Kami's Baby Shower

On Saturday, I threw a baby shower for my dear friend Kami. I am always happy to throw a party, but this one was especially fun because I love Kami and because I got to do it with my friend Stephanie and Kelly helped, too. Everything was pink and black and white.
Kelly helped with the cake a lot. She's a pro! (Really, it was more like I helped Kelly with the cake a little.) And Stephanie made the chocolate dipped pretzel sticks, which if you look closely you can see have "BABY" stamped on them. So cute!,
I used my Cricut to make a pink and black banner.

We had a onesie decorating station where people freehanded or stamped on onesies of varying sizes using fabric paint pens.
Kami works in a veterinary clinic, so one guest got super creative and made an adorable onesie with a stethoscope. I love it!
I made a diaper cake which you can see in this next picture. And that's Kami opening presents.
It was a great party. And most importantly, Kami felt loved. And little Madelynn will come into the world with plenty of adorable clothes.

I really do love throwing a party.

Kelly and Roko

I haven't blogged in nearly a week! Since that sunny, bloggy day, we've had a snow day. Yep. I told you Mother Nature was a tease. Also since I last blogged, Kelly and Roko arrived! (My kids have two Aunt Kelly's so I always feel like I need to clarify that I am talking about Kelly from Cali.) Roko is 2. We've just been hanging out and playing with the kids. Kelly is also helping me get ready for the baby shower that I'm throwing this weekend. I've never had a real chance to spend some good amount of time with Kelly, so it's been extra fun for me. Plus, she's been a big help. This morning the boys were a little restless so we took them to the bounce house place and let them literally bounce off the walls for an hour. Tomorrow's big plans are hitting a yarn shop (Kelly is an avid knitter) and then Ruth is coming to play in the evening. Saturday afternoon is the baby shower. Ruth and Kelly will take the kids to the Air and Space Museum during the shower.

Here, Aunt Kelly teaches Naomi how to knit.

I always miss Richard, but there's a special feeling in the house when it's just full of kids and Mama's. A special womanly feeling. I am quite positive that I am not putting it into words adequately. But take my words for it, it's cool.

Sunshine

It has been unseasonably warm here the last few days. Today it is a whopping 74 degrees! If only the warm weather was here to stay. But, alas, I am positive that this is just a cruel tease by Mother Nature. I'm sure she has several more weeks of frigid temps in the planning before the real onset of Spring. ...But I'm off topic. Today! Today we will enjoy it!

So look who made his first trip out to the backyard and onto the swing set?
Sweet Sammy seemed totally overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of it all at first. But he quickly warmed up to it.
And before we knew it he was squealing in delight.
Unfortunately, we are now a swing short. It may be time to get rid of the clunker, Craiglist swing set and invest in a nicer and bigger one. Too bad our stinkin' HOA gets a say in just HOW big... It may also be time to attempt some grass or else give up on grass entirely and go for rocks or something.

Isaiah's Speech Update

I was browsing through my old blog posts recently from a year ago and I came across this video of Isaiah talking. I started thinking about how much he's learned in the past year. He can make almost any sound now - although some combinations still elude him. But now he's learned to just drop the sounds that are hard for him to say. So in last years video you'll hear him saying some thing incorrectly (no-bibby instead of nobody), where in this year's video you'll hear him just drop the middle and/or end of the word (no-by instead of nobody). Also in this years video, you'll notice a dramatic uptick in attitude. That boy is straight up sassy!

Sorry for the messy faces, this was filmed in the middle of lunch.

Valentine's Day

We had a wonderful, fun, but low-key Valentine's Day. The kids and I made their Valentine's to take to school the week before. Asher went for dinosaurs, Isaiah space ships, and Naomi had little notepads with various designs. Naomi was great and did all of hers all by herself. The boys, however, helped for about 3 seconds and then bailed. Oh well.
That morning we had pink milk to get the fun started, then the kids headed off to school for parties there. Here they are after school, examining their piles of loot. This lasted at least an hour.
I made a dinner just for Richard - lasagna and pistachio salad, then we just played together for the rest of the evening. The kids were pretty hoped up on sugar, so we mostly just let them be crazy. Here they are all piled on top of each other. See that bit of hair by Naomi's hand? That's Isaiah!
It was exactly the kind of day it was supposed to be - a day to celebrate our love for each other.

Swing!

Richard and I went to a church swing dance last night. We danced for hours - until we literally limped to the car with sore feet. We have never had such a great chance to just dance and dance and dance together before. It was such a blast! We both really love to swing. Neither of us is technically great, we just enjoy it. Richard loves to twirl me around until I'm ready to fall over. Plus, it was fun to have a reason to dress up and go out together. We felt a little like we did in our youth, heading to a Stake dance on Saturday night.

This little video is Daddy teaching Naomi how to swing. She actually picked it up pretty well, in my opinion!

World: Three

Today it feels like I'm loosing. The score is World: three, Nancy: zero.

I went pants shopping. That was my first mistake. And I tried on pants that never had any chance of fitting because I had totally blocked out the real number that is on the tag of the pants I am currently wearing. I left the store nearly in tears. World: one

Then I went shoe shopping. How can you go wrong there? I had seen the perfect shoes online and they were even on sale, but I wanted them right away so I went to the store. And they were NOT ON SALE in the store. So I went home to buy them online, and their website has been down all day. World: two

Then I took a nap during nap time, because clearly I needed it. And as I slept blissfully, Asher snuck into my room, where Isaiah has his nap time, and the two of them painted their nails and put on makeup. Ruining the carpet, my vanity stool, and their clothes in the process. I am so mad that I can hardly punish the boys - I'm afraid I'd go too far. World: three

Sad and mad are a bad combo. I need a re-do. This day just needs to end and never come back. So I have turned on a movie for the kids - and when it ends I just might turn on another one. And while they watch, I mope. That's right. I'm moping. I am allowing myself this one day of moping.

****************
Ha! Take that, World! I finally ordered my shoes. And a sweet, sweet friend dropped by tonight and stayed to chat for a few minutes. The score is now World: two, Nancy: two. ...But somehow it still doesn't seem quite even.

Foiled

We had big plans today to go to the huge aquarium in Baltimore. We bought the tickets last night so that we'd be sure to be able to get in at the time we wanted.
And then Isaiah started puking.
And then I started feeling sick, too.
And the next morning the poor kids' hearts were broken when we told them that nobody was going to the aquarium.

Now we're just really hoping that this all ends with Isaiah and I. Richard is out of town next week so it would be bad if he got sick. And since he'll be out of town, it would be bad if I was still sick. Or if several kids were sick simultaneously. Or if little Sammy got this and ended up in the hospital.

We've been lucky so far this winter as far as being pretty healthy. I guess all I'm saying is, couldn't that luck last another week?

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Snow Day Olympics

Yesterday was another snow day. (Don't ask me why since there was no more snow than the day before when there had been school, and the expected ice storm never arrived!) So in desperation, I decided to embrace the chaos. I called a neighbor and invited her and her five children over for Snow Day Olympics. Then the kids and I spent an hour preparing games.

We made a score card (which they used to check off each activity after they did it - no winning and loosing)
We got out Twister and this awesome Tic Tac Toe floor game that my sister-in-law, Chelsea, made for us:
We set up the dining room for a ball bounce game and a boat blowing race:

And then we let the fun/chaos begin!
Oh, and we made this bean bag toss game: (Which this little slugger promptly broke to bits with his softball pitches)
It was a fun way to kill 3 hours. The kids just ran around from activity to activity - sometimes in packs and sometimes solo. We also did a limbo competition, hula hooped and played Bingo.

And the kids were tired and ready for naps - which is quite a feat on a snow day.

Today

Today I woke up to a house in which every single little thing was in the wrong place ... or at least it felt that way. Last week was so crazy with the kids home all week - the house was just a disaster. And since we were planning on having the missionaries and a new friend over for dinner, it was definitely time to clean up. I spent at least two hours just doing laps around the house picking things up, carrying them into the next room, and putting them away.

Then I grocery shopped because we needed a few things for the dinner. And the boys refused to go into the babysitting even though I had driven past three other grocery stores just to get to the one that has babysitting.

Then I cleaned some more. And Sammy spent way too much time in his swing. So much, in fact, that he slept in it. And he got himself into this crazy position:
That kid is sound asleep with his face buried in the side of the swing, his little fist tightly holding the liner. I mean, hasn't he ever heard of SIDS? But he likes to sleep that way! I always find him cuddled up against the side of his crib. He loves to nap on the couch with his face buried in the couch. It's crazy.

Then I made roast and potatoes for dinner and had a grand time with our new friend and the missionaries. It made me thankful that in my adulthood, I can make new friends so much easier than in my awkward youth.

Then I finished off this project.

My Mom got these silk pieces (samples really) from one of her tenants who sells fabrics. I chose these ones for a pillow to go on our bed.

I never knew how easy sewing pillows is! I mean, it's just a square - I can handle that! The key (for me) is to stuff the pillow with loose stuffing instead of buying a pillow form. That way I don't have to worry about needing to make it any certain size. Whatever size it turns out, is fine!

And that's my day.

Reading

I'm re-reading Harry Potter book 7. And I'm just as into it this time around as I was the first time! I remember how the story concludes, but I don't really remember how she gets us there. So that's what I did today in every moment of my spare time. I know some people might not think that reading something like Harry Potter is a good choice for a Sabbath, but I feel that it's a personal decision based on how reading that particular book makes you feel. As far as resting goes, sitting around reading a book is the next step down from sleep for me. I'm actually relieved that I am enjoying reading again since I kinda over-did it on bed rest and didn't miss it for a while there. Anyway, I had to blog and that's what's on my mind. One more day of mandatory NaBloPoMo blogging after this. I'll miss it and be relieved at the same time.

Tummy Time

Look who made it onto his tummy all by himself today! Note the surprised look on his face. I think he was pretty confused about what had just happened.

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Snow Baby

Oh yeah, and my other kids are cute, too.
(I promise that the photo shoot with Sammy lasted less than a minute. No babies were frozen to death in the taking of these pictures.)

What?

What the heck made me think that going to the gym would make my back feel better after yesterday's snow shoveling?

...Somebody hand me the Advil...

Anticlimactic

There was no school Tuesday for a teacher work day. There was no school Wednesday for a snow storm that didn't arrive until 4pm. And that is where our story begins. It snowed. And snowed. And the power started flickering around 8pm. But it stuck with us. Until midnight. Then we lost it for good. And there was much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth from children who wanted night lights. All. Night. Long. And in the morning, it was still dark. And cold. And electricity-less. Poor little Sammy had cold hands and ears. And, admittedly, I was freaking out a little. It seemed like a huge burden for me to decide how best to take care of this brood of Littles all by myself. I decided that we should head to my in-laws about 30 minutes away. But first I had to un-bury the van from a mountain of snow. Which took me more than an hour of serious cardio! (On a somewhat snarky side-note, four of my chivalrous neighbors stood in our culdesac watching me work my toosh off for at least half of that hour. What gentlemen.) I packed up a change of clothes, some PJs and fresh undies for everybody so that we would be prepared to spend the night if necessary. And I prayed. Hard. That I could get my kiddies there safely. And we got in the van and drove. And the roads were pretty nasty, but we made it safely into the welcoming arms of Grandma and Grandpa Worth. Who took very good care of us. And two hours later our power was back on. Another hour after that we headed home. On pretty much clear roads.

How's that for a whole lotta build-up with the most boring ending ever?

But we'll take that boring ending and be thankful for it. Because now we're all snug and cozy in our own warm house and beds. Which is exactly where we want to be.

PS - There's no school tomorrow either. Send help! And chocolate!

Finishing Touches

Sammy's room has really been a labor of love. ...Just mostly not MY labor. Sammy is sharing with Naomi, whose room was all purple (clearly not the right color for a manly man like Sammy). So the first time my Mom came to visit, while I was on bed rest, she and my sister Ruth painted two of the four walls green. Then my Mom made the fabulous curtains that tie together the purple and green. And I bought the vinyl froggies and embroidered the scripture about Sammy's name.
I think the frogs are the perfect compliment for Naomi's Princess room. You know, the princess and the frog? But I didn't want cheesy crown-wearing frogs. Just groovy frogs! Manly frogs.
Cute, huh? My Mom also made the great quilt that is hanging over the side of the bed.

And here's my finished scripture, which you may remember I started way back when I was flat on my back.
My sister-in-law, Kelly in Cali, hand knit this rockin' frog for Sammy. Isn't it just the best frog you've ever seen? He has such character!

And since I was on a role with putting finishing touches on things, I also added the picture of Sammy to our wall in the family room. Here's the before shot:
And here's the new addition:
The picture of Sammy was taken by my sister-in-law, Jessica, while we were in Mexico over Christmas. Isn't it adorable? Oh, wait...I think I've already bragged about that shot on the blog... oh well - it's brag-worthy.

That Sums It Up

As the kids were getting themselves ready for bed, I said to Naomi, "You just worry about you, Honey. Let Isaiah worry about Isaiah."

And then Asher continued for me, "And Asher worry about Asher. And Daddy worry about Daddy. And Sammy worry about Sammy. And you worry about every single little thing."

Yep. Ain't that the truth.

Going and Coming and Going

I don't think I've mentioned before the full extent of Richard and I's plan for the year. Basically, he's going to be traveling every other week all year. Which is kinda crazy. Sometimes it feels like he's gone more than he's here (which isn't true, but it feels like it). But it's worth it (financially, anyway). Most of his trips are just 3 or 4 days, but some of them are longer. The longer ones come with a special "deal". For each long trip that Richard takes, I get two plane tickets to give to whomever I choose so that they can come visit me. When we made this plan the visits were more because I needed help. Now, I admit, it's more just for fun - although whoever comes to visit ends up helping tons too.

Richard is leaving again tomorrow, but just for a quick trip. He'll be back Friday. But he's got a long trip planned for the end of February. And this time my fabulous sister-in-law Kelly, from Cali, is coming! I can't wait to get to know her better, hang out with her, learn from her, and hopefully gain some coolness just by association.

These visits from far-flung family and friends are fun. But truthfully, I'd rather have my husband with me than anyone else on Earth.

Silly Stories

Did you know that Isaiah has a whole other family and house and life? He lives at Pumpkinville with his mom and dad and brothers and sisters and goats and doggies and monsters (and whatever else he can think of at that moment). Wonderful things happen at Pumpkinville. Isaiah gets to play outside during naptime, he rides on the horses, he plays games like tag, etc.

Here are a couple of stories that feature Isaiah's fantastical life at Pumpkinville:

"Last night while I was sleeping, monsters came into my room and put my mommy in time out. And they jumped on the bed and made scary noises. Then they put my mommy in the garbage can."

"I have five doggies at Pumpkinville. Their names are Weehoo, Teewho, and Seenaw." (yes, I know that's not five names - but apparently he doesn't!)

"I ate my mommy." (When asked why I was still here, he replied, "No, my other mommy at Punpkinville!")

Silly guy.

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Aunt Ruth

Its always a treat when Aunt Ruth comes to visit. A treat for the kids because they love to play with her. And a treat for Richard and I because the kids are so happily occupied - and because we love Ruth.

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