April Fools

We just love April Fools Day around here.  We're all little pranksters anyway- and it's great to have a day set aside to do just that.  I made a great joke- meal for the kids. 
It was a "cup-cake" meal I told them.  The main dish actually looked like dessert, and the dessert looked like mashed potatoes.  The main dish was meatloaf with sweet-mashed potatoe "frosting".  I told the kids they were chocolate cupcakes with orange frosting.  I don't think they bought this one so much.

  

The mashed potatoe cupcakes were real cupcakes with white frosting and caramel sauce with a yellow squished starburst.  They looked real, right?  And I think my favorite part was the drink.  I have made jello and put it in cups earlier so it would set. 

I gave them their "juice" and it was funny to see the smaller boy put the cup to his lips and tip his head back.  Then again and again.  My bro and sis-in-law had joined us for dinner and she finally said, "Hey, smaller boy, put your finger in it.  Then we all had a good laugh.  Well anyway it was fun for us.  I thought I was pretty clever.  Here are some pics.

Artists, Swimmers, and Cleaners

Because these pics are so awesome I will caption each one!

 

                                                         
                                                         

This is a darling pic. my little artists drew of giraffes.  So cute.

 Smaller boy telling me (right after I gave him his goldfish "snack"), "They're whimming mommy.  Whimming- see?"

                          Here's a close-up of the fishies "whimming"

This is the cutest little cleaner that loudly proclaims to me one afternoon (whilst I am sitting on my toosh reading a book during "quiet-time"), "Mom, I love you so much I am going to clean the whole house for you today.

She proceeds to clean the front room. 

Table pushed up by couches----check. Things off floor----check. Front room cleaned-----check.

Smaller boy's bed made----check.

 Smaller boy's belongings off the floor (just gander at the dresser)-----check.  Smaller boy's room clean---check.

The girl's bed made------check.  Girl's belongings off the floor (look at the shelf)-----check.

Once again- girl's belongings off the floor-----check.

The boy's belongings all off the floor-----check. 

House cleaned--------check.

Cutest girl in the world------check.

I refinished this dresser a while ago for the boy.  It is obviously chalkboard paint.  I go into his room the other day and he has "labled" what goes in each drawer.  This is the cutest thing.  I'm pretty sure that top middle drawer is supposed to say "toys". 

I love the ages they are right now.  I am hating/loving that they are growing up too fast.  They are growing up too fast/not fast enough.  Does this make sense to anyone else out there?  I love the kids and how cute they are right now, but there are some pretty rough moments when they are all screaming all at the same time for something different from me . 
I am really just trying to sit back and cherish the little things though because, come on... look how cute they are!  Seriously.  I just love it. 
"We remember moments, not days"  I am just totally loving and living in the moments they create.   

Birthday Girl

Today was my birthday.
 It was fantastic.
 Here are 10 pictures to help you understand why it was so great:

And here are 10 completely unrelated reasons why it was fantastic:

1. The boy came in to wake me up today singing, "Guess who's birthday it is,"  and I had to "guess".  How darling is that!
2. Tradition in my family is when you don't live with the person and it's thier birthday you call and sing to them.  So I got sung to a lot.
3. My kids were just as excited for the day as I was.
4. The man gave me a nice long hug right after he put on his cologne, so I was smelling him on me all day after he left for work. :)
5. Seriously.  Did you SEE that pile of presents.  I'm just saying...
6. Peaking out of the shower this morning, I see my darling 2 year old's bare bum as he stood on his tippy-toes as he chose to "peep-peep" in the toilet!
7. My sister brought me lunch, and a plate full of goodies for me and the kids. Then we hung out and played scrabble.
8. My brother and sis-in-law came over and we totally binged on all the sweet things around the house. (Well I did anyway)
9. All the awesome birthday wishes from facebook.  Makes me feel like a million bucks!
10. The snow (from last night) MELTED.

I couldn't have dreamed up a better birthday!  Thanks family and friends.  You guys are all great and I feel so lucky to have each of you in my life! You very nearly made me forget how old I am turning today.  (I must be getting old- I like scrabble)

The Potty Train

The girl has done wonderfully with no potty accidents for a few weeks.  The last three days, though, she has had a few accidents.  After her second accident today, I went into the bathroom to help her out and inquire about what was going on. 

"So, honey, what is going on with you lately?" I asked.

She got very somber and her voice was a little shaky when she replied, "Mom, I just think it is (the boy's)(she obviously says the boys name) fault.  He just took it from me and I just want it back, because it was his problem but now it's mine and I just want it back..."

Whoa.
Random rambling.
What the heck is this girl saying?
I tried to clarify- "Honey, what are you talking about.  What do you want back?"

"He took it and I just want it back so I don't have accidents anymore, mom. The 'POTTY TRAIN'."

Oh, thanks for clarifying there hon.

I thought about buying her her very own toy train so that we wouldn't be worried about accidents with her anymore.  But maybe she oughtta figure this one out on her own?
 
I just love my little angel girl.

Dropping a Bomb

I've got something to tell you.  I haven't been wanting to write this post, because I really don't want to alarm anyone.  But I am just going to say it like it is.

I am dying.

I began dying the minute I was born.  You see, I was born with a fatal condition.  They call it aging. 

I know- I know- you totally just cringed there.  Well- yes it's true.  I'm sorry you all had to find out like this.  This condition is 100 percent FATAL.  If something else doesn't kill me first, my condition will, with no exception end up killing me.  This is a particularly hard year for me.  I'm getting more and more aged as the years go by.  This year will be rough as I reach 30.

Yes, time and modern medicine have helped tremendously.  In fact- people with this condition are living longer now than ever before.  But there is no cure. 

Please don't shed any tears for me.  But you are welcome to bring me gifts.  Flowers to brighten my mood, chocolate for my soul (cadbury eggs are the best!), organizational bins from IKEA.  You know- that sort of thing. 

Well wish me luck as I say good-bye to my 20's and venture into my 30's (this month)... 
Uncertainly.

(And in case you were wondering- Yes I AM making kissy faces to the camera while driving on the freeway with 4 children in the car.  I deserve a mother of the year award.)

The Mommy Blahs

I have had a bad case of what I will just call the "mommy blahs" lately. You know, it's the mommy mode 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I am actually doing better the last couple of days, but cabin fever has totally settled in, and we are trying to banish it.  I hope the weather stays fairly decent, because the kids and I are finally starting to venture out.  We are yelling at winter, "You can't keep us in anymore!  We're not afraid of you!"  
Ha!
Take that!
I will get out to start planting soon. 
Strawberries (lots of these)
Fruit trees
Cold garden things like peas and spinach. 
You should too.  Do obnoxious things like wear flip-flops and no jacket.  That'll sure show winter that we don't want it back anytime soon!

Just some pics of the kiddos and me.

Peace

Meteor

The girl announced loudly to me today that she is "METEOR". 
"You are meteor?" I ask just to be sure I heard her correct.
"Yes, mom," shooting a look at me like I am not so bright. 
"You know, like "the boy" is biggest, I am meteor, and "the small" boy is smallest... Oh and the "smaller boy" is the smallest too.  But I am METEOR."
So that was cleared right up!  She is so adorable. 

By the way she did she the boy's names, just in case you were wondering.  But I can't post them here.  I know I have way too many blogstalkers.  Ha ha ha.  Just kidding. 

DIY

Oh My Gosh!!!!!  I am totally addicted to DIY blogs.  I stumbled upon one the other day and she had links to a bunch of others.  I was ecstatic to find people that were totally as cheap as I am.  And they have cute homes and the stuff they do... oh okay so I put some links in the right column of my blog.  So check 'em out if you want to. 

But be forewarned. You may need a few hours.  I know I have already got a few projects lined up for myself.  You know- in like 5 years when I finally have some free-time again.  No but seriously. 

Okay remember about my new blog.  Keep checking it out so I feel like it's worthwile.  I guess I will have to keep putting in plugs for it every so often.  Here is the link to it.

Peace Out everyone.

My New Blog

Hey so this blog is so popular (ha) that I decided to start a new one too. I'm totally kidding about this blog being popular though. But hopefully you'll check out my new one and keep tabs on it too. I was hoping that it would help me to feel like I'm using valuable skills I have. The skills other than the ones that require one to change poopy diapers with 3 wipes or less. Or making 4 lunch sandwhiches in less than 5 minutes. You know other than those wicked mothering skills I have... Anyway just check it out and let me know what you think. I am pretty excited about it. Okay here is the link...
and also I will have it in the right hand column of this blog so you can always find it easy.  Wish me luck.

Me vs. The flu

Tiredness
Achy body
Fever
Tiredness
Chills
Headache
Oh so tired!
Sinus congestion
Sneezing
Did I mention how tired I was?
I think the flu is winning.
Wish me luck.

Arriba Arriba Run Away!

The boy: "Mom- do bad guys speak spanish?"

Me: "Well... some do."

The boy: "Oh- but not a lot of them right, just a few?"

Me: "I'm not sure how many bad guys speak spanish."

The boy: "Well not a lot of them. Cuz if you see a bad guy and talk spanish to them, then they will turn around and run away."

Oooooooooooooooooh- okay it's so much CLEARER now. We should alert the cops! I'm sure lucky I have these kids around- 'splainin' stuff to me. Gotta love 'em!

Murphy

The girl has this stuffed dog named Murphy. She is rarely seen without her (yes-Murphy is a girl puppy). The girl takes her everywhere! Murphy is the girls best friend. At breakfast time Murphy has to sit right next to the girls breakfast, and the girl occasionally "throws her some scraps" (pretends to feed her). The other day as Murphy was sitting at the breakfast counter, the smaller boy spilled his milk and Murphy was soaked. So I went and threw Murphey in the wash.

Then a friend called and invited us to go do something fun. So as we were about ready to leave, the girl was searching frantically and finally says, "Mom- where is Murphy?"

"Oh- she is in the wash. Remember all the milk that was spilled on her?" I explained.

I saw Molly- another stuffed animal very similar to Murphy. "Honey, why don't you take Molly this time instead," I tried? She then gave me the most incredulous look, like I was the stupidest person in the world, and says,

"Uh-mom... Molly is a TOY!"

Oh so cute. My girl has a REAL toy.
Here is my fav. quote about becoming real from "The Velveteen Rabbit" by Margery Williams to explain:

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

This is Murphy ^^

This is Molly ^^

CHUBBA-BUB

Well I hope everybody had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We certainly did. Thanks to our friends who hung out with us on New Years Eve. We had a blast. I just wanted to post a few pics of my Chubby-bubby. This is the smallest boy- although I am thinking that this name might not be the most appropriate for him now. He is for sure the youngest, but he is giving the smallER boy a run for his money on who now is the smallest. Just look at these rolls! Have you ever seen a baby so big before? We totally love it. I am definitely in love with each and every one of his rolls. He is so happy and smiley. We all just adore him. Especially the girl.

Okay here are some pics of Christmas, New Years, and others... in no particular order.

Isn't he so HOT?

It's a little late, but the Man's birthday was the day after Christmas. I want him to know how much I love him. But that is another post entirely. Hopefully one to come soon. Love you babe!