Vacation from Vacation

As much as I love vacations, I was not prepared for how quickly it went. We just got back from a week out in Utah visiting my side of the family. We only lost one bag on the way out, and we were only delayed for one hour on the way back (thankfully they held our connection for us). We got to do lots of fun things, and just sit around and breathe the same air again. It was nice. That being said, it seems that they can be hard on everyone. The being out of place, the being off schedule, the meeting new people can really take its toll. That, and staying up past bedtime every single night. Oddly enough, being back in their own beds, all of us had a hard time sleeping last night. When I went in to wake up Dylan this morning, this is what I found.

He was still completely asleep, but, maybe he wasn't as glad to be home in his own bed as I originally thought....

Bread and Butter

This area, right here, was the whole point of the kitchen renovation really. Besides updating and cosmetic changes, by building this pantry, and moving the fridge, it made a world of difference in the layout and the functionality.

The newly expanded soffit. With the the pantry with full extension drawers and a cabinet over the fridge, along with as yet unpainted face frames.

Same view, just finished!!! :) Paint on the walls and soffit, as well as the face frame. Trim around the top, and a newly painted fridge in a newly installed power outlet. We ran into a little snafu with the pull out drawers, but those will be finished shortly (hopefully), and then all doors will be installed.

A different view. BEFORE.

AFTER. Below the calendar, and to the left of the pantry will be a little desk.

And now for the conundrum. We have now noticed that the light that was in the kitchen doesn't seem to be enough to light up the entire kitchen now. So, this is what my ceiling situation looks like. All you interior designers out there, give me some ideas as how to get light over there to solve my problem. And moving that light fixture is not an option.
Also, for the first several days, while there was nothing in the pantry, the kids thought it was a super fun place to hang out. And, it fit all of them :)

And now, for your viewing pleasure, here is the progress to date. This picture was taken just this morning, so, it is the most up to date ever! Hinges and Pulls installed. I now have all my doors and door closer lock thingys. We are waiting on the valance over the sink, and the microwave to be installed... Which requires more sanding :p Then we can trim, caulk, touch up paint, and call it a kitchen. I think....

Ain't it purdy?

The King

I know you aren't supposed to have favorites. Its not fair. Its not right.

You should love all your children exactly the same.

But this little boy sure works hard to tip the scales in his favor. His smiles win me over. And, he is a cuddler. He still cuddles with me, even though he will shortly be two.
And, while I love my older girls, and the stages they are going through (Kari with being so smart and social at school and Kaitlyn learning to be independent and helpful)...

I think it would be safe to say that this little boy is my favorite first born son.

Ketchup and all :)

My Own Christmas Story

Today, where I am in the good ol' South, it is 60 something degrees outside.

Which really doesn't make me want to get all bundled up.
But, hubby's mother, bless her heart, went through her attic recently
and dropped off several old things of hubbies. Naturally, the kids wanted to try them on.

And, I can't help but think of the movie, A Christmas Story when I see these pictures.

Any guesses as to why? :)

The Climber

I thought I had it before with the girls. I thought they were climbers.

But, it turns out there is a difference between children who like to climb in things,

and those who climb on things.
And, while I would find the girls inside all kinds of interesting things....

...I never know what I will find Dylan on top of. Or what he climbed up to get.

There have been several, more precarious positions, but, like the good mother that I am, I removed him from those instead of taking pictures.

See? Sometimes I can do what I am supposed to do :)

Ice-ocolypse

I have to admit that I think it is funny when they cancel school for weather that hasn't even arrived yet. I went to bed on Sunday night, sleeping soundly, knowing school was cancelled for the next day, but not having seen a drop. When we woke up the next day, this is what we saw. The girls were dressed in coats and hats before we ever got out of bed. As you can see, there wasn't a whole lot on the ground, but, it was cold, and icy.

This is Dylan's first snow/ice experience. Again :) He had one before, that he won't remember, and he won't remember this one either. That's ok. And yes, that is the Christmas tree in the background. Apparently, this year, they aren't going to pick them up :p
What do you do with snow/ice? You eat it, of course!

Mostly, Dylan and Kaitlyn thought it was just fun to walk around in it.

All three together. Eating ice leaves.

They found these ice leaves/icicles hanging off the big bush.

And then they would eat them.

Because eating ice is the only real thing you can do with it anyway.

That, and walking. Or so they tell me.

Poor Kaitlyn's hands were very cold. And red.

I just love looking at all the little footprints.

More ice leaf eating.

And finally, Kari modeling her new boots she got from Santa.

It turned out to be not so big of a deal for us. We kept power the whole time,

and we even got to keep hubby home for a day with us. Kari got 2 days off school though.

And, what could be better than that?

Hawoh

With hubby in the position that he is, there are times when he isn't home to put the kids to bed. But, he is very good at calling home and saying good night.

Dylan thinks talking on the phone is pretty cool. Besides Daddy, it branches out to both sets of Grandparents (who I have never heard complain ;)

But, in his young and impressionable state, things tend to blur, and blend together.

For instance, the difference between a calculator and a phone...

He does know that pushing buttons is key though. Thankfully we have unlimited long distance, but I do keep my eye on him, so we have no calls to China or anything.

This picture makes me think of a teenage girl on the phone, for some reason.

Decisions, Decisions!

What?!?! Calls to China are expensive!

Crafty Santa

It's a shame that Santa doesn't think ahead. Sometimes he just forgets. Like these placemats the kids got for Christmas. Their old ones were getting all weird and curly, and since we got them at the dollar store, they were pretty much used up. Santa thought it would be a good thing for the kids to get for Christmas, since A) he was also bringing Dylan a booster chair and he would be joining us at the table, and B) so they could be tailored to each child, since the previous ones were the same.

For example, the one for Kari may, or may not have been made of white poster board and a roll of Spongebob crepe paper banner. You know, the kind that is usually just a color that you hang from the ceiling for parties? See? This is what I am talking about. Santa didn't think far enough in advance to think that maybe, just maybe, someone might have wanted to tell others how crafty and creative that person was... Oh well, that's what blogs are for :)

And this one for Kaitlyn, whose nickname is Tinkerbell, got a placemat centered on Tinkerbell. And it may, or may not have been made of napkins and Tinkerbell confetti with modge podge. And it may, or may not have been laminated (all of them) at an office store ending in Depot. But, nooooo.... Santa doesn't think of those things.

And Dylan got a Toy Story one. This one may, or may not have been the easiest (and preferable method, had it been available for all the characters) by being made from wrapping paper.

PS- Sorry about the flash spot. I tried several different settings on my camera. And this was the best I could do....

Now, Santa could probably have lived with the placemat debacle. But these... These are something to be proud of, but, Santa is never proud of things his elves make, so... I can neither confirm, nor deny, that these came in the middle of an insomniac night. Both the girls have letters on their walls, and I wanted some for Dylan's also. I had been trying to come up with something for quite some time. They match the theme of his room, which is animals... I can neither confirm nor deny that the letters are made of wood, found online, and painted, with pieces of foam for emphasis. Do you get it? A lion, an alligator, a giraffe, a monkey and an elephant.... :)

Stupid Santa :p

The Story of Nerds

One day, an older sister got a box of nerds (from where I don't remember at this point) and was nice enough to share with her siblings. And it was good. And everyone was happy.

But, eventually, the nerds were almost gone, and the older sister decided that she was done sharing. And the younger sister became very pout-y.
Until the older sister explained to her that the box was almost empty, the rest of the nerds were hers, and that if she had eaten her share more slowly, like her brother (who is still eating nerds one at a time), she would still have some to eat.

The End.

6th Birthday

Why is it that when my child has a birthday, instead of them feeling older, I do?

Kari turned 6 over the holidays, and had a fabulous time being surrounded by family.

She even helped to make her own cake. Last year, it was a blueberry cake.

The year before that it was a strawberry cake. So, I suppose it follows in her mind, that this year it was a banana cake. It is actually banana bread, baked in a bundt cake, with yellow frosting. Kari and Aunt Kim made the frosting. She was more than excited to frost her own cake, and I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off, so it was nice to have help!

The finished product. Bananas and all!
I do so love that Kaitlyn is helping to blow it out with her :)

Licking off the candles.

And what goes better with banana cake than strawberry icecream, I ask you?

Nothing. According to the birthday girl :)

Pop and Aunt Stacy were there to celebrate.

Just us girls :)

Stacy, Me, and Kim.

Yes, I am aware I am making a weird face, and my hair looks funky. Deal with it.

Onto the presents!!! What was the main thing Kari asked for? A skateboard! She has never ridden on one, but she was sure she wanted it. She is my little sporty spice :)

Ready to hop right on.

And the companion to the Buzz she got for Christmas. They are her new cuddle toys. I think they must be uncomfortable to sleep on at times... but to each his own.

And a special version of Connect 4. Which to date, they have played several times.

I love how "playing" Connect 4 means they make patterns with the different colors.

And, she got her purple car and clip (*Shout out to ANDREA! Thanks!!!) to add to her collection. This year, we added a little something something and gave her 6 $1 bills to add to her piggy bank.

Also for her birthday, the big girls went out for a pedicure.

In reality, Nana and Stacy didn't get theirs done... Only Kari and I did.

But it was a nice break, and Kari's hands and toes look amazing :)

She chose a bright pink, and the manicurist was nice enough to add sparkles. I wish I had brought my camera, but I didn't even think about it. Every time he would grab her foot and scrub it, or add some special lotion, she would look at me and smile this super cute smile that said "Wow Mom!!! Look what he is doing!" It was great :)

Her daddy was nice enough to take her outside and practice on the porch...

She will be a rock star by the time she is done.

Ok. Maybe she needs just a little more practice.

After the party was over, and almost everyone else had left, we noticed Kaitlyn kept disappearing. I love how un sneaky 3 year olds are. Especially my elephant child. I took 3 pictures, and she didn't seem to notice.

She was sneaking icing off the cake. Little stinker!

Happy Birthday KARI!!!