Yep, at 2 am, I wander into the kitchen to make Jane a bottle only to find water pouring from the ceiling making huge puddles on my HARDWOOD floor. We all know that wood and water aren't particularly good friends, so I threw down some towels and put out some buckets to catch the rain before I ran to see what exactly was causing it. The toilet upstairs was the culprit...the kid's toilet. It became plugged, then the stupid thing continued to run spilling water onto the bathroom floor that leaked through causing the rain in my kitchen.
The hardwood is warped. I have to wear shoes or I stub my toes on all the edges popping up. But, we discovered today that when it dries out, it can be sanded down and will look fine AND the insurance will probably pay for it.
From now on, my children are allowed to use only a certain amount of TP. We will NOT have any more flooded toilets that cause rain in my kitchen.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Almost Heaven...
Yesterday was almost heaven on earth. It was a simple day, but I love simplicity.
We enjoyed on a LOOONG walk in the morning with the sun shining down, the perfect temp and spring happening all around. I got my first sunburn of the season (mostly just pink and gone by today). Jane slept for 3 hours in the stroller and Caleb drove his bike along side me talking endlessly of a crazy machine he wants to invent that can climb trees, cruise over ice, go in water and fly. The details he imagined were plentiful. (OK, the talking endlessly got a tad bit annoying!) We stopped at the park mid-walk where Norah charmed a cute 5 year old red-head into playing with her. Norah always has some stranger charmed by her utter cuteness.
Caleb and Ivie played and played all afternoon like best friends. They created some hut in the backyard where they read their beloved dragon books and imagined a world for their toy dragons named Nevesh, Hulstrom, Gracie and Toothless. I felt like I had succeeded as a mother when I heard lots of, "May I please, and Thank you" and saw them having so much fun together! Ivie even said, "Caleb is the best brother! I love him." Whoa. I wonder how long it will be until I hear that again!
I took a nap while Norah and Jane slept and Caleb and Ivie ran wild and unsupervised outside. I did ask them to say on our property though...
We spread a blanket on the lawn for a dinner picnic feast where the children ate mostly a whole bag of Bugles.
I wanted to get out and see our new hometown in the spring, so we went on a drive to some of the nearby farming communities. Oh how I love beautiful farms. To me, they represent simplicity, hard work, wholesomeness, and family.
Our drive ended with chocolate frosties.
The littles were put to bed then Caleb, Ivie and I played games until way too late. We're finally past the Candyland phase of game playing. It's actually quite fun now.
After games, we all cuddled in my bed and fell asleep...(until Jane and Norah woke me up 50 times).
It really was almost the perfect day, even though Norah drew all over herself with a permanent marker, tore down all of her wall decor above her bed (I'm stupid for putting it there I guess), dumped out her frosty and smeared it all over her high chair tray, and went #2 in the bathtub AGAIN! That is THE MOST disgusting part of motherhood.
The thing that would have truly made it heaven on earth is if Wes could have spent the day with us. But he is doing his fatherly duty to provide for his family. In this case, that means taking his final oral board exam, the last exam he will agonize over for a REALLY LONG time, perhaps even FOREVER! Goodbye to the days of tests. Thank you, Wesley for taking care of us.
I'm so thankful that sometimes I stop long enough to enjoy these little ones in my life and remember that I have a heaven on earth in my home with 4 little children and 1 practically perfect husband. I count it a great blessing to spend my days with them.
We enjoyed on a LOOONG walk in the morning with the sun shining down, the perfect temp and spring happening all around. I got my first sunburn of the season (mostly just pink and gone by today). Jane slept for 3 hours in the stroller and Caleb drove his bike along side me talking endlessly of a crazy machine he wants to invent that can climb trees, cruise over ice, go in water and fly. The details he imagined were plentiful. (OK, the talking endlessly got a tad bit annoying!) We stopped at the park mid-walk where Norah charmed a cute 5 year old red-head into playing with her. Norah always has some stranger charmed by her utter cuteness.
Caleb and Ivie played and played all afternoon like best friends. They created some hut in the backyard where they read their beloved dragon books and imagined a world for their toy dragons named Nevesh, Hulstrom, Gracie and Toothless. I felt like I had succeeded as a mother when I heard lots of, "May I please, and Thank you" and saw them having so much fun together! Ivie even said, "Caleb is the best brother! I love him." Whoa. I wonder how long it will be until I hear that again!
I took a nap while Norah and Jane slept and Caleb and Ivie ran wild and unsupervised outside. I did ask them to say on our property though...
We spread a blanket on the lawn for a dinner picnic feast where the children ate mostly a whole bag of Bugles.
I wanted to get out and see our new hometown in the spring, so we went on a drive to some of the nearby farming communities. Oh how I love beautiful farms. To me, they represent simplicity, hard work, wholesomeness, and family.
Our drive ended with chocolate frosties.
The littles were put to bed then Caleb, Ivie and I played games until way too late. We're finally past the Candyland phase of game playing. It's actually quite fun now.
After games, we all cuddled in my bed and fell asleep...(until Jane and Norah woke me up 50 times).
It really was almost the perfect day, even though Norah drew all over herself with a permanent marker, tore down all of her wall decor above her bed (I'm stupid for putting it there I guess), dumped out her frosty and smeared it all over her high chair tray, and went #2 in the bathtub AGAIN! That is THE MOST disgusting part of motherhood.
The thing that would have truly made it heaven on earth is if Wes could have spent the day with us. But he is doing his fatherly duty to provide for his family. In this case, that means taking his final oral board exam, the last exam he will agonize over for a REALLY LONG time, perhaps even FOREVER! Goodbye to the days of tests. Thank you, Wesley for taking care of us.
I'm so thankful that sometimes I stop long enough to enjoy these little ones in my life and remember that I have a heaven on earth in my home with 4 little children and 1 practically perfect husband. I count it a great blessing to spend my days with them.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
No, you can't....
...grind up crayons with my can opener.
...throw your sucker stick behind the couch.
...launch that huge boulder off the deck.
...cut up styrofoam into minuscule pieces with my butcher knife and spread it all over the backyard.
...put a stick of gum on the griddle while I'm cooking pancakes.
...sit in the wagon and ride down the hill and into the street.
...walk through my house with mud-caked shoes.
...attack my brand new black bar stools with sand paper, just to see what happens.
...put chewed gum in your shirt pocket.
...spray perfume in your sisters face.
...wipe boogers on the wall next to your bed.
A certain child of mine did not ask permission to do all of the above; he just did them. His imagination and curiosity have no limits and I love him for it!
...throw your sucker stick behind the couch.
...launch that huge boulder off the deck.
...cut up styrofoam into minuscule pieces with my butcher knife and spread it all over the backyard.
...put a stick of gum on the griddle while I'm cooking pancakes.
...sit in the wagon and ride down the hill and into the street.
...walk through my house with mud-caked shoes.
...attack my brand new black bar stools with sand paper, just to see what happens.
...put chewed gum in your shirt pocket.
...spray perfume in your sisters face.
...wipe boogers on the wall next to your bed.
A certain child of mine did not ask permission to do all of the above; he just did them. His imagination and curiosity have no limits and I love him for it!
Friday, March 19, 2010
Ivie
Ivie has been on my mind. I love Ivie. She is beautiful, friendly, so willing to share her love, forgiving, creative, perceptive of the needs and feelings of others, tidy, silly, an expressive dancer, smart, a loving sister, very quick to compliment others, daring and adventurous, photogenic (and has a knack for posing in photos...), a fantasitc singer, and a one-of-a-kind daughter. It is my pleasure to be her mother.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Toddlers
I LOVE,
LOVE,
LOVE
toddlers! Terrible Two's? Whatever! I will mourn the day I don't have a toddler to admire. Norah has captured my heart as well as everyone's who knows her! She talks a lot, but we can't understand much of what she says. Her language makes us laugh though! She is happy, adorable, curious, adorable, silly, friendly, adorable, loving, and adorable. She loves to dance, eat salsa with a spoon, sabotage our cat's personal space, take baths, give kisses and wear everyone else's shoes. I'll let the pictures speak a thousand words about Norah, Norbert, or Norma (as we sometimes like to call her). My dad likes to call her Ignorah (when she's sick of people trying to get her attention) and Mary Lou Norah (because she has the cutest muscle-y quick little body). P.S. Norah has never liked a binkie, but temporarily adopted one when Jane was born. Doesn't Norah have the most beautiful eyes?
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Jane
Jane has changed since I posted the swollen, but cute hospital pictures! She is 5 weeks old and is a wonderful baby. She sleeps and sleeps and sleeps. I've never experienced this before in a newborn! We love her.
Before Jane's birth, I spoke with my father about the chaos, tension and overall craziness we were experiencing in our home. Most of this was due to multiple children waking Wes and I multiple times during the night. My wise father suggested that things may improve after the baby joins the family. Often people (little people included) can sense when we need to 'step up to the plate.' How happy I am to report that my father was correct. I thought HE was up in the night, but my children have really stepped up to the plate since Jane's birth. Caleb literally woke us up every night for 7 years and usually ended up in our bed or on our floor. Now, he sleeps in his bed all night. Miraculous. I never thought it possible, but I miss his late night visits!
A good friend recently told me that when you have three kids, you realize you have kids. When you have 4 kids, you realize you have a lot of kids. That is true. I have a lot of kids, but I'm thankful for the opportunity to spend my days with ALL of them!
Friday, February 5, 2010
Jane Isadore
Jane Isadore
February 5, 2010 6:35am
8 lbs 11 oz
Cute, Pink, Chubby, Soft, Divine!
One week early was a pleasant surprise after being one week late with Norah! The labor and delivery was fast and comfortable. After 2 unmedicated births and one practically unmedicated birth, I now have a new respect for what my husband does for a living! I am grateful that I was able to be more calm and aware during Jane's birth. It was a beautiful thing!
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