Tales of Three Princesses and a Little Dragon

Brilliant, if I do say so myself

2012-01-30T10:54:00.004-05:00

Cooking is something that I really enjoy doing. However, coming up with what to make, hoping I have the right ingredients, and making it with 4 kids, is not. I needed a solution, it was becoming part of the day that I dreaded, so I came up with one. The kids love to help so why don't I let them help? I came up with 6 different jobs, and divided them up between everyone, some jobs are paired, no one washes the dishes by themselves, and others are single, one person can easily wash the table. And everyone gets a night off, including me.

The best part is everyone is assigned a night to cook. I took one night to cook by myself, and have help every other night. I also gave Josh a night that he is in charge. On their night to cook, the kids get to pick what we make. They tell me on Saturday what they want to make on their day, I make sure to have all of the ingredients on hand, and then they help me. It makes it a little more work for me, but they love it and can't wait for their night. I was a worried about how much help McKinlee and Wynter would really be. But I realized McKinlee can cut fruit with a butter knife and Wynter can pour things into a pan and help mash potatoes. I am proud to say Josh has only ordered pizza once, and we have only had Macaroni and Cheese once time as a side to homemade corn dogs.

Nick Jr is ruining my life

2012-01-19T12:56:00.002-05:00

When the mail came the other day I looked through it and sorted the junk out then absentmindedly placed the bills and tax documents on the piano, yesterday when I went enter the tax information I couldn't find it.

I looked around, I looked under the couch I looked behind the couch, I asked everyone if they had seen them, and no one had, then I did what any normal person would do I began to tear apart the house trying to find the documents.

I still had no luck, feeling a little frantic that I had possibly thrown them away, I sat down to think, McKinlee came up to me and said Guess what Mommy, I'm playing a game. I said, you are? What game are you playing? She responded "Swiper the Fox" I smiled and looked to see what toy "Swiper" had swiped from her sister, and there McKinlee was holding the documents I had been looking for.

I was ecstatic and slightly annoyed, I said, "McKinlee! That's what I have been looking for!" She said, "you have to say Swiper no Swiping." So I said, "Swiper no Swiping," she said Mommy, "You have to say it three times!" So I said, "Swipernoswiping, Swipernoswiping, Swipernoswiping." Swiper said AH, Man, and gave me back my documents...then she said Want to play again

Helpers

2011-12-29T20:18:00.002-05:00

I seriously need to stop saying I want to paint my walls around these two!

Christmas 2011

2011-12-28T14:19:00.006-05:00

Trouble times Two Equals...

2011-12-21T11:18:00.004-05:00

McKinlee decided that she wanted to paint so she went to the basement got the bucket of acrylic paint brought it upstairs and changed her mind. Look who found it

An Evening out of Jail

2011-12-18T21:01:00.014-05:00

Since we have had Ryken Josh and I have found it difficult to go and do anything. Don't get me wrong we have tried...we have gone out to dinner as a family, we have gone shopping, and have found it to start out promising and it ends miserably. So I have come to accept that I am serving about a 2 to 3 year sentence in stuck at home with 4 kids 3 of whom are 3 and under jail.
Last Friday I was feeling particularly antsy to break out. I thought about taking the kids to the park, but it's too cold. I didn't want to spend another evening watching cartoons and sports, and I was determined to find a place where we could go to get the kids out, where they could run, be kids, and burn off some energy. I came up with the perfect solution...Phipps Conservatory. Josh and I had wanted to go at night since we purchased our membership. So we loaded the kids in the car and off we went.
It was magical, I will admit it was no Temple Square at Christmas time, but we loved it! My particular favorite was the glass sculpture in the Desert Room...it reminded me of the sun, something we Pittsburgers miss this time of year. We also loved the 6 piece orchestra playing Christmas music, Josh loved the Chinese themed tree with a dragon garland and chopstick star, and the girls loved the train room...We may have a new Holiday Tradition

A Special Day

2011-12-13T07:51:00.003-05:00

3 weeks

2011-12-06T18:05:00.000-05:00

I Love how indifferent he is...its a whole new world to us

Back off Mrs. Claus...that's my baby

2011-12-04T17:46:00.004-05:00

At the Jefferson Hill's Light Up Night, Mrs. Claus held Ryken for about 10 minutes when she kindly informed me that she had no intention of giving him back with out force. Luckily a crowd showed up for her story time, I was afraid Iwas going to have to Kung Fu Chop her...

The Song

2011-12-01T08:03:00.011-05:00

I may sound a little crazy but I believe in letting my new born children choose the songs we sing to them, I feel like even at a tender age they know the melody that they find soothing, or perhaps it is the Spirit of the song that they find comforting.
I begin by praying and then I start singing any hymn that I can think of, while watching my baby, and usually when I find it, I know it. With Mia her song became I am a Child of God. McKinlee to no surprise followed in Mia's footsteps and chose the same song. I started to think it was going to become the song for all of my kids until Wynter changed things up, her song is Teach me to Walk in the Light.

After Ryken was born I began the process of finding his song, I thought a missionary song would be appropriate, he didn't like them, I tried his sister's songs, he didn't like them either. After a few more failed attempts, I had a thought, a little whispering from the spirit...I began to quietly sing I Feel my Savior's Love. Ryken calmed down and I knew he had chosen his song.

I feel my Savior's Love In all the world around me. His Spirit warms my Soul through everything I see. He knows I will follow Him, give all my life to Him. I feel my Savior's Love, the Love he freely gives me.

I feel my Savior's Love it's gentleness enfolds me. And when I kneel to Pray my heart is filled with Peace. He knows I will follow Him, Give all my life to Him. I feel my Savior's Love, the Love he freely gives me.

I feel my Savior's Love and know he will bless me. I offer him my heart; my shepherd he will be. He knows I will follow Him, give all my life to Him. I feel My Savior's Love, The Love he freely gives me.

I can't sing it to him without tearing up. Such amazing words of comfort, during a time that has been so difficult for our family, and what a special spirit our little Ryken is.

I feel my Savor's Love as I look in the beautiful faces of my children, and I know that my Savior loves and blesses me.

Sweet Moment

2011-11-20T15:45:00.001-05:00

Can I hold the baby? I promise I won't drop him.

Out of great pains come increadible blessings

2011-11-14T17:41:00.010-05:00

I really figured my fourth child would be a cakewalk delivery. After all when I had Wynter-Elizabeth I was in labor for 4 and a half hours pushed four times and there she was. By that standard this one should all but walk out. I was scheduled to be induced between 3 and 7 am on Nov. 9th. A mere 4 days after my due date. We arranged for a babysitter to spend the night so we would have to give someone an early in the morning call, and Josh and I did our best to sleep. Around 7 when I still hadn't received a call I became frustrated, and I called to see what had happened, It was a simple excuse, there were no beds available in the whole hospital so they couldn't call me in...but hoped to get me in by the next day. So Josh and I sent our babysitter home, got Mia on the bus, and I went back to bed. I drifted off to sleep and got the call...they had room!
We called the babysitter back and rushed to the hospital. Josh didn't waste a second, I think he wasn't looking forward to spending the day with a Past her Due Date Woman. I got checked in to the hospital and they started the induction. An hour later I asked for an epidural, an hour after that I let them know that the epidural wasn't working, so the anesthesiologist came in and made some changes, still didn't work, so he came back, still didn't work....he came back again and said if I what I do this time doesn't work I will have to replace the epidural I will be back in 10 minutes. Ten minutes later he came back to hear a lot of yelling and crying while I was in the middle of pushing out a 8lb 9oz baby who was face up. I gotta say, I am not a natural birth kind of girl, and luckily this happened on our last one or we would have a much smaller family.
But here he is, and he is perfect.

Little bits of happiness

2011-11-08T12:12:00.002-05:00

Finally having enough hair for pigtails!

It's beginning to look a lot like....Halloween???

2011-10-31T10:06:00.004-04:00

Who would have guessed...

2011-10-30T00:48:00.000-04:00

I always figured my first trip to the ER to get stitches would be McKinlee... but no it was the tiny little finger of my little Wynter-Elizabeth.

Is she...

2011-10-28T00:40:00.000-04:00

Is She...

Ya, she's asleep

Peek

2011-10-26T00:36:00.000-04:00

Last Thursday I had to have an emergency ultrasound, things with the baby didn't seem quite right. Much to my relief everything is fine, he may just be a little stubborn. I got to watch him play peek-a-boo with himself, and a small glimpse of what is to come in the next few weeks. You can see his hands and 3/4 of his face, with spikey hair sticking up all over.

Halloween Party

2011-10-22T12:59:00.001-04:00

This past weekend we let Mia have a few friends over for her first Halloween Party. With games, pizza, masks, and Monster Mani's the night was a complete success.

The Pink Phantom

2011-09-21T11:56:00.002-04:00

Apples, Apples, Apples

2011-09-18T20:16:00.008-04:00

A much needed family day.

Birthday Week

2011-09-11T18:17:00.001-04:00

I can't believe my Not so Little, Little Mia is 9! She had a wonderful crown wearing, song singing, candle blowing kind of day.

9 Things We Love Most about Mia

1. She Loves her Sisters

2. She always has to be fabulous

3. She Loves going to Church

4. She is kind to everyone

5. She is attracted to sparkle and glitter

6. She is very helpful

7. Her smile

8. She likes to cook

9. She loves to talk, and talk, and talk

My Birthday:

With Josh up against a major deadline at work, Mia at school, and McKinlee having dance, my expectations were pretty low.

As the day got going, to a rather rough start, I decided I needed to have an imaginary birthday.

I wasn't busy cleaning up a sink full of spit out carrots and a roll of toilet paper, I was sitting on a beach in Bora Bora sipping a drink with an umbrella.

I wasn't cleaning spilled milk off of my Piano, I was getting a massage by a woman named Olga.

I wasn't trying to clean up an entire container of dumped out Nutmeg and topped with cups of dirty dish water, I was hiking to a beautiful waterfall in the Amazon.

It wasn't me washing dishing, doing laundry, making marinara sauce, baking zucchini bread, sweeping floors, cleaning up pee (Wynter has decided she doesn't like to wear diapers) and washing bedding...I was on a shopping spree in Paris.

And while I was at it, it was Josh who was 7 months pregnant, not me.

Josh took the kids to pick up McKinlee from dance so I could get a much needed break. When they got back McKinlee was carrying a card she had signed for her and Wynter, Mia had a card she signed herself, and Wynter had a birthday bag as tall as her filled with chocolates. McKinlee dove right in...then I was exactly where I wanted to be.

Afterwards Josh surprised me with a date he had already arranged baby sitters. Thanks Kimbers.

In all it turned out to be a pretty good day.

3rd grade

2011-09-01T11:09:00.000-04:00

Hair... Perfect, Outfit... Cute

Shoes...Sparkley and Fabulous

Coming Home...Priceless

Mia we miss you!

End of Summer

2011-08-28T17:03:00.000-04:00

Splish Splashing, Sand Digging, Castle Building, Bubble Blowing, Sleeping in, Sun Tanning, Swimming, Lightening Bug Catching, BBQ-ing, Marshmallow Roasting, Road Tripping, Camping...Summer you will be missed.

Learning

2011-08-10T12:17:00.000-04:00

For Mother's Day Josh gave me a Photographers Tips book...this is me trying some of the suggestions for flowers...I think they tuned out pretty good. Thanks Josh I love it, Now I just need some better glass.

Heat Wave

2011-07-31T07:24:00.002-04:00

Uncle Jeff

2011-07-29T06:58:00.003-04:00

Since he moved his family to China we haven't had a lot of time with Josh's brother Jeff. When they lived in Detroit we saw them at least 3 or 4 times a year. This past month Jeff had to travel to Columbus for work, and we couldn't pass up the oppertunity to drive over to see him, even if it was a 7 hour round trip drive for dinner.

The girls were happy to see him, he was shocked at how much Mia and Wynter have grown, and all he could say about McKinlee is that she is a little ball bursting with energy. She wanted to be the Princess and Jeff the King, but Jeff decided to be the Dragon...then McKinlee realized how much fun the Dragon was and made Jeff be the Princess while she (the Dragon) chaesed him around. I think a ball of energy is a slight understatement.

4th of July

2011-07-27T07:52:00.004-04:00

This year for the 4th we spent the day attending the American Classic Baseball game, and believe it or not the Pirates WON!!!

Grown Up

2011-07-25T08:49:00.000-04:00

Wynter has decided that she is a big girl now, she wants to eat a bowl of cereal with a big spoon at the kid table. Scrambled eggs eaten with fingers in a high chair is for babies

Worn out

2011-07-23T11:48:00.003-04:00

For McKinlee not to finish her bowl of Ice Cream it can only mean one thing...We finally wore her out

Little Helper

2011-07-20T20:53:00.000-04:00

Strawberry Days

2011-07-17T17:07:00.000-04:00

I know I have been pathetic in blogging this summer, but I am going to attempt to play a little catchup this week. Starting with our annual visit to Trax Farms Strawberry Days. This year Wynter and McKinlee wanted to dress up...Everywhere we went people were taking pictures or asking us to wait so they could get their camera...it was a little like paparazzi...they loved it.

Ouch!!!

2011-07-11T11:45:00.000-04:00

It's too bad she didn't get hurt around Christmas...

Fashionista

2011-07-08T22:42:00.000-04:00

I Love when my Kids choose their own outfits...it always makes me smile

Coming Soon.....

2011-06-17T12:52:00.000-04:00

Laundry with a twist of fun

2011-06-14T10:15:00.000-04:00

It was Laundry Day...Ugg... I hate laundry day. I went to the basement finished sorting the clothes into their various color and fabric piles. Switched the stuff in the dryer and the washer, starated a new load in the washer, folded the stuff from the dryer and put it into a basket, then I came back up stairs. I could her giggling from the next room so I went to investigate. I found McKinlee, and Wynter, two spoons, and a pint of Ben and Jerry's. I did what any Mom would do on Laundry Day. I grabbed myself a spoon and dove in with with them.

Happy Birthday Nana

2011-06-13T11:24:00.000-04:00

"My Nana has ears that really listen, arms that always hug & hold, love that's never ever ending, and a heart that's made of gold."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Summer may have started on the Wrong Foot

2011-06-09T11:25:00.001-04:00

I have to say that our First Day of Summer Morning started a lot earlier than any summer morning should. (Wynter was up at 5.) We got up and the girls wanted pancakes, except for McKinlee who wanted Raisin Bran with the raisins pulled out. So I poured a bowl of cereal pulled out every raisin and started making pancakes. We eat our breakfast and of course I finished first, even with all the getting up and downs to get forgotten forks, spoons, glasses of milk etc. I say to the girls as I clear my place I am going to go balance the checkbook, finish eating and I will be right back. Moments later Mia came into the computer room and said "Mom, Wynter just squished a tomato all over the table." I responded, "That's okay, just take the rest of the tomatoes away from her and I will clean it up in a minute." With that Mia left. Next McKinlee came in and said, "Mom, I need to show you something." I said just a minute. McKinlee said "Mom, I really need to show you something." I said, "Honey, I know about the tomato just give me a minute and I will take care of it." McKinlee said, "You really want to see this." I said, "Okay Honey, just a minute." McKinlee said, "Mom, take my hand I really need to show you something." Realizing she was not going to give in, I took her hand and she led me to the dining room.

McKinlee said "See, I told you that you would want to see this."

Ready or Not, Suprise

2011-05-27T10:33:00.000-04:00

Last week I was taking my kids Birthday Shopping for Josh, I got the kids loaded into the car, and started to back out, then I saw it...a car following me, when I stopped, it stopped. When I drove it drove figuring they just wanted to turn around in my driveway, I decided to wait. Then they pulled in, I grabbed my phone and started to call Josh, I figured he had forgotten to tell me that somebody was coming over. He didn't answer, hoping I wasn't about to get shot or mugged, I decided to look at the people in the car, with my phone in hand and 911 on speed dial. Out of the car came my MOM and DAD! Once it sunk in that I wasn't about to be killed, I turned to the girls and said look whose here...Mia climbed over the top of her sisters and went running arms open and ready for bear hugs.

We had a fabulous weekend of working in the yard, cleaning the house and spoiling the kids. Thanks for coming Nana and Pawga

Missing the Man

2011-05-13T15:04:00.002-04:00

Two weeks ago Josh and surgery to repair a hernia, since then he has not been able to lift more than 10 lbs or bend over. Which means he has not been able to lift the kids, do any yard work, etc. Not that I am complaining he has been really good at doing what he can like...washing the dishes. The other night after I had mowed the lawn, bathed the kids, tended to his and the kids every need, by myself, made and served dinner to everyone, pulled the garbage and 5 bags of yard waste up to the curb, I said to him, jokingly...I sure miss you being a man. He laughed as he washed the dishes and said "me too." Only two weeks to go and he can be a "MAN" again, and I can't wait. Love you Josh

Scenes of Easter

2011-04-24T15:47:00.000-04:00

I love Easter, I love the reason for Easter, and gain Faith and Strength through the knowledge of the Atonement. I also love the Candy (it is the best of the year) the egg hunts and the excitement of my family as the weather warms the flowers bloom, reminding us of life. I thought instead of a long blog about Easter this year I would just share it through photos. Happy Easter!

Fabulous

2011-04-22T11:34:00.000-04:00

Sweet Peace

2011-04-21T11:33:00.000-04:00

First Try

2011-04-19T19:18:00.001-04:00

I think she liked them

Everything but the Neon Sign

2011-04-13T22:00:00.000-04:00

You know when you have several menial things that don't really mean anything but when you add them all up they equal something big...

In an effort to be more healthy I have set a goal to drink the recommended amount of water resulting in frequent trips to the restroom.

Wynter has had some rough nights and awaken at 4:30 am ready to play, resulting in me being very, very tired. She has also become obsessed with dolls.

I have a newsletter that I receive that gives me updates on the development of my children. Around Wynter's Birthday, I opened the letter assuming it would be about my toddler...Imagine my surprise when it was about expecting again.

Adding everything up I decided I needed to purchase $10 worth of peace of mind... I guess I needed the Neon Sign

Sprouting Curls

2011-04-12T23:00:00.004-04:00

Overdue

2011-04-08T22:26:00.001-04:00

I know this is way over due, but we are starting to settle in the house bit by bit. Most of the things have been put away...well the things we need the rest is still sitting happily in boxes waiting for me to find a place to put them. The favorite room by far is the girls dress up room, followed closely by the toy/exercise room. I have found the girls playing on the weight bench, mostly the play masseuse or dentist. Mia runs and gets a toothbrush and McKinlee lays with her mouth open while her teeth are checked and cleaned. Josh and I are loving having two toilets and a dining room where the table can be in the middle. We are anxious to start changing things to more our style and Josh is finding that leaving me alone for too long leads to lots of projects. In the last week I have ripped the wall paper out of one bathroom, pulled up the carpet in the dining room and living room, and a few other thing he hasn't seen yet ;) so we will keep them a secret until he finds them. hee hee We are mostly happy to finally have SPACE. The kids will go and play and we won't hear from them for a good hour or so. It has been nice not being called every 5 minutes or tripping over little bodies. And I love finding the places they find to hide. Sadly it has either rained or snowed pretty much every day since we moved in so I don't have any outside pictures...hopefully soon. Keep checking back I will be posting before and after photo's as we go.

Tay

2011-04-03T21:27:00.000-04:00

Today marks a year since Josh and I boarded a plane with the kids, headed to California to pay our respects to our beloved Taylia.
It's funny how looking back it is the little things I miss. I loved her Christmas Cards, the were always so creative. I remember one year getting little file folders with random pieces of paper and memo's that were filled with their accomplishments of the year. Another year we got their "To Do List" with some things checked off and others not. And notes by the nots that said maybe next year, or we have just given this one up. Every Christmas Time I looked forward to seeing what creative thing she had come up with this time...I would open the card with much anticipation and think, Why didn't I come up with this? I was sad this year not to get a card.
After Mia was born Tay would call every year to wish her a Happy Birthday on September 3rd. She always forgot that Mia's day was the 6th. Once she finally remembered she continued to call on the third just for tradition and so she could be the first to tell her Happy Birthday.
Once we moved to Pennsylvania we would spend every Thanksgiving with Jeff and Tay in Detroit, until they moved to Shanghai. I remember Tay insisting that her friend Ami and I made a ton of food and give us specific amounts of what she wanted brought, 8 dozen rolls, 10 lbs of mashed potatoes, etc. she wanted a lot of leftovers, once Thursday came and the food was put out she would say, why on earth did you guys bring so much, it will take us a month to eat all of this. We would respond, you told us to, and she would say..."What was I thinking" She would do the same thing with apple picking and we would pick the 6 bushels of apples she requested, I was always grateful to go back to Pennsylvania and not have to help her and Ami spend a week turning those apples into tons of apple sauce and apple butter. The next time we came she always made sure to send me home with several jars.
The morning after Thanksgiving we would go Black Friday Shopping, I would sit and wait in hopes she wouldn't come up so I could go back to bed and she would lay in bed saying, maybe Jenn didn't get up, I will listen and if I don't hear her I won't get up. Then one of the kids would cry and we would be up anyway. So a shopping we would go. We would finish our shopping go to Panera's and eat Bear Claws and take the kids and Josh and Jeff home a little something, not as good as Bear Claws, but still good.
We had a caramel popcorn tradition every time we went to Detroit. We would get the kids to bed make Grandma Couch's Caramel Popcorn and watch a movie, play a game, visit, or watch Jeff and Josh compete at WII tennis. When she moved to China the first thing she called and asked for was Grandma's recipe. She kept losing her copy of it.
I think what I miss most however, is our morning and evening chats. Every Morning I would get Mia on the bus she would be getting her kids to bed and we would get on line and catch up, we would do the same that evening as I got my kids to bed and she got hers on the bus. We mostly talked about stupid things, which kid is sick and with what, what funny thing Seth or McKinlee had done this time, what crazy thing is going on in the Ward, etc. Thankfully most of our conversations were on Gmail chat, so they are saved and have become one of my most cherished possessions, if you can call Gchat that. I guess it all boils down to I just miss her.

It's been a little Crazy

2011-04-01T10:24:00.000-04:00

It has almost been a week since we moved into hour new place and it has been nuts. I don't think we could have picked a worse week to move...here is how it went.
Thursday night Josh and I went to the final walk through which was lead by the oldest Peterson Son, we got a lot of childhood stories. That night Wynter threw up all over our bed. Friday morning Josh and I dropped off the kids and went to the closing on the house. We signed about a million papers, met the rest of the Petersons' who are very nice people, and started moving boxes. We got about three loads in before our friend Brandon got off work hitched up his trailer and was on his way to meet us to pick up the fridge some friends are giving us when he got pulled over. His trailer wasn't registered. So the friends with the fridge took Josh to pick up their box truck, (they own a book store) and they met the other friend who had parked the trailer on the road back at their house where they began to load it. At the apartment our Friends the Garvins' came over and helped load the rest of the truck. We went to dinner with the helpers, then went to pick up our kids. That night Josh and I slept on top of of blankets since I hadn't had a chance to do any laundry. Saturday morning We had 7 men and 2 women show up to load the box trucks, while another friend took the kids for the morning. We were in the new house with in 3 hours.
Mia had dance competition in the afternoon so we got some lunch and headed to dance. We left before the awards since they weren't until 8:30pm. McKinlee was up set because she wanted to go the the old place, so we took here there and she changed her mind. McKinlee woke up in the middle of the night and threw up all over Mia and their bed.
Sunday: Josh went to church, I stayed home because McKinlee was sick and I had no idea where any of or clothes were. I washed the sheets from both beds but I didn't have a dryer so I hung them up to dry. Got the beds made, Josh came home and we tried to set up the Internet because we had some stuff that needed to be taken care of, 3 hours later we had to go back to the old place to hook up the Internet because it wouldn't work. Two hours later still no luck on getting the wireless setup, we realized there was a problem with the thing they sent us. So we went out to dinner. We had dessert and sang Happy Birthday to Mckinlee, a nice man sitting by us came over and gave McKinlee 5 bucks for her birthday! Then he felt bad and gave Mia 2 and Wynter 1. McKinlee threw up in our bed that night.
Monday was McKinlee's birthday. We took her out to celebrate, I forgot my camera so we had to get a disposable from Ritz, I will post on that after I get them developed. We ran some errands and the day was over.
Tuesday we had to clean the old apartment so we could turn in the keys. Josh ran errands and tried to get the dryer working, and Internet. Several trips to Home Depot and still no dryer, or Internet the day ended and nothing else was done. Wednesday Josh went back to work for half a day. Spent the rest of it working on the dryer but we finally got the Internet.
Thursday we finally got a working dryer Hallelujah! Picked up a closet for the kitchen pantry, finally got the kids clothes put away. So here it is a week later and I am still swimming in a sea of boxes, but hopefully we can tackle it this next week.

Progress

2011-03-23T13:32:00.000-04:00

I still feel like I have a lot to do...but we are getting there

Budding Photographer

2011-03-21T00:49:00.000-04:00

McKinlee has become obsessed with taking pictures. Here are a few I found on my camera. I love to see what she deems photo worthy

Fun with TP

2011-03-16T18:50:00.000-04:00

With most of my girls toys in boxes they have come up with their own entertainment. Anyone want to come over for Toilet Paper Boxing?

Climb every Mountain

2011-03-16T13:05:00.000-04:00

Wynter has become quite the little climber. She climbs anything she can, the higher the better. She can get on to any chair, table, or bed. She has learned out to wiggle out of her high chair climb across the tray and on to the table, counter stove, what ever is closest. It really didn't come as a surprise to me today as I was bagging my grocery's in the self checkout at Giant Eagle to look over to see Wynter wiggle out of the front seat, climb across the Shopping Cart to the counter top, make the leap across and move back out of my reach. I just wish I could have taken a picture before the manager came and yelled at me for my kid being on the belt.

A day out

2011-03-06T20:49:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago Groupon had a coupon for buy one get one to Phipps Conservatory. Thinking if I purchased the coupon Josh would be forced to take me on a date, I jumped on the oppertunity. We decided to go this past Friday. Feeling bad that Wynter and McKinlee had spent every day for the last month stuck inside while I packed boxes I decided to let them tag along. We had a wonderful time, looking at the flowers and plants from around the world. Wynter loved looking at all the colors, and McKinlee loved to smell them, when she would like one she would say "Derlicious" We went ahead and paid for the year family membership, Mia is anxious to go and McKinlee wants to go sniff some more.

Livin it up 1 year old style

2011-02-23T13:19:00.001-05:00

Unfortunately for Wynter's Birthday this year Josh was busy working down south touring an Aircraft Carrier and other stuff. But that doesn't mean we didn't make the most of Wynter's birthday. On her Birthday Mia, McKinlee and I had cookie cake, later in the week we had ice cream and cake with friends followed by the ultimate 1 year old meal...Spaghetti and Meatballs on the table. Happy Birthday Sweet Wynter.

Top 10 things we love about you
10: You laugh at everything
9: You nod your head when you jabber like you are telling a story

8: No matter what story is being read, you drop what you are doing and go listen

7: Your curls

6: Your dark eyes

5: Your Scrunchy Face Smile

4: You follow your sisters where ever they go

3: Laughing and Splashing in the Tub

2: Great Cuddlier

1: You Sing your self to sleep and loudly at Church

What's not to Love

2011-02-22T11:10:00.000-05:00

I know this blog is seriously past due, but with my baby's birthday my husband out of town and packing for our upcoming move, you're lucky I am even posting. lol.

We aren't huge celebrators of Valentine's Day in our home. I personally feel it is a silly Holiday and you should show love year round, so When Josh and I were first married we decided to make it a special family day. We get the kids their own boxes of Chocolates and Family Fondue for dinner. The kids LOVE IT, and Josh and I have grown to love it too.

For School Mia had to make a Valentine's Box for her class Party, it was covered in flowers and sparkles...the ultimate Mia box. Her teacher told her that she stole her idea for her own daughters box...a trend setter in the making

Somebody is 1

2011-02-17T10:24:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to my Sweet Little Wynter-Elizabeth

Weebles Wobble and sometimes they fall down

2011-02-13T20:55:00.000-05:00

Yes, we have reached that milestone that almost all parents look forward to and dread at the same time. I went to the store last night and bought Wynter a new bottle...She was at the sliding glass door watching her Daddy BBQ...yes he really was...he would do it in a blizzard. I held the bottle called out to her...she turned around got a ear to ear smile and walked over to get it. We spend the rest of the night cheering her on...so for your viewing pleasure

Snowy Bliss

2011-02-10T22:39:00.003-05:00

Missing in Action and I am Sorry

2011-02-09T11:19:00.000-05:00

For the faithful readers that I have, I apologize for the long delay in my entries. Here is what has been happening. The Peterson's (owners of the house) accepted our offer so we have been busy signing papers, scheduling Home Inspections, signing papers, lining things up with the loan, Signing more papers, giving the Peterson's our repair requests, and signing more papers. Right now we are waiting to hear back on what they are willing to fix, compensate, or leave to us. In between I have been sorting through oceans of clothes, and mountains of toys and junk. Trying to decide what we should take and what isn't worth the effort of loading in to a truck driving to the new house and unloading. In the meantime we have set us up for Pioneer style living...except we have beds and have all moved into one room of the apt. We are using the other bedroom to store our boxes of stuff we aren't using right now, that way once the papers are signed on March 25th we are ready to go.

Drum Roll Please....

2011-01-27T11:41:00.002-05:00

We have looked and looked and had a few laughs at some of our looks but nothing has compared, the rest either need too much work, or we have already out grown so with out further adieu....drum roll please we have chosen.....

The Cute Little Cape Cod on Coal Valley. It has plenty of space and Mia doesn't have to change schools. Please pray with us that they quickly accept our offer. We will be homeless March 31 if they don't.

Yummy!

2011-01-22T18:59:00.000-05:00

Beautiful and Delicious Chocolate Baby thanks Josh

This Moment:

2011-01-07T12:24:00.000-05:00

A Funny Little Story

2011-01-05T10:44:00.001-05:00

Most of you know that Sundays have become rather difficult for me. This one may take the cake. On December 19th, Josh as usual left early for church meetings. I got up to shower and get ready, but so did all of my kids. I usually try to get ready before I wake my kids up so I have time for myself. I quickly got everybody ready we had breakfast, then got out the door. The last 10 minutes of gathering all the Scriptures bags, making sure everyone has on coats, shoes, brushed teeth is particularly difficult, but we made it. We got out the door to find it was raining! Mia ran for the car, I carried Wynter all the bags and prodded McKinlee along, who was particularly slow that morning. We got to the car soaking wet, but we made it I got everyone buckled and off we went.
We got to the building and went into the Chapel. As soon as we sat down McKinlee grabbed her bowl of gold fish crackers and opened them up, spilling them everywhere. And of course it wasn't just in front of us, so I could ignore it until after the meeting, it was all over the aisle. Thankfully Sandy (the woman behind us) helped me clean it up. So we got the crackers picked up, and settled back into our pew. Wynter was playing on the floor and decided to crawl under the bench, Sandy leaned forward and whispered to me..."Did you Know that Wynter has pooped?" I didn't so I grabbed Wynter and took her out; and Sandy sat with Mia and McKinlee. I got back to the Mothers Room to find that Wynter hadn't pooped, she had exploded! I had to strip the child down and wash her. I got a new diaper on and realized that I didn't have a change of clothes, so I put her skirt back on which had weathered the explosion just fine, went to the Sacrament Meeting Room doors, got Josh's attention on the stand and mouthed the words, "I need help" He started laughing, I mouthed it again...he still didn't get it. So I got Sandy's attention and she came and grabbed my half naked baby sat back down with my kids, and I ran home to get a change of clothes for Wynter. I got back to church and changed Wynter, and sat with my kids. Then McKinlee had a melt down, so I took her and Wynter out. Mia went and sat with the former Bishop and his wife. McKinlee calmed down and we went back to our seat, but she wanted to be cuddled. So I put Wynter down and held McKinlee, suddenly I saw Wynter start to fall off the pew, I launched forward to catch her; throwing McKinlee to the ground and missed Wynter. I got both girls calmed down in time for the closing prayer.
During Sunday School, Josh took Wynter and she immediately fell asleep. Josh needed me to get the cost of the Christmas Cards the Bishopric planned to send out, and because of Church Internet issues, Josh sent me home. I got back in time to go to Relief Society. I took Wynter went into Relief Society and sat down. 10 minutes later, Wynter woke up, and as her usual cheerful self began to make a lot of playful noise, not wanting to interrupt the others I left, went to the lobby and waited for church to end.
It is a lot of effort for me to get 3 kids ready and myself for 10 minutes of Church. These days I just remind myself that it is important that the kids see and know that we attend Church. And Thank Heaven for Sandy.

2010 Adieu

2011-01-01T16:16:00.003-05:00

Taking down the Christmas Tree always makes me sad. I love Christmas, I love the magic, the twinkle and sparkle, associated with the Season. Taking the tree down signifies an end to all of that, the apartment takes on it's usual plain appearance, the furniture moves back to where it belongs, Mia goes back to school, Josh doesn't have the bonus holiday days off...life goes back to normal.
As we take down the sparkles and twinkles it give me the opportunity to reflect on the happenings of the past year. This one has been a particularly difficult one for my little family. It started with a massive snow storm that left us trapped inside without power, and due to have a baby any day. Soon after we experienced the tragic loss of our beloved sister-in-law Taylia. The Death of our much loved Great Aunt Mae. We had a friend with a ruptured appendix, another covered in acid burns, a close former roommate with a broken back, a childhood friend whose three year old Gracie had been fighting Neuroblastoma,(cancer) and a former co-worker and friend who was shot several times for no apparent reason while at work, just to name a few. To top everything there was a Presidential Order to freeze pay raises for Josh's company for two years, leaving us to decide if we can really afford to purchase a house and get out of our cramped apartment, or if we need to ride it out and see what happens. It seemed that nearly every time our phone rang it was to bring us more bad news.

However, in the sadness and darkness that has beheld us this year, I would be re-missed to not remember the many wonderful blessing that have been bestowed upon us. In this past year my family has welcomed three new babies, including our beautiful Wynter-Elizabeth. We have celebrated three baptism, including Mia's. We celebrated the Marriage of Josh's little sister Sara, and said farewell to his brother Jarom as he left to teach the people of Paris, France the gospel. Josh was called as the 2nd Councilor of our Wards Bishopric...with more blessing to come. (soon I hope.)
In the snowstorm, we were reminded of a simpler life, as we sat as a family and played games, and talked. Thankfully Wynter waited to come until the roads had been cleared. We enjoyed the moments in the Hospital after Wynter was born, my parents had been stranded in Denver, and a storm hitting Pittsburgh that made it unsafe for Josh to take the girls home, as a result we all slept in that little hospital room. Josh held Mia in the fold out chair, while I cuddled McKinlee in the bed, with Wynter at our side. It was a treasured memory of our first night with our beautiful new sister/daughter, that I will never forget.
Our testimony in Eternal Families grew as we struggled with the loss of Tay. How grateful we are for the small and simple truth that death is not the end, and we will be together with her again.
I can also see the hand of the Lord in our lives and the lives of our friends, Gracie is doing well and will hopefully be hearing the blessed word "remission" soon. The friends who were burned by acid, and had a ruptured appendix have recovered. My friend who was shot was able to be home for Christmas, and even though he has several surgeries to come what a blessing being home has been to his little family, indeed he is a miracle.

Mia's baptism was beautiful, and I am so grateful to have such a wonderful daughter who was so excited to take the steps of Baptism, and live the Gospel so righteously. She is such a strong and wonderful example to those around her, especially to her sisters and Josh and I.
Although the pay freeze have changed our plans, we are so blessed that we still have a stable job, that we haven't had to take a decrease in our pay. We have just had to put our dreams on temporary hold...and that's not too bad.

It has indeed been a difficult year for us, but when we look back and see the Lord's hand as he helped us through, as we were comforted, and blessed. We can't help but be grateful for the growth, and peace we have felt.

So I will put away the decorations, hopeful of a better year to come, and anxious to bring the twinkle and sparkle back in 11 short months.

Christmas 2010

2010-12-25T14:24:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas!!!

Day 1

2010-12-24T06:02:00.000-05:00

On the first day of Christmas, My True Love gave to me:

Three Beautiful and Amazing Little Girls

Day 2

2010-12-23T04:31:00.001-05:00

On the 2nd Day of Chritmas, my True Love gave to me:

Pictures with Santa

Day 3

2010-12-22T06:55:00.000-05:00

On the 4th day of Christmas, My True Love gave to me:

Eating the Popcorn

Day 4

2010-12-21T04:18:00.000-05:00

On the 3rd Day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me:

An amazing oldest child

Day 5

2010-12-20T07:41:00.000-05:00

On the 5th day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me:

Stringing some Popcorn

Day 6

2010-12-19T06:57:00.001-05:00

On the 6th day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me:

An Undecorated tree

Day 7

2010-12-18T07:18:00.001-05:00

On the 7th day of Christmas, my true Love gave to me:

A cute tushie decorating the Kiddie Tree

Day 8

2010-12-17T07:06:00.001-05:00

On the 8th Day of Christmas, My true Love gave to me:

A Beautiful Little Baby

Day 9

2010-12-16T07:02:00.003-05:00

On the 9th day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me:

Some very Loving Sisters

Day 10

2010-12-15T07:06:00.001-05:00

On the 10th day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me:

A very handsome husband

Day 11

2010-12-14T07:02:00.001-05:00

On the 11th day of Christmas, My true Love gave to me:

The hunt for the Perfect Chrismas Tree

12 Days

2010-12-12T22:19:00.001-05:00

On the Twelth day of Christmas my True Love gave to me:

A happy family under a tree of balls

This Moment...

2010-12-10T11:02:00.001-05:00

This Moment...

2010-12-03T11:56:00.000-05:00

Mia-isms and silly things she has done

2010-12-02T21:00:00.001-05:00

When Mia started talking I started a book to keep a record of the cute and funny things she said. I have decided that I am going to start posting them here since I plan on turning the blog into a book, that way I don't have to track down a book and hope her little sisters haven't ripped out any pages or colored on them.

First Word: HOT

A prayer by Mia November 2004

Mom: Heavenly Father

Mia: Henly Fader

Mom: Thank you for this day.

Mia: Danks for day

Mom: Thank you for Mommy and Daddy

Mia: Mommy and Daddy

Mom: Help me get a good nights sleep.

Mia: But I not sleepy

Mommy, I not sleepy. I not sleepy

Mom: It's okay just ask for later.

Mia: Help me sleep, but I not sleepy now...

December 2004

Mia couldn't say Christmas so everything was Crispy...Crispy Tree, she would sing Crispy bells are ringing. and Merry Crispy

2005:
Clip Clops (flip flops)
Mursery (Nursery)

Gobbles (Goggles)

Lullypops (Lollipops)
Corn beans (candy corn)
Commuter (computer)
Water Mountain (water fountain)

May 4, 2005

We were leaving the store in Jefferson Hills, PA when Mia exclaimed "It's SUNNY; It's a miracle!"

Fall 2005
Our car battery had died so I had a neighbor take you to preschool, when I picked you up and you said, "You gave the car it's medicine and it's all better?!"

Nov 2005

I asked if you wanted Mommy to have a baby and you said "YES" when I asked if you wanted a brother or sister you said "a dog!"

2006

Computlier (computer)
Girl cheese sandwich (grilled cheese) and you said boys have to eat "boy cheese sandwiches"
Swimming feathers (water wings) became water feathers
Hangamer (hamburger)

You told Pawga that he needed to go to the store to buy some money so he could come visit you.

2007

Buggabites (mosquito bites)
Milkstash (Milk Moustache)

You told me that you were tired of being a little kid and you are ready to be a teenager

Mia has 5 imaginary friends 3 of them fell into a vent and are trapped. The other two are named Macha and Jayla. They have to be buckled in the car, we have to hold their hands and pass them the sacrament.

June 27, 2007

Today you and I went swimming. While we were taking a break you looked up and me and said "Mom when I grow up I want to be a mom." I smiled and said "I hope you are, that would be wonderful." You looked at me again and said, "ya, I don't want to be a Dad, I hope I can stay a girl."

We spent Independence Day in downtown Pittsburgh at the Regatta, we also went to a Pittsburgh Pirates game. While at the game the Cotton Candy Man came by and you wanted some. We gave you $10.50 to go get your cotton candy. You brought back $7 in change. Later you wanted nachos and a hot dog and we told you that we didn't have enough money. You promptly replied "yes we do, we have the money I bought it from the Cotton Candy man, it's mine, I went up and bought it...remember?"

7-27-2007

Mia wanted to write words of her own.

Me and dad went to the park. We swinged and played with Baby Rebekah (her doll). I helped Mommy with laundry and I helped make lunch and dinner. I cooked on the stove. I splashed in the rain and puddles, I laughed, and my dress got soaked and my boots filled with water. It was a good day.

July 2007

Mia, Josh and I went to lunch at Chic-Fil-a on the way home Mia asked if we could go to lunch tomorrow. I said no, because we were going on vacation the next week (Philadelphia) and we would be eating out a lot. And the week after Daddy would be in Virgina and her and I would go to Ladies Lunching. Mia got excited and said, "that will be great and we can dress SEXY. We can wear makeup because that is sexy. We will wear a sexy headband, and you can wear a sexy barett. You can wear some sexy clothes, and I can wears some but I don't have any so we can buy me some new clothes because new clothes are sexy. We will be so sexy it will be great!"

Mia follows me everywhere I go, one day in frustration I snapped at her and said, " I wake up and you are in my bed, I go downstairs and you come, I go to the bathroom and you come in. I shower and you hop in. Everywhere I go you are there!" Mia walked off and left for a minute then came back and said "say it to me again."

I have taken to calling Mia "Shadow." One day she asked why I call her that. I told her Because you always follow me around. Then she asked, "Why do you always follow me around?" I told her it was to make sure she was safe...the then said to me "I follow you because, I love you."

One of Mia's favorite games is to grab my belly and shake it, and say wake up baby, wake up. The other day Mia grabbed a binki and started to poke me in the belly with it. When I asked what she was doing she said, "I'm giving the baby it's binki." I told her that the baby had its thumb it could suck, she said, "than we had better get this in there so it doesn't suck it's thumb, cuz it's hard to stop!"

Oct 2007

One weekend we took a last minute trip to see Jeff and Tay and their kids in Detroit. On our way home we stopped at a reststop on the turnpike for some dinner. Mia and I sat at the table and waited for Dad to bring us our dinner While we waited, Mia spotted a truck driver eating by himself at a table near us. He was watching you and would laugh to himself at the things were were doing. Finally you turned around saw him and said, "Mom that man is sitting by himself, shouldn't someone go sit by him so he doesn't get lonely?!" He nearly fell over laughing

Nov. 2007

Sometimes we talk fancy, and sometimes we talk Spanish

December 2007

Mia and Josh were going to a Christmas Party, where Santa was going to be. I asked her if she was excited to see Santa and she said, "Yes, but I hope it is the Real Santa and not some guy in a costume, cuz that's dumb"

2008

January

I was talking on the phone and Mia came up to me , lifted up my shirt and put a doll bottle in my belly button. I asked what she was doing and she said, "Feeding the Baby."

At Church one week, Mia was digging in my Church bag, Suddenly she held something up over her head and asked What is this? What is it for? Why is it in your purse?" I looked over to find Mia holding a Tampon up.

Mia was talking about getting a rocking chair, so I could rock myself to sleep, then she said, "we should get a big one so your bum will fit in it."

February

I was born by a horse.

On the way to a Dr. appointment I took the wrong road. Mia quickly pointed it out and I turned around. As I got back on the right road Mia said, " And that's why you use the GPS."

Mia found a pair of nylons and asked what they were. I told her they were tights for women, she said, "Well I'm a woman, so I can wear them."

I woke up with Pinkeye in both of my eyes. Mia looked at me and said, "You have Monster eyes! Growl at me."

Mia told me that I needed to have that baby so she can be a big sister.

April

After McKinlee was born Mia looked at me and said, " I kind of thought she was going to be more like a 3 year old."

October 2009

A conversation with Mia

Mia: Mom, you know what my favorite Holidays are...Halloween and Christmas

Me: Why Mia: Because you get candy

Me: What about Valentines and Easter

Mia: I like them too....I pretty much like any Holiday where you get candy, or they have a parade and throw candy

2010

January

Did you know Milk makes you stronger? I bet I could lift that chair over there...with my Pinki

Mia told me that when she grows up she wants to be a Dentist, or a waitress, or a check out girl

I told the girls that Easter was coming tomorrow since we will be leaving on Sunday, and placed a call to the Easter Bunny...Mia tried her hardest to see the phone number so she could call herself...then said "Mommy, when I get old like you I will have the Easter Bunny's phone number too."

April

Mia brought her report card home today and informed me that she had 4 Awesomes and 2 Outstandings...I said "A" means above Average and she said well...awesome is easier for me to say because I know that word and thats' how i did...

May 21
Mia just said to me "Mom, I wish the leaves on the tree were actually money, cuz then we could go pick them, pull off the stems, and buy what ever we want.

June 4 I needed to take the garbage out and Mia said to me, Mom go ahead and take it out, I will watch the kids for a minute. I came back from the dumpster a few moments later to find Mia trying to change Wynter's clothes and McKinlee eating Nesquik by the handful

June 6 just went on a walk with Mia and asked her if she wanted to hold my hand or if she was too cool for that. She said, " I can hold you hand now, but I will be too cool soon. Like when I am 8

July

I was just reading Mia a chapter out of one of the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books when she said to me, "Mom, this is a nonsense book"

October

Mia informed me today that she would never want to live in a Rural area...because she doesn't want to have to milk cows...

November

Today Mia is wearing leggins with flowers on them, she informed me that she was wearing brown socks so the flowers could grow...

helping me make a Blueberry Buckle for dessert and proudly informed her sisters that we were making a Blueberry Seat Belt

Words and Actions of McKinlee

2010-12-02T20:59:00.003-05:00

First Word: Mia (I-a)

2009

I went Christmas shopping with McKinlee, we stopped at wal-mart. When we got back to the car I put her in with my keys to play with, and loaded the back. When I went to get in the car, I found McKinlee had LOCKED the doors. As I tried to remember my key code, she pushed the alarm button. So there I was 8 months pregnant, locked out of my car with my 20 month old inside, the car alarm blaring and bringing the attation of anyone with in earshot, and my two year old laughing at me.

Yesterday at church McKinlee was acting up...not being naughty just loud so finally Josh had enough and took her out...once they were in the lobby I heard her call out, "Mama...Save ME!!
2010

I ran to the grocery store with the girls...all was going great Mia was helpful, Wynter was sleeping, McKinlee was sitting in the front of the buggy, and was actually sitting and being quiet...until I checked on her and found that she was opening up the food and eating it.

March 13

McKinlee got mad at Mia for playing with one of her toys that she didn't feel like sharing and said while pointing at the stairs (our time out spot), "I-a (Mia) sit"

March 21

We were at the dinner table and McKinlee was having a hard time sharing and Mia said to her "McKinlee, this is for everyone" and McKinlee responded in a rather stern voice..."I-a" placed her finger to her lips and said "Shhhhh

March 23

Josh, went to work yesterday, unaware that the girls had used his pants as paper. I am pretty sure his face turned red when his co-worker pointed out the green marker on his butt...
I just asked McKinlee if she had to make everything complicated and she told me YES!

May 6

This morning McKinlee was playing around Wynter and Wynter kicked her legs making McKinlee Mad…a few minutes later McKinlee go too close to Wynter and Wynter put her arm out pushing McKinlee out of the way. Here is what followed…

Mg: mom Inter pushed
Me: honey she didn’t mean to
Mg: Inter pushed…aughty
Me: It was an accident she didn’t do it on purpose
MG: Inter no, no, no push bad

May 8

McKinlee, with 16 seconds left in the Pens game changed the Channel, and wouldn't let Josh have the remote back

May 24

I may have just been banned from Gymboree...I thought it was bad when McKinlee was grabbing everything she could reach to tell me it was cute...worse when she started to climb the shelves to get to them...but then I saw her strip down and try them on. At least she was wearing a diaper right?

June 4
I needed to take the garbage out and Mia said to me, Mom go ahead and take it out, I will watch the kids for a minute. I came back from the dumpster a few moments later to find Mia trying to change Wynter's clothes and McKinlee eating Nesquik by the handful

July 9

Mia:(in the shower) "McKinlee did you just flush the toilet?"
McKinlee said No...a few moments later heard another flush
Mia : "McKinlee why did you flush the toilet it makes it HOT!!!"
McKinlee said "Daddy did it"

August

Last Night I made cupcakes using an unsweetened chocolate bar...McKinlee decided that she wanted some chocolate and refused to take "this isn't that kind of chocolate" for an answer..so I gave her some...she pulled a face of horror and said as she spit it out..."That's stinky chocolate....cucky!" Mia and I laughed until it hurt

September
McKinlee was just loving Wynter and I heard her say..."I wuv you Wynder, You're my Best Fwiend

October
I just wanted to take a minute and thank McKinlee for her help with dinner tonight...while I was downstairs changing the laundry she so kindly put my New York Strip Steak in the microwave and pushed the cook popcorn button...nothing like a nice cut of meat cooked well done in the Microwave

McKinlee just filled a bucket with water out of the fridge, then quietly walked over and poured the entire bucket on her Sleeping Daddy's face

November
McKinlee has been having a hard time listening thus far today...finally in frustration I said "McKinlee, what do you hear when I speak? The wind blowing!?" She said "yes

McKinlee had a bath the other day and when I came downstairs to help her get dressed I found her pinching her chest. I asked her "McKinlee what are you doing?" She looked up at me and said "making boobs

This Moment...

2010-11-26T00:34:00.000-05:00

This Moment...

2010-11-18T22:58:00.001-05:00

Spectacular Failure

2010-11-15T21:54:00.000-05:00

Late last night I received an email from my good friend Leah. Nearly 2 1/2 years ago her and her family moved to Switzerland, I was sad to see them go and Mia was sad to lose the only girl in her Primary class. But last night I received an email from her saying her and her husband and their new supposed to be a girl but popped out a boy baby, were in town for two days and she would love to get together. So our mutual friend Jeanne and I made a plan. We were going to go to the museum of fine arts.

So I got up this morning got the girls ready and realized that Josh had taken the car and forgotten to leave the car seats. So I had to call Josh to come home and bring them to me...Jeanne had some morning chaos, getting her husband to work, and boys off to school and baby ready so she was late getting us...thankfully. Finally she came we loaded the kids and were off. 30 minutes late but we were off. We excitedly pulled into the Museum happy to see our dear friend only to find the Museum was CLOSED! Neither of us had a phone number for Leah so slight panic started to set in, I ran in to see if she was in the lobby waiting, and ran into a less than helpful Security Guard, who informed me that he had seen my friend but the museum is closed. He wouldn't give men any more information. Thankfully Jeanne spotted Leah wandering outside hoping to see us herself. So we loaded her and her baby in a front carrier into the van and left for her hotel to get a car seat while we changed plans. After hitting some construction we realized something....we were lost! We started to drive looking for the name of the Hotel for a while then we remembered that Jeanne had a GPS, and turned it on, we back tracked to Leah's hotel got the car seat and headed out to find a place to visit. It was too cold to go to a park, and none of us were feeling adventurous enough to take 4 kids ranging from ages 2 years old to 2months old to a restaurant so we went to the Station Square place. We crammed 4 car seats in 3 adults into the van and got there in time to let the kids play for 30 minutes until we had to leave so Leah could meet her Husband and Jeanne could make it to her Voice Lesson Students. Thankfully we had a lot of time in the van to catch up with our dear friend, who is moving to Toronto in January. And had an adventure we will never forget I mean how can anyone forget the sound of four kids crying and three adults trying to talk over them.

This Moment...

2010-11-12T07:37:00.000-05:00

Picking my Battles

2010-11-10T00:13:00.001-05:00

Today McKinlee insisted on dressing herself...thankfully I only had to go to Mia's Ice Skating lesson. Yes, this is how she went, but she was happy and pleasant while we waited the 45 minutes for Mia to finish.

Mom in Training

2010-11-08T17:39:00.001-05:00

Today I was sitting and watching McKinlee and Wynter play, I watched as Wynter went over to the stairs and started to play with McKinlee's baby doll named "Baby". Suddenly I heard McKinlee say, "No Inter...Baby is in time out. Leave her alone for a minute." So I asked McKinlee why the baby was in time out. She told me that she picked her up and "Baby" hit Mckinee in face, so she needed to be in time out for hitting.

New Bishopric

2010-11-07T15:50:00.000-05:00

For some reason my blog wouldn't let me edit my post from October 24...oh well. Some handsome young men don't you think

This Moment...

2010-11-05T08:15:00.000-04:00

Eyes

2010-11-03T23:50:00.000-04:00

I know that I am a little biased, but I think my Girls have Beautiful eyes

Tricks or Treats

2010-11-02T10:14:00.001-04:00

I love, love, LOVE Halloween. What other holiday do you get to dress up, carve pumpkins, collect treats from your neighbors, and enjoy delicious soup, mummy hot dogs, and warm apple cider? I love that in Pittsburgh it is a two week celebration, we get full use out of the kid costumes. We even got to go to our dear friends party and I was able to force Josh to join in on the dressing up fun...but I forgot to take a picture. But we went as really, really old people. Josh had a great comb over wig if you can picture it...

Pumpkin carving with three kids was quite the adventure, we had 5 pumpkins to cut, gut, and carve. Mia decided she was big enough to do it herself, she designed, cut, gutted and carved (everything but the mouth by herself)

McKinlee loves the book the Bumpy Little Pumpkin she chose her design from there,

and wanted Wynter to make "Little Nell's"
In the end we had three very happy and tired little girls

Wynter wore herself out

The Loot

This Moment...

2010-10-28T19:53:00.002-04:00

Growing up and I don't care if I look like a fool

2010-10-26T08:31:00.000-04:00

When Mia started Kindergarten, every morning we would get up together, eat breakfast, get dressed etc. Then it would be time for her to catch the bus. We would walk out and down to the bus stop, Mia would climb onto the bus; go to the nearest window and smile, wave, blow kisses, and flash I Love You in sign language. I would stand on the curb and do it back to her with tears in my eyes and my heart full, we would do this until the bus was out of sight. Now that Mia is in Second Grade, we get up and have breakfast, she gets herself ready most mornings...then we walk out to the bus together, she climbs on sits in the middle and usually has her back to the window, While I continue to smile, wave, blow kisses, and flash I Love You in sign language. If she sees, she usually ignores me or gives me one quick wave...except, today she did all of it back to me. My heart is full.

Spinning

2010-10-24T22:37:00.002-04:00

It is hard for me to believe that the month of October is almost over...it has been a crazy month for our little family and has left our heads spinning. After spending 3 months serving in 4 callings I decided that I had finally had enough, (i can only do so much) and was realeased as the 1st Councelor in Young Women's. I was/am really sad. I love the girls and loved serving with them, I feel very empty not spending my Sunday's and mid week days with them.

A few days after I was released from Young Women's I had a dream where Josh was called as the 2nd councelor in the Bishopric, I brushed it off as one of my token weird dreams because in that dream the Bishop was a Hockey Player dressed in his full pads, and the 1st councelor was a chain smoker. lol.

On Friday October 10th, Josh got a phone call from the Stake Executive Secretary, he was asked to be to church early on Sunday and nothing more was said. Josh figured he was going to be told that he was being released as the Executive Secretary or was keeping the same position since he was not asked to have me come along. I remembered my dream and insisted that we all go. After about 45 minutes of interviews for both Josh and I... Josh was called as the 2nd Councilor in our Wards Bishopric, and I was asked if I would sustain and support him. The new Bishop, Bishop Haroldsen is a great man and not a Hockey Player, and his first Councilor is Rick Shumway, a wonderful guy and a good friend. Who I found out today was in my ward at Snow College my Sophomore year...how crazy is that.

So now I am a single mom at church, Sarah (Rick's amazing wife) and I decided to combine forces and have our 5 children (3 mine, 2 hers; ranging from 8 years old to 8 months old) sit between us. So we could help each other, Clearly Josh isn't going to be any help, I saw him laughing today as I tried to get McKinlee to stop head banging to the Hymns...

This Moment...

2010-10-21T21:56:00.000-04:00

This Moment...

2010-10-13T22:17:00.001-04:00

This Moment...

2010-10-08T08:17:00.003-04:00

This Moment...

2010-10-01T08:47:00.003-04:00

Pretty? She asks

2010-09-29T08:09:00.005-04:00

In the few minutes it takes for Josh to load the dishwasher and me to make a shopping list McKinlee made herself pretty. She put mascara on her face, on her tummy, my carpet, my computer chair, and my coffee table. She has also taken to coloring on my walls, my toilet, and my bathtub with ink. Another of her favorite past times is to drink the milk out of my cereal while I eat it. She is so helpful and artistic, and even though it can be frustrating I smile laugh and remind myself of what a blessing she is.

Open House

2010-09-26T18:37:00.005-04:00

On September 7th we attended the Open House for Mia's Elementary School. I was anxious to meet Mia's teacher who as Mia put it is much younger than me... and happy to see that she is a little older than me but keeping in mind that both Mia's Kindergarten and 1st grade teachers have retired she must seem very young. She is desk partners with Jackson, which they are both excited about.

McKinlee wanted to sit in Mia's desk so we let her...a few moments later I looked over and saw that she had taken the styrofoam apple off of the teachers desk and was trying very hard to take a bite out of it...then she tried to hide it in Mia's desk...hee, hee what do we do with her