Sibling Love

My two kids can fight! But man oh man do they also LOVE eachother. They snuggle and cuddle and play together all day long. I love it so much. It is just what I wanted and imagined when I'd planned on having 2 close together. Here's a pic of them snuggling on the couch watching cartoons - of course they had to get silly the minute the camera was pulled out.

Moose!

Brian & the kids saw a moose just down from our property this weekend while I was at work. This is still very exciting to us as we are still relative "newbies" to country life and love seeing all the different critters. These pictures didn't turn out the greatest, but you can see him.....

Can you tell that I'm playing catch up tonight with my posts? Brian is at the last FB game of the season (*sigh of relief) and the kids are in bed. Time to myself! And I am choosing to NOT do laundry.

Cute Girl

For some reason Baby Sis is obsessed with these cork/wedge shoes I have way back in the closet. I can't even remember the last time I wore them but she digs them out everytime she's in our room. I'll hear "clunk clunk clunk" through the house. I can't believe she can actually walk in those things! She is so proud of herself. I love these pictures. Baby rolls, cheesy smile, chunky legs, diaper..... and heels. Gotta love it.

Grandma Debbie & Aunt Tracie's visit

We had a great time with Grandma Debbie & Aunt Tracie. The kids were so excited to see them and it was just really nice getting to spend some time together. Of course the kids were overjoyed that Grandma brought early Christmas presents. Little man got his very own wheelbarrow & shovel/hoe/rake kit. He literally has been asking for a wheelbarrow and shovel since May. He also got a chainsaw and goggles. Baby Sis is ecstatic with her baby stroller and baby, and real metal cook set. Of course they fight over everything, Baby Sis wants the chainsaw and Little Man wants the stroller - but they don't want to give up anything of theirs or Heaven forbid have to SHARE!! *gasp!* Big Sis got cold, hard, cash - which she is carefully plotting how to spend. Here are some pics from the visit. We can't wait to see them again!! We wish they didn't live almost 4 hours away.

Wambling Wednesday

I'm back for another edition of Wambling Wednesday!!! It has already been established that I'm a huge dork so I'm not going to feel embarassed anymore and just dive right in....
* I came home the other day to find a Jehova's Witness flyer in my door. Seriously. We live 25 minutes from the nearest store and 10+ minutes up a mountain and down a long dirt driveway with a gate at the entrance.

* We are trying to "break" Little Man of wearing his diaper to bed. When we first potty trained him he was great - but I felt like he needed to wear a diaper at night just in case.... He was doing awesome, he woke up every morning to a dry, or at least near dry diaper. Well, then he got lazy. Now he doesn't want to take it off in the morning, he wants to leave it on while he slowly wakes up. He'll literally sit at the breakfast table and go potty in his diaper out of laziness which is maddening to me. SO I have lined his mattress with plastic and we have been putting him to bed sans diaper for the past couple of nights. I'm hoping it clicks with him soon that he doesn't like waking up to a wet bed.

* I have a MOUNTAIN of laundry today. It seems like Wednesdays are my first calm day of the week where I have a chance to catch up on things. I'm always stunned by the amount of laundry that can pile up so quickly.

* Brian tucked Baby Sis into bed last night but first lay down with her on the spare bed in her room to snuggle for a while. According to him this is their conversation:
Baby Sis "Dah-eee?" (translate-Daddy?)
Brian "What Sis?"
"Aht derr" she says, pointing to the living room (translate-out there)
"No, Sis. Can't go out there and play. It's night-night time."
"Dah-eee?"
"What Sis?"
"Papa"
"Yes, you went to see Grandma & Papa tonight didn't you??"
"uh-huh. Dah-eee?"
"What Sis?"
"Poopy."
"No, Sis. You're not poopy. Go night-night."
He said they went back and forth for a while and it was so cute. I wish you could just hear her little voice. She's talking so much more lately. I picked her up from the daycare at the gym the other day and the daycare worker told me they'd just gotten done having a whole conversation about how she was hungry and wanted to eat when I picked her up. "And the weird thing was that I could totally understand her" said the daycare lady.

Pumpkin Carving - Catching up

Okay, so they did this almost a full week ago and I'm only NOW getting around to posting the pictures. But better late than never, right? Brian, Little Man, and Baby Sis carved one of the little pumpkins that Little Man brought home from his Pre-School field trip. The kids were SO excited - it was the first time they've ever done it before. They didn't know what to think about cleaning out the guts. One by one they plucked the seeds out until Brian showed them how to grab a handful which they thought was gross. They loved the finish project and have proudly been showing it off to everyone. I baked the pumpkin seeds and they were gone in like, 2 minutes.

"Not Me! Monday"

Okay - I realize that I skipped last week's "NMM" but I'm back today. Mondays have been hard for me lately. My weekend job is insanely busy. I do not stop moving once the entire time I'm there. Then I go home feeling guilty that I've been away from my family all weekend. Sniff - I don't like it!! I miss the crazy clan! So - long story short, I'm usually exhausted on Mondays and trying to catch up on my laundry and housecleaning that seems to multiply by the 100's while I'm gone....
Anyway - here goes - if you're not familiar with "NMM" then head on over to MckMama's blog at http://www.mycharmingkids.net/ to see what the fun is all about.

* I am not thrilled that my children are content to play inside (and they're even being semi-quiet) this afternoon because I am too, too, TOO tired to take them outside. There are no couches outside, ya know?
* I am not so excited that there is only one week of football for Brian left - no, I am not!
* I did not during two different trips to the grocery store forget crucial ingredients for dinner while Grandma Debbie & Aunt Tracie were in town. I am not a complete ditz!
* I did not buy Little Man corn dogs from Zips for his "sack lunch" for his Pre-school field trip last week..... there's no way I did not make him a nutritious lunch just because they said no peanut butter allowed due to allergies and no way did that completely confound me as to what to pack for him.
* I did not completely enjoy that Brian's mom & sister were here and more than once "let" them feed, dress, and or change my children's diaper while I did nothing.
* I did not put Little Man to bed without brushing his teeth last night just because Brian brought him home asleep AND I did not then forget to brush them this morning before pre-school.
* I also did NOT think about strangling this obnoxious little teen-aged girl at work just because she drives me absolutely insane! I am NOT that immature!
* And finally - I most certainly did not hide the Toys'R'Us Christmas catalog from the kids because- well.... I just don't want to hear "I want" and chances are very good that they'll get nothing from that store anyway.

I know there's more but I'm too dingy and tired to think of any at the moment. I'll blog about Grandma Debbie & Aunt Tracie's visit soon and catch up on a few other things as well. Happy Monday everyone!

Field Trip

Little Man's Pre-School had a field trip at one of the local farm/pumpkin patches on Monday. All the kids had a great time. We got to ride the school bus there which he thought was so cool. We rode the little choo choo train & went through a corn maze and then up into a castle where we could look out over the whole maze. They had a cool pirate ship-type play area with slide and pole that he slid down. He got to get a little pumpkin & basically just ran around having a blast. We were both exhausted during the bus ride home and he almost fell asleep on my lap.

Wambling Wednesday

It's time for MORE Wambling Wednesday. Yes, yes. I am OFFICIALLY a dork now. But you all knew that anyway so here goes....
* Re: my previous post - the toaster is fine. It just sparked and flipped a breaker so I am spared of having to purchase a new one.
* My kids both took really long naps today - and I hate to admit this - but it was GREAT. I took a bath, cleaned the house, ate lunch, read the paper. Wow. It's been a long time since they've both been down at the same time for a long-ish nap.
* Little Man & Daddy were wrestling the other night & Little Man bonked his noggin on the edge of the toy box and cried and ended up with a nice sized bluish goose egg. So he's been going around telling everyone "look what Daddy did to me". He told me today after Pre-School that his teacher asked him what happened to his forehead and that he went into great detail telling her that Daddy pushed him into the toy box. Great. Just waiting for the phone call from CPS.
* I've been cleaning like a mad woman. Got family coming tomorrow (Brian's mom & sister) to stay for a couple days and our small little house is not known for its cleanliness. It is, however, known for sticky handprints and crumbs under the couch cushions. And the occasional half-eaten apple found in a drawer.
* I forgot to bring my camera but we all went on a hay ride with our church on Sunday night then played in the gym and ate treats afterwards. Us grown-ups mingled and drank coffee while the rug rats ran around chasing basketballs. Baby Sis managed to grab about 5 cookies off the table that were just within reach. We had lots of fun. I love our little country church. It's so awesome that we can start a hay ride right from our church and head out to the farm fields. I think it's so ideal.
* I am so, so, SO excited that I get to run errands tonight WITHOUT my children. Love 'em, but hate shopping with them!! I am going grocery shopping to stock up for our company AND to look for Halloween costumes because it's 9 days away and they still don't have them!! Before becoming a mom I would've never thought that I'd be so excited to shop alone.

Good Morning - I'm cleaning the kitchen...

* I've noticed that my kitchen floor only gets mopped when one of my children spills something - therefore my kitchen floor is really clean.

* I love cleaning with baking soda & vinegar. I especially love that it reminds me of building volcanoes in 4th grade. Fizzzzz

* My toaster went kaput this morning - which means I need to go buy a new one - which really stinks. I hate spending money on things like toasters when I could instead buy something FUN.

* Since it seems like all I do is clean, why isn't my house cleaner than it is?

* I looked online at Linens N Things for toasters. Am I the only person that thinks a toaster for $129 is insane? Do people actually pay that much for a toaster?

My Love List

I thought about creating a list of irritations because that's the kind of mood I'm in at the moment, but decided that's not the person I want to be & I don't want to bring anyone else down with me.
So instead I'm going to creat a list of things I love and that I'm thankful fo- I'm focusing on the positive. So here goes:
#1 the Lord - I have to admit that I feel a little cheesy saying that, like it's so stereotypical - but what He has done for me in my life is amazing. And I know He's not finished.... I feel like he's cultivating me (that term was used in Bible study this week and it's so fitting). I feel like he's putting me through some hard times to open my eyes to some things I've been ignoring. Also, I can honestly say that every hard time I've been through in my life - while I would never want to repeat them - has spit me out for the better once it's all said and done. I have a thick skull. I have to learn things for myself by getting myself put through the wringer.
#2 My Family - of course. It's such a strong love that it sometimes overwhelms me. Every night right before I go to bed I go to check on the kids one last time. Brian just rolls his eyes at me now because at least once a week I tell him that I just stand over them as they sleep, and want to cry - I love them so much it makes my heart hurt. Having kids has made me a better person and has absolutely been a blessing. I feel like I have been so incredibly blessed with this family, our circle - my husband and kids. I could also go on and on about my extended family, and how they all mean so much to me.
#3 Our health. I have 2 beautiful, perfectly healthy kids. Brian & I are healthy. I read so many of the other blogs out there and it really makes me realize how lucky I am, and I don't want to ever forget that.
#4 Our home. I love that I don't have to worry about my kids playing near a busy street or strangers walking by. I love that I can go out to the car in my underwear and that at night when I look out at the lights it feels like we're on top of the world. I love that neighbors passing eachother out here on the road wave at eachother. I love that I can put the kids on the 4-wheeler and just go, right from our driveway - and within minutes be exploring the mountain. I love watching the kids play in the dirt and get absolutely filthy. And I love going for a run right before/during sunset (I got to do it again tonight!!!). I love that it feels like home even if it isn't fancy, or big, or clean.

Well - my list has worked and now I'm in a better mood. But now I want to go crawl into bed with Brian and cry because I love everything so much. Ok, so I totally realize that I am evidently quite hormonal and will probably be very embarassed about this post in the morning. And Brian will be mortified if anyone he knows reads this because he is anti-emotion. But once again, it's my blog - right? Goodnight.

Fall at our place

So I fee like I was being negative in my post on Tuesday, talking about all the things I dislike about our property. I went on a walk with the kids today, down our driveway and into the property a bit. It was a really pretty Fall day and made me forget all my gripes.

Wambling Wednesday

"Wambling Wednesday"??? Yes, I know. I'm weird. I was trying to think of something cute but the W throws me off. I was going to copy MckMama with "Wordless Wednesday" but for those of you who know me I am far too chatty for that. Wambling (as in Rambling) seems to fit me better, especially since I'm having all these rambling thoughts today...... AND since my kids are watching "Baby Looney Tunes" right now I have a certain wabbit on the brain.
Okay! So enough with the introductions! I am officially launching "Wambling Wednesday"!!

1. I love that my 2 kids are friends (and rivals) yet in that friendship they suddenly have a shared enemy.... ME!!! Just today, after his nap, after I told Little Man for the 10th time that he could NOT eat handfuls of chocolate chips he dissolved into a cranky fit and sought out his Baby Sis. They stood there, holding eachother, swaying back and forth like kids at a middle school dance while he wailed at the top of his lungs seeking sympathy. She patted him repeatedly as if saying "there, there, I KNOW! Isn't she mean?!"
2. Is becoming obsessed with blogging (and reading other blogs) making me a better, or a worse mother? In a way I say better, because I learn things and get support from the other bloggers.... But obviously it's making me a bit distracted as well - because just as I finished writing #1 I turned to share in my kids' laughter.... only to discover that what I thought was a cute game of chase around the couch was actually them unravelling my whole box of floss around (and around) the couch and themselves!

There was more but #2 has me feeling guilty for ignoring my children. I'll finish later!! OK I'm back...

3. Does anyone else ever chew up a treat only to then feel so guilty about it that you spit the treat out after you've got a good, guilty taste of it? I did that today with both chocolate chips and animal crackers. Sugar that I DO not need, but tastes so good...
4. I love leftover night. The kitchen will remain (somewhat) clean, and I do not have to throw something together with the kids underfoot. I love that I already have a nice pot of (leftover) chili waiting for me in the fridge. Ah... It's nice to actually enjoy my family instead of bonding with the stove.
5. I love the church that we go to since moving to our property out here in the country. (I feel like I should say that with a Southern twang). It already feels like home. Doesn't that say it all? It doesn't get any better than that.

Ok - I'm done Wambling for now.... gonna go play with the rugrats outside so they can burn off some energy. See ya next Wednesday for more!

Pretty?

So Little Man was dressed from head to toe in camo last night. Boots, shirt, pants... little country boy. Then he came out of my bathroom like THIS. Evidently my new lipstick smells/tastes good.

Life in the Country & Brian's Honey-Do List

These 2 subjects kind of go hand in hand. We moved from the city out here to country life 5 months ago and we love it. But just like whenever you move anywhere, you have LOTS to do to make that new place your home. Unfortunately, Brian has been AWOL due to football and with me working weekends now there's NO time to get anything done.
So whenever I'm outside with the kids playing I alternate between these thoughts : "I love it here, look at that view, this is great" and "Oh my gosh this place is a Craphole!!!". I hate to admit that I actually called Brian once, at work, when I was outside to say those very words to him - along with many more about all the chores that needed done. For some reason, he didn't appreciate that phone call very much. That's what's called an impulse call - NO I could NOT wait until he got home to discuss my frustrations about the property!!! He needed to hear it THAT MOMENT!
I can't help it, I obsess over the land. The previous owner left us piles, and piles of garbage to be hauled to the dump. Including my favorite, a burnt out and rusted barrell full of garbage that's still sitting right outside. I want the old railroad ties torn out and a rock retaining wall built. I keep harassing him that I want to fence sections of our property, get cows, and plant more seedlings. I think he just hears static. This is when having a magic wand would be awesome.
Now, logically I know that we have only been here 5 months, and this stuff takes time.... but I am far too impatient for logic.
By the way, outside the shop this morning was a dead little mouse that the kids became fascinated with. I was so scared that Baby Sis would try to touch it so I was making all those "aaaccckyy!!! ICK, no NO!!" sounds that we as mothers know how to make so well. Of course it's still lying there, waiting for Brian to come home. At least I didn't call him to tell him about it!

"Not Me! Monday"

I've decided to try something new called "Not Me! Monday". If you're not familiar with this then check out MckMama's blog at www.mycharmingkids.net to see what all the fun is about. It's my new favorite blog. Not only does she have a gorgeous site with cute stories, but she's real mother and woman, with a fabulous heart for the Lord - she also has a very touching drama going on with her unborn child. I urge you all to check it out.
Anyway - back to "Not Me! Monday"....

I did not wake up 10 minutes before we had to be walking out the door this morning for Little Man's pre-school and certainly did not throw Baby Sis in the car with her jammies on and no breakfast and no way did I toss granola bars into the backseat for my children to eat on the drive into town and as a good mother there's not a chance that I dug their toothbrushes out of my purse and instructed them both to do a quick brushing in the car. No way! Not me!
I also did not realize that I was completely and totally on Empty in my car 2 seconds after leaving my house and no way did I call the neighbor begging her to let me have some gas from her gas can just so I could make it in to town. And I certainly did not leave the house without a shower, furry teeth, and not a drop of make-up on. Not me! I am far too organized for something like that. Of course I did not speed the entire 40 minute drive to pre-school and absolutely did not deliver Little Man to school 10 minutes late so that he missed his morning job that he looks forward to all week long. *sigh*
I also did not steal the Ruth Graham quote I now have posted from another woman's blog. No way, not me! Just because I adored it so much and found it so true there'e not a chance I would've done that.
Good thing I did not do any of those things!!
Happy Monday to all of you!

Don't tell the kids...

It's starting to become obvious to us that Momma cat is gone. As in, has been "got" by something. We haven't seen her in a week & a half. What got her, we're not sure - probably an owl. We live in the country so I realize there can be a fair amount of danger for our outside kitties here. I like to comfort myself and think that she had a good life with us while she was here. We rescued her from the pound; she had recently given birth to kittens (hence her name) and was found on the city streets. She took to country life quite quickly and soon was the boss of all the other kitties. We adopted Tikka -a kitten- at the same time and they kind of became surrogate Momma/Baby to eachother. I can tell Tikka is lonely now, she's looking for Momma.
We miss Momma, she was a good cat. Very sweet and patient. She would let Baby Sis carry her all around and not even try to get away. It's funny how all the critters knew Momma was in charge, even the goats. No one messed with her.
I'm still holding out some hope that she'll turn up one day, but it's not looking so good...

Risky Business?

So I had to laugh when Little Man came bustin' out of his room in this get-up. I couldn't help but be reminded of a certain Tom Cruise movie from the 80's.
He was quite proud of himself.

Fall Days

There was no school today so Brian had a day off!! It was amazing, we haven't all been home as a family - during the day - in what seems like forever. We celebrated by taking a trip to Greenbluff. The kids played outside and we ate lunch. It was nice being together as a family again. I can't wait til our hectic Fall schedules end. When we piled in the car to leave I told Brian that I couldn't remember the last time we'd all been in the car together. Unfortunately, Big Sis couldn't be with us.
After we got home from Greenbluff it was naptime for Baby Sis and Brian enjoyed his afternoon off by siting in his rifle. He was shooting at a marker on the hillside and I wanted to go for a run - but he said that I might accidentally get shot. I thought about telling him that he didn't have that good of an aim but kept my thoughts to myself. Plus once I started thinking about what that implied....Hmmmm, moving on.
He's going to be gone all weekend hunting as tomorrow is the official start to the season. He and his buddy Chris are hunting all day Saturday, then sleeping in the back of Chris' truck Saturday night so they can start hunting again first thing Sunday morning. Let me say, for the record, that I think they are nuts.

Anyway, here are some cute pics of the fam at Greenbluff!

Little Fish

Little Man & Baby Sis wrapped up their most recent session of swim lessons. Baby Sis will stay at the same level until she's 3, but at his age, Little Man progresses along each level once they've mastered it. I am proud to say that Little Man's coach said he was "very" advanced for his current level and should definitely move up. He has a smile on his face the entire time he's in the pool. I think he takes after Brian, he was a great swimmer in his younger days. Baby Sis loves the water too, but she spends most of the lesson mad that we won't just let her run loose and do what she wants. She thinks she's a big girl, not a baby.
I wish I had some pictures of them in the water, next session I'll get some and post them.

I love it

So I haven't been running outside in weeks (and weeks, and weeks) thanks to Brian's ever hectic weekly schedule.... and my ever hectic week-end schedule. All I can manage is to squeeze in a short run on the dreaded treadmill while the kids are napping - or while Little Man is riding his bike around me asking me 100 questions.
So I was so relieved tonight when it was going to work for me to head to the great outdoors for a run. Brian was going to be home a bit earlier (before dark) than usual so it would work out perfect.
The anticipation was killing me and the kids seemed to be more "challenging" than usual today so I needed this. Without going into a bunch of crabby details I was wound totally tight and incredibly cranky by the time Brian walked in the door.
I bolted out the door happy as can be..... only to discover that the goats, Gus & Tulip, were running as fast as their little legs could carry them, along with me. They galloped along, weaving in front of me, like they were trying to trip me and do me in. I yelled at them to go back, stomped my feet at them, and threatened to have them for dinner but they weren't intimidated. We reached the end of our (long) driveway and I even closed the gate (they climbed up and went around!) to no avail. Cussing them out the entire way I had to take them all the way back to their pen - they galloped along following me expecting a treat - but they just got locked up. Poor goaties. Then finally, aaahh.... the kids were with Dad, the goats behind bars and off I was for my run.
For those of you who don't run I just have to say that you are missing out on one of life's greatest stress relievers. My mileage over the past 4 months has significantly decreased, but it still works. After just a mile all my stress was melted away. 10 minutes in it was dark but I loved it. It was cool and raining slightly - just perfect out. Brian wants to get a dog that I can run with - he worries about cougars - but I love running all alone down our dirt country roads. My mind just wanders & all my tension is gone. It was pitch black the last few minutes of my run, but it was perfect. Dark, cool and peaceful out. It makes me feel centered, calm, and human again. It reminded me of how awesome it was to run during my Spokane to Sandpoint Relay in the middle of the night. Perfect.
When I came home I was a happy, patient Mom again. It's amazing how just 30-45 minutes to myself, outside, running makes me a better mom & a happy wife. Happy Wife, Happy Life I tell Brian.
Unfortunately shortly after I came home Little Man got sick and vomited - poor little guy. He was so pathetic. I hope we don't have any "episodes" during the night. Well, I don't usually ramble about me and my feelings, but it's my blog - right?
P.S. See the picture above? I don't look that cool when I run.