Another mom of the year (MOY) entry

I have been dreading this day for a while now.... the day before book club. Which means, I HAVE to clean my house thoroughly. None of this surface stuff that I've been doing for months and months. So, I spent over TWO hours just scrubbing gunk and milk off of the dining room chairs, table and stools. Yeah, TWO hours. So when Kent brought the kids home from the one hour trip to Costco I decided they would have a picnic on the deck. I didn't want them touching anything. It's ok that it's 24 degrees out, right? Get your shoes on, you're eating outside! They thought it was a great idea. However, they were somewhat naughty and had to come in faster than I anticipated. So, I had to resort to them eating on the kitchen floor. This I did feel bad about, because it is still not clean. I couldn't take pics. of this, because I didn't want to be reported to CPS. They were happy enough because it was different and the girls weren't locked up in the boosters, so they could roam the floor. I still have 4 more meals until book club gets here. What is a girl to do? Mickey D's anyone? Notice the girls don't even have matching shoes on, which is becoming normal for Ellie's wardrobe.

These pics. are from the other night when I made pudding, never a good idea right before bed. It's messy and there's pudding all over faces and pjs.

E

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New Hats!

Yesterday I was cleaning up the breakfast mess and Ellie walked out like this. I busted up laughing, then of course Dani wanted a hat too! I am assuming Ellie got clean underwear out of Brayden's drawer!

Cousin Owen is ONE!

YAY! Owen turned one, he is the youngest of our clan. Between us and Kent's brother and sister we have seven kids who are four and under, with Hunter being the king of the hill at age six. There are a TON of pics. because they are all so cute, I can't ever choose what to cut out. This one cracks me up, because Owen was sitting there like this for quite some time before someone helped him out! He is such and easy going, mellow guy, he just waited!

Ellie is ready to party!

Auntie Sarah giving Owen his yummy cake!

Owen seemed to love it!

So did all the other kids.

Dani was too busy to stop and eat cake.

Ellie ate hers for her.

Ally had her fair share too. Doesn't she look just like Elizabeth in this pic.? You know our kids and their kids share half of the same genes. So they are kind of like half-siblings, but that's too weird to think about.

Owen and Uncle Kelly getting ready to open presents!

Grandma Phillips and Auntie Helen enjoying the chaos from afar.

Dani thinking she's helping Owen.

Joey Seaboldt, he is too adorable.

And last but not least, Ellie pooped on the potty again! (I won't post a pic. every time this happens, but it's exciting)!

Dani brushed while Ellie sat on the pot.

We FINALLY figured it out!

Life has been a little frantic lately! The girls are almost two and busier than ever. I am only allowed two second showers, and they still have time to destroy half the house. Even with their big brother keeping an eye on them and running into the bathroom screaming, "My sisters are being naughty!" I am hoping all of my neighbors work and are gone by the time I am running through the house with a towel wrapped around me halfway. It's not pretty. I don't have the nerve to look out the window to see who is peering in at me with a bewildered look on their face.

Just last week I came out to find Danielle behind the couch (yet again), with a marker in her hand and ink all over the blinds and windows. I really was quite proud of myself, I have really been working on more patience, I just looked at her and said, "Not ok, go to your room." The girl was smart enough to know at that point, to get her little bum out of my line of sight. Luckily the ink was crayola and washed right off. Then I turned around and saw Ellie on top of the counter going through our junk basket, a bunch of random stuff, paperwork, mail, choking hazards. I hauled her into time out and decided things need to change!

This was about the time I took the high chairs out of the kitchen (they pushed them over to the counter, then crawled up). This solved the counter situation (our stools are too heavy for them to lift and are all lying on the floor in the dining room). Next I needed to childproof the doors.

HOORAY! The best invention ever! I didn't need these with Brayden, but they have made my life so much easier in the last week. I hope they don't figure them out anytime soon! Now there is no way they can get the markers out of Brayden's art supplies in the hall closet, no dipping hands, feet, or faces into the toilet and B has his own stuff in his room safe and sound! Life is good!

A kid again?

Yesterday we met my sister-in-law, Sarah, at McDonalds for lunch. The kids are big enough to play there now and with the 24 degree weather they have lots of energy to burn. We had a nice lunch and then after an hour and a half of playing it was time to go. We rounded up most of them (there's six total). We were all standing at the bottom of the play structure yelling at Danielle to come down. She sat up there and stared at us, and we all thought she was confused on how to get down. We sent both boys, Keegan and Brayden up to help her. They coaxed, tugged and pulled, but she wouldn't come down. At this point I was sweating with all of my winter clothes on, and getting more frustrated by the second. I took off my shoes and climbed up! What fun! (not so much) It's always nice to feel like a huge giant as you're trying to squeeze through the levels. I finally reached the top and Danielle took off in the opposite direction. She thought it was a fun game! She knew exactly what she was doing the whole time! I had to chase after her on my knees, which hurts! I finally caught up to her and shoved her down the slide and I sailed down behind her. She was laughing the whole way! I tell you this girl is the sneakiest, most stubborn thing I have had to deal with in a long time! What are the next few years going to bring?

Things are a changin'......

The girls "Last Supper"

Taa Daa, they have officially been moved to the big kid table, they are thrilled to finally be part of the family dining experience! We finally took the high chair and booster out of the kitchen and braved it through a dinner with the girls on the carpet! (The carpet is already so trashed, what difference will a few more spills make)?

Danielle is so proud! She smiled through the whole dinner!

YAY! (Brayden was at cousin Keegan's house, so it was a small gathering).

AND......... we got at least a four foot addition to our kitchen! How crazy is it not to have to move two chairs every time you want to open the fridge or a cupboard?? Things are getting easier?!?
Notice the garbage can is STILL on the counter. When will the girls not be so enamored with it, that they won't feel they have to touch it and lick it? Also, I was trying to change the bag last week and it fell off the counter, now the can is not only bent, but the lid is broken off! Why do garbage cans cost so much? We aren't buying one until the kids are 10, that's what I say about everything nowadays.

AND... Dad hung up a coat rack! I am more than thrilled! The girls' room is constantly trashed with coats, hats, and mittens thrown on the floor or chair (mostly by me). Now things will be a little more organized!

They are just as excited as me! Now, I just have to convince Kent to put two more holes in the wall so Brayden can have one in his room. Does anyone else experience this? It is almost a guarantee that Kent and I will get irritated/frustrated when we are hanging something in the house. Kent is one of the most patient people I have ever met, but if a project involves putting holes in the wall........not so happy. I can understand that, but it's not like I ask all the time. I just want the kids to be able to be organized and hang up their dang coats! Is that too much to ask? (Take note, the girls won't be able to hang up their coats until they're 10, because Kent didn't want to hang it too low and then have to move it later). At that point I just asked him to put it where ever he thought was best. :) And I thanked him for all of his help.

YAY for organization, thanks Megs, you inspired me with your playroom! We also went out and bought a stack able drawer storage thing for all of the play food, (96 pieces) and pots and pans for their kitchen. I am so happy!

Happy Anniversary!

On Saturday my Mom and the kids and I went out to my Grandparent's in Coeur d' Alene to celebrate their 61st anniversary!
Cousin Eliette came with us!

Danielle eating cake naked!

Ellie getting it in as fast as she can.

Ellie, Great-Grandma, Great-Grandpa, Auntie Jan, Eliette, my Mom, Danielle, and Brayden

My Mom and Aunties got them a digital photo frame, now they can see all of our beautiful faces all day long!

Ellie and Danielle hanging out at home. Danielle got a hold of the key board and for some reason I can't upload the other pics. I wanted. Guess I'll try a new post. Gotta love busy hands!