Callie Winking

Callie has been mimicking me winking at her lately. It's just the funniest thing, and today at lunch I caught her doing it a little:

Heading Out

Tomorrow we leave for Iowa! I'm very excited, and the boys are definately ready to leave. It's all Hunter's been talking about. He even practiced how he was going to hug grandma Mary this morning. I set out the kids clothes today and packed them in a suitcase and set it in Callie's room, and as I went in her room tonight to get her pj's, I saw that Hunter had packed his little Cars bag full of stuff to take to gma's and had set it right next to the suitcase. I'm sure I'll have to answer the question of "Are we going now" all day tomorrow. It is kind of nice, though, that he's old enough to know where we are going and that it takes awhile to get there. (And thank the Lord Almighty for portable DVD players! I don't know how my parent did it...although I would think girls would be less hyper than boys) We'll be heading out as soon as Brent gets home from work tomorrow. It'll be a long night b/c it will most likely be dark before we leave. We'll come home on Sunday. I'm looking forward to seeing my family, seeing my sister's pregnant tummy, eating pumpkin pie, seeing friends, and HOPEFULLY some Jaarsma bakery goods. We are celebrating our Christmas, too.

Speaking of Christmas, I am SO excited to get the decorations out. I already have my new blog layout picked out for the holiday, and, as I'm usually bummed to come back home after seeing all my family and familar things, I am so excited to have decorating for Christmas to look forward to. I anticipate it being not as fun this year b/c of Miss Get-into-everything. Callie does pretty well with the word No, so hopefully she doesn't pull the tree down on herself too many times. She was playing in the boys room today(as she does every day) and I check on her every few seconds it seems, but I saw her get up on the boys little green chair and stand on it. She was jumping up and down rocking it back and forth and yelling at the top of her lungs. It was a sight. I would have gotten out the video camera, but I was afraid for her safety, so I took her off. She also likes to get into the diaper wipes now, so they are up high now. This morning she wanted to be daddy's little helper while he was making (me) scrambled eggs. I thought she looked so cute and tiny standing next to Brent:



Tate has been talking more and more and has the cutest way of saying things. He said "baking soda" today while we were making bananna bread and it had me in stitches.

Happy Thanksgiving!

What happens when your 9 month old only sleeps for a half hour the WHOLE day.

Callie only slept 30 mins of this RATHER LONG day. I watched a friend's kids this morning and Tate wanted to wear big boy underwear and was doing really well going pee on the potty when he started getting too distracted to go and had numerous accidents. I'm not sure I've got what it takes to potty train right now...plus its a rather inconvenient time since we are leaving for Iowa on Tuesday. He's getting closer though. So...since Callie wouldn't take a nap AT ALL I rocked her, played with her and then took some cute pictures of her. She looks cute in them, but her cuteness is going to start wearing off if she doesn't sleep SOON! Here they are...

Never Forget

Some days the mornings go so nicely. I've been getting up a little bit before all the kids are awake and reading my Bible and making coffee. It's a great way to start the day. This morning Callie was particularly cuddly(which is a rarity, unfortunately) and I never want to forget the way my little baby smells, they way it feels to have her soft head under mine.
The feeling of how tiny she really is. This time is starting to fly by and I just know that soon I'll wake up and have another toddler on my hands! Then the boys woke up and came to sit by me(which they usually do). I don't want to forget the way they come out of their room half asleep still, and how cheerfully they tell me good morning. They actually fight over who gets to sit by me on the couch. They are usually happy when I tell them to sit on either side of me. They cuddle up next to me under the blanket for awhile and drink their milk. I totally cherish these times. I often picture how our lives would be like if I had to rush off to work in the morning and rush them off to daycare. I would be missing out on this!
I'm so thankful for the opportunity to be home with them and to make these memories. I know that soon enough I'll be having to send Hunter off to school, and then there will be the teenage years(which I'm pretty sure will end the whole cuddling thing!)

From the mouth of Hunter...

He came to Brent with his little bear wrapped in his blankie and said, "Dad, my baby is hungry!" Brent said, "Oh, well then you better feed it." And Hunter replied, "NO Dad! I don't have boobs, I just have nipples!!!"

Callie is NINE months!

We're getting closer to one year! The only thing I can think of that Callie is doing a lot of at this month is getting into everything!! She is busy busy busy and loves to climb stairs and get into drawers. Some of our child proof locks have come off the cabinets and I found her eating pretzels the other day(and I only let her out of my sight for a minute.) She is silly and full of energy. I think she is getting Brent wrapped tighter around her finger every day now with her smiles.

The latest injury...

Tate fell off a chair today at our friend's house. He was just sitting there and fell off. He cut open his top lip really bad, it bled a lot and there was a giant piece of skin hanging of his lip(I about passed out). The poor kid!! I am thinking of starting a tally of his injuries...and a savings account for all the crutches, braces, doctor bills, etc... Right now he has a top lip that would give any botox gal lip envy.

Playdough!

There's a couple things I've been puzzled about with my camera, so I got out the manual last night and figured them out. I had fun taking some pictures of the kids playing play dough this morning:(yes, Tate is wearing a leopard costume)







We were unable to go to ECFE this morning b/c the boys are both sick with a terrible cough and constantly running nose. I'm bummed we couldn't go b/c this was our last one for the year. I'm taking them to the doctor this afternoon to be sure its nothing serious b/c we are heading to Iowa next week. I am SO very ready for the snot to be over! Callie has been waking in the night numerous times, so the added no sleep thing is not fun either. Hopefully we will be over the worst of it soon!

Hunter wanted a toothpick while we were playing play dough b/c he got some play dough in one of his cars tires, but he asked if he could have a "toothpoke". I thought that was cute.

Pictures...

Well, its been a week since I've posted a picture! That's probably some sort of record. Here's some pics for you:

As I was giving the boys their haircuts this morning(Hunter went first), Tate came over and held his hand and kept saying, "Be brave". It was SO CUTE!!!! Tate is such a sweetheart! I had to stop and take a picture of it.

I let the boys have some chap stick a couple days ago, and they came into the kitchen this morning(luckily before bath time) with chap stick ALL OVER their faces. I don't know if you can see it or not, but its covering Hunter's face, even his eyebrows:(this made holding his face while cutting his hair REALLY DIFFICULT!)


Here's one of Tate with his crayon hat from ECFE. I think we were playing mosters or pirates or something:


This was of our first snow last Saturday. The boys wanted to go outside immediately and drug up all of their snow gear. Hunter said he wanted to brush all the snow off the porch and make it into a snowman. But...they settled for licking the steps instead.

And last but not least, here are some of Miss Smiley:

Thursday, Bloody Thursday

Well, its been quite an evening around here. I'm not feeling very well right now, I've got a headache and my stomach isn't feeling well. It just hit me around 4 this afternoon, so I called Brent to see when he'd be home. He was on his way, so I was relieved. However, not a minute later Tate pushed Callie down while she was standing and she fell and hit her mouth. She cut that thing that hangs from your top gums to your lip pretty bad. It bled A LOT. She cried hysterically for 10 minutes straight, poor thing. I felt even worse after that b/c I don't like the sight of blood. She is doing fine now, thankfully. The blood did not end there, however. Tate and Hunter pulled out all the pillows, blankets and any other covering they could find and placed it on me while I was laying on the couch. Later, after I took them off me, they started jumping from the couch to the pile of blankets/pillows on the floor. Hunter got carried away and drug/pushed Tate down on the floor. Tate hit his head REALLY HARD on the record cabinet and it started bleeding badly. Brent took care of that one. I am a little nervous b/c he hit his head so hard, but he seems to be acting normal. I sat him on my lap with an ice pack for as long as he would allow. I was looking at the poor guy while icing his head. He's got a scar from when he cut his eyebrow open, a chipped front tooth from when he fell on the tile, and currently he has a scratch mark and bruise on his cheek. He really is quiet the "bruiser". Much like his dad was I imagine. I sure hope he grows out of this accident prone trend. I think I would surely pass out if he ever breaks a bone.

In completely unrelated news, Hunter now has a new name for our Balmex. He was bringing it to Brent tonight as he was changing Tate's diaper and he called it "penis cream". We good a chuckle out of that. I hope he calls it the right name if we are in public;)

Call me Mrs Crabby

Ooi! I am having one of those days today. I can feel my hormones racing through my tired body. Tate and Callie have come down with a cold. Callie had a small fever last night. I think she's teething, but I don't think she got the cold b/c of that. Tate tends to be on the drooly side normally, so add in a cold and you've got one big snotty, drooly mess on your hands. I've been following him around with tissues today, as well as Callie.

Why can't I just do ONE THING at a time??????? Why do I always have to be doing a bizillion things at once. Its so easy for me to get forty things going at once and then get really stressed about it. This morning was no exception as I started making a batch of pizza dough(for a play date that may or may not take place tomorrow...I've got to warn the mommies of the cold my kids have first) AND the boys and I were making oatmeal raisin cookies(also for the play date). When I needed to knead the dough I gave the boys a couple crackers and they managed to crush them all over my clean floors. Can I just say HOW TIRED I am of sweeping my floor?!? I can't have one crumb on the floor b/c Callie loves to crawl under the table and I don't want her eating anything she finds. So, when I tried to sweep the cracker crumbs up Callie was right under my feet, trying as hard as she could to help herself to what I was sweeping up. This happens quiet often. Mostly I just put her in her Johny or excersuacer, but she wasn't happy with that today. Thankfully, Hunter is big enough to pick her up and after I asked him to come get her, he kept her company so I could finish the floor. And then there is the laundry that will not only quit, I'm pretty sure it multiplies while it is waiting to go in. I've done three loads so far today and I've got one more waiting to be put in. And its not like I wait till there is a lot there, no, I do laundry every day! The boys broke a stand up mirror I had for them in their playroom this morning, so I had to get out my trusty broom for that mess, also. Then, when dropping Hunter off at school, Tate got so upset that he couldn't stay that I had to carry him(while he was screaming) and Callie to the van. It was quiet a spectacle. Basically, I'm just having one of those, "all I do is pick up messes and wipe things" days. Sigh.

It's so hard to find that balance between keeping your house clean and tidy(an almost impossible task if you ask me) and making sure you spend enough time with your kids, reading and playing and interacting with them. I don't know how to figure out the balance. I'm sure I could let a few things go with the house, but it does need to be cleaned....but the kids need to be given attention to also. I try to read to them at least 30 mins each day, I try to get on the floor and play with them, we bake together, sometimes clean together and we pretend together. I just feel like its still not enough. And I feel like the house is not getting cleaned enough. What to do! And don't even get me started on one on one time....

At least Auntie Anna is up to save the day by watching the kids while I go to get my hair cut!

I'm going to go try to get out of my funk.

The Thankful Tree

As I was looking up ideas for things for the kids and I to do together the other day I came across this idea and we made it yesterday. We are going to add one leaf each every day until Thanksgiving with something we are thankful for. So far the boys have been thankful for mommy and daddy. Hunter told me that tomorrow he is going to be thankful for Lightning McQueen and Tate said he's going to be thankful for Mater. Here is a picture of our tree:

Hunter sayings...

The other day at breakfast Hunter was butting in on me talking to Tate about something he'd done, and I told Hunter to just worry about Hunter and he said, "Do you want me to stay out of it?" I said, "Yes", and he replied, "But I want to stay IN it!"

The other night at supper he called me a "cute cooker".

This morning as he was walking by the couch where I was sitting nursing Callie he said, "Mom, I'm your darling aren't I?"

Last night as I was tucking them into bed Hunter asked me to pray for him to not have bad dreams. He said something about where God was and I said he was up in heaven watching us and everything we do. Hunter got really quiet and said to me, "Mom, does God see when I am mean to Tate??"

Superpowers

Dear Hunter and Tate,

I love it that you think my kisses magically make your owies better. When you fall or get a scratch, you immediately come over and have me kiss it and the crying stops. It makes me feel like a superhero. I will mourn the day that you no longer have me kiss your owies. Please don't grow up too fast!

Love you bunches,
Mommy

Callie does NOT like apricots!

M-E-S-S!

The boys "helped" me clean out my file box and shred some old documents. Then it got a little crazy...

Election Day

Today is election day. I feel like this election is an important one(as they all are). My blood has been boiling over the last week at stuff I've read. I am not a debater, and I do not like to argue with people. I like to keep this verse on my mind at all times:

Romans 12:18
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

I feel that very many are putting up defenses about the choice of their vote, especially Christians. I've seen countless arguments going on in several different blogs I read. I think a lot of people are thinking that as Christians we are just a bunch of judgemental hypocrites. While I think it is very important and necessary to stand up for what we believe, I think there has to be a stopping point to all this. Do you really think that by "coming down" on someone that it will just up and turn their vote around??

I am convinced that Satan is using this as a way to distract us from using our greatest weapon: prayer. If we took all the energy that arguing and debating is taking from us and used it to intercede for our country, our choices and our government, how much greater an impact would that make??? I think it would be huge! So, I'm issuing a challenge to those out there who read this blog. First off, vote as a Christian, not as a Democrat/Republican. Secondly, be in prayer continually today. Not only today, but in the coming months and years. For, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26(I say this for myself, b/c I tend to be a skeptic that my prayers really change anything involving our country...they do!!!)

Finally, here are a few Scriptures I've come across this morning while trying to find peace about this election and on my role as a Christian:

"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. -1 Timothy 2"1-2

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." Eph 4:2

"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ." Phil 1:27


Pray, pray and pray today!!!

Tickles

Hunter: "Mom, can you tickle me again after I get my pj's on?

Me: "Yeah. Do you like to be tickled???"

Hunter: "Yeah!! But not on Tuesdays."

I guess I won't be tickling him tomorrow.

The Perfect Fall Day!

Wow, it is absolutely GORGEOUS outside. I didn't even want to put the boys down for a nap b/c it is so nice out. They are sleeping, though(all three of them! Woohoo!) I just got done making some apricot baby food for Callie, and I'll be making carrots, peas, pears, plums, and green beans this week also. I just have to wait till the ice cube trays are available again. I've got supper in the crockpot. Hopefully we'll be able to spend some more time outside before it gets dark. This morning we went to ECFE and Tate chose some animals to bring home for the week, so I let them play with them on the porch when we got home:
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Callie moved around in her walker:



We had a fire last night b/c it was another nice evening. The boys made about 50 trips back and forth getting wood from the garage for it. They really enjoyed that. Callie took a nap for some of it, but when she woke up I put her in a snowsuit I'm borrowing from a friend and she sat on my lap very contentedly. She almost fell asleep even. Then we came in and had some popcorn and went to bed. The kids had a little bit of a rough time with the time change...I made them go back in their room for a half hour yesterday morning b/c it was only 5:30 new time. Its been good wearing them out for naps, though.

We went over to some friends(very spontaneously) on Saturday night. They had raked up some leaves and were playing in them before they burnt them, so we went over and jumped in the leaves for awhile and stayed to burn them. The boys had fun and Callie sure enjoyed playing in them:


Well, I think I'm going to go clean something. Or play outside...