  My kids spilled it twice in the first 15 minutes.  Where do we sign up for those gifted classes??