It's raining today

Guilty pleasure

Finally sold my mixer!

The Urge

This comes and goes, but right now I've really got The Urge to have a really large family (I define really large as over 4 kids). Not sure what started it this time, but I'm inwardly griping that I don't have a husband that shares the same ideas on this subject.

Of course, we initially said we wanted four kids, so HEY! where's my fourth?? *grin* Hm mmm, I'll have to remind him of that...

Alec has been praying every night, "Jesus, please give Mommy a new baby". He and Benji prayed every night for months for Daddy to have a new job so he could stay home more and they were answered in the most perfect way we could imagine.

So during this Urge, Ava is of course in her Sweet and Sour phase (the twos, which has almost become like a curse word around here!)and I'm wondering, do I want to do this phase again? Really? What am I thinking?

I'm thinking about that newborn smell, nursing on the couch after the family is in bed, the first smile, the tiny toes, the tiny diapers, chubby fists, first steps, elfin giggles, need I say more?

Well, I can't say more, I have to hop in the shower so I can go to the grocery store with two of my three delightful children. Maybe I'll lose The Urge while I'm in the store...

Wordless Wednesday

Spring Break

Last week, the kids did this

and this

while Marvin did this

and this.
He spend the lion's share of his time this week removing some old fence and replacing it with a new privacy fence. He rented a post hole digger, dug 15 holes, sank 15 posts in fast-drying cement, and installed most of the sections. He has never put in a fence before, and you'd never know it. He worked like a pro and nothing went wrong! I can say with most certainty that that has never ever happened on an project we have attempted. I kept holding my breath waiting for him to come frustrated into the house and he never did.
As I'm writing this, all but two sections and the gate are up. The rest will get finished this week in the evenings.

At the end of the week, we took the kids to a museum center a couple hours south of here. We have been to the children's museum portion of the building, but were looking forward to seeing what else it had to offer. Since it was Alec's birthday weekend, we decided to sweeten the pot by splurging on a hotel room for a night with a pool.

Our hotel had Select Comfort sleep number beds, down comforters, down pillows and REAL cotton sheets! Score! However, much to Ava's dislike, we had a portable crib brought in for her to sleep in. After she screamed, "I WANT MY MOMMY!!" at the top of her lungs, we decided to let her experience the sleep number bed with us until she fell asleep. In the morning, we realized that her head and feet were touching the rails on both ends. I guess we'll have to find a room with three beds next time instead of two...is that even possible?

The hotel was a perfectly round tower, each room has a balcony overlooking that particular part of the city. We opted out of paying the extra fee to insure us a view of the river and the boats. Instead, we had an exciting overhead look at a very busy highway and some office buildings...it was still pretty at night- heck anything's pretty in the dark if you add twinkle lights!

The building is what I would consider vintage; the elevators were complete with marble floors and elaborate carved wood lining the walls.

We loved the elevator so much that we had to take our picture in the giant mirror on the back of it.

At the museum center on Saturday, we spent most of our time in the Natural History museum. It had super-cool features like a large and very realistic man-made cave, complete with bats and dripping water.

After learning about the extinction of the wolly mammoth, the kids partied with a moose and a wolf in one of the many life-sized dioramas.

Ava scaled a toddler-sized mountain,

and the boys posed with one of their favorite animals.

As all vacations do, the week went entirely too fast! And sadly, we now have drippy, damp, stay-indoors weather *sigh*
Summer's almost here...almost

Happy Eighth Birthday, Alec!

Eight years have flown!

When I was pregnant with you, Daddy was very nervous about being a daddy. He also took very good care of me because I was so sick. I threw up so much that I lost 11 lbs. and had to go to the hospital.

I was working at the Spa, cutting hair, and I would work a 40 hour week with two 10 hour days back to back. Everyone was in disbelief that I could stand up that long with my huge belly.

When my due date came around, my doctor wanted to induce me. Being the natural freak that I am, I said no. Two weeks later, you were still comfortable in my belly and I was very uncomfortable! We packed up our bags and went into the hospital to be induced.

You were born in the middle of the night. Nana and Papa, Grandma and Grandpa, and lots more people were there. They all came into the room to greet you; you were the first grandchild for everyone.

When it was time for me to go back to work, I cried a lot because I didn't want to leave you. You stayed at Nana's house while I worked and she gave you bottles and read you books and played with you. You used to go upstairs to Nana's window seat and make "spaghetti" with Papa's pens and pencils and say, "frinkle, frinkle!" while you sprinkled on pennies for cheese.

Now you are eight years old, and full of questions, answers, and smiles.
You are a wonderful and patient (most of the time!) big brother to Ava. I love it when you read to her or let her play on the "Alec playground" when I'm trying to fix dinner.

You and Benji have lots of fun playing with your Legos and Star Wars guys and making battle scenes and JunkBot mazes.

You are an important part of our family. Benji and Ava will learn lots of things from you. As you grow, Daddy and I will depend on you to help our household run smoothly.

You love science and history, and you are quite the artist and storyteller. You are very creative and like to make things from your imagination.

I will be teaching you at home this fall, and I am very excited to begin a journey of new discoveries and learning with you.

Daddy and I love you very much. God made you special; there is no one like you. You are a blessing from our Heavenly Father and we are grateful to have you here with us.

~Happy Birthday, Sander!~

When I'm sick...

...the Moon Sand doesn't get swept up

...the poopy disaster Ava orchestrated during her "nap" gets even stinkier as it sits in her room

...the dog cleans up the food on the floor

...the DVD player works extra hard

...Benji's coat lays where he dropped it

...the toilet doesn't get flushed

...no one eats anything but bread, cereal, and crackers

...my used tissues sit in a damp, snowy pile on the carpet beside the bed

...I really, really, really wish that Santa had brought that Nanny I requested last Christmas

...I really, really, really wish that my husband had gone to culinary school

...I'm grateful that I'm healthy enough to be complaining that I'm sick

Wordless Wednesday