Kids say....

Erin: "Mom, K's awake, and she's in happy mode."

Katelyn: (Sees a bird or duck) "Kak, Kak"

Ethan: "Wow, I've never been gone from Erin for a whole week before."
Mom: "I know."
Ethan: "It's going to be AWESOME!"

Erin: "It's easy peasy lemon squeezy."

Ethan: "That's easy peasy pumpkin squeezy."

Erin: "Is Kool-Aid liquid?"
Mom: "Yes, why?"
Erin: "Because dad said liquids can dry. Then the koolaid can dry."
(Discussion after noted red sticky liquid spilled over table, clothes, and carpet.)

Mom: "Could you please pick your jacket off the floor and hang it up Erin?"
Erin: "But mom, that's where I always put it and you take care of it."
(I guess it's time for more kid responsibilities- even if it takes all day to get them done!)

More to come later I'm sure. I just wanted to document before I forgot. They say cute stuff all the time and I forget.

Happy 34th Birthday Jeff!

Happy 34th Birthday to the best dad and husband ever! We love you so much and hope that your birthday was great. Jeff requested cheesecake and was also surprised with some of his favorite treats- Zingers and Snowballs! He also got another remote and nunchuck for the Wii.

Shoes off please!

When we moved into our house six years ago, we thought the carpet needed replacing. But after living on it with three kids for six years, we knew it needed replacing. Berber is just not the way to go with kids, spills, stains, and potty training. So we finally spent the money and replaced our downstairs carpet and the kitchen and entryway floors at the same time. I think that I am in heaven! When I vacuum, it leaves the little lines that give me some satisfaction. Yes- I really did vacuum today. And we love our new "tile" in the kitchen. Bye Bye old fake vinyl "hardwood." Sorry if this is not as exciting to you as it is to me- but I really thought that this day would never come after waiting so long. So here are a few pictures of the journey-


K shows off the old flooring.

(ABOVE) K's way of helping dad get out the dishwasher.

Testing out the new tiles.

Uncle Mark helps out- a big THANK YOU to him!

The finished entry. (Still old carpet)

K and elephant supervise the carpet tear out.

The new pad goes down.

And here is the carpet!

A close up of the finished product.

The kids just can't get enough- it's so soft and fuzzy!

Birthday Spectacular

It was the Hannah Montana, High School Musical, Princess Spectacular! Erin couldn't decide on her party theme, so we did the all in one combo. Everything important to a 5 year old (who thinks she is closer to 15). She had some friends over for a party- that included making princess crowns, painting nails, playing pin-the-jewel on the crown, presents, cupcakes and dancing. Then after that she opened her family gifts, and we went to dinner. She picked the great M. (That's McDonald's if you didn't know.) Here are a few higlights in pictures.

Welcome to the World!

Congratulations to Heather & Jordan! Abram Eli is an absolutely adorable little boy and we are so excited that he is here. I don't think that you can get any sweeter than a new baby- and he's a cutie too. (It's the red hair and cheeks that get me the most!) Watch out Heather- he's going to be quite the girl magnet.

Haircuts

Sorry for the delay in posts. It has been a "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week", to quote Alexander. But things are turning around now. Here are a few things that have happened in the last little while...

The girls got new summer do's. Please don't worry about my head getting cut off. Ethan is still learning how to be a great photographer. The flower is from storytime at the library. Erin got it beacuse her bday is tomorrow. But I'm SURE there will be a future post about that. Now if it will only stay warm for more than a few days...

Visit to the Children's Museum

This week is spring break and we wanted to do a few fun things. So far we have had a picnic lunch at the park, played with friends, and we went to the children's museum. There is lots of fun things to do there. Ethan loved getting sneezed on by the giant nose. K loved getting to see "Melmo." Erin's favorite part of the museum was riding in the red car and pumping the gas. We also were lucky enough to go to the Planetarium and check out Mars and the planets. It was a super fun day, and all the kids fell asleep in the car on the way home. Great for mom too!

Katelyn Gets Glasses

Katelyn is always complaining when the sun is in her eyes. (I guess it is not complaining as much as whining and trying to cover her face.) So we got her some sunglasses to shield her eyes from the glare of the sun. She is totally in love with them and wants to wear them all the time, even at night. Hopefully she'll keep it up. She is such a cutie!

ABC Tag

So Nat tagged me- my very first tag- so I suppose that I should do it. This is not an invitation for hoards of other people to tag me--

A-Attached or Single? Attached

B-Best Friend? Jeff

C-Cake or Pie? Cake- chocolate preferably.

D-Day of Choice? Saturday

E-Essential Item? Tide laundry soap- it's the only "clean" smell for me.

F-Favorite Color? Blue, and pink since I've had girls.

G-Gummy bears or worms? Yuck! Not a real fan of either.

H-Hometown? You know where I live- but I grew up in Cincinnati, OH

I-Favorite Indulgence? Holding sleeping babies.

J-January or July? July-summer, swimming, no school!

K-Kids? 3

L-Life isn't complete without? Good music and friends.

M-Marriage date? June 28, 1997

N-Number of brothers and sisters? 2 brothers, 2 sisters

O-Oranges or apples? Big, juicy oranges.

P-Phobia or fears? Having all my teeth fall out.

Q-Quote? 1.21 Jiggawats! 1.21 Jiggawats! (Back to the Future)

R-Reason to smile? A wonderful family and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

S-Season of choice? Fall- I love the leaves and the first crisp mornings after a long, hot summer!

T-Tag 2 people: Lana, Natalie

U-Unknown facts about me? I have a very sensitive belly button.

V-Vegetable? Lots- Broccoli, asparagus, spinach, carrots, corn on the cob, yams, potatoes...

W-Worst habit? Taking a nap on the couch before actually going to bed.

X-X-ray or ultrasound? X-ray. I hate having ultrasounds- it's the belly button thing again.

Y-Your favorite food? Chocolate anything

Z-Zodiac sign? Gemini

Ooey Gooey Chocolate Bundt Cake

As I sit here and watch the snow fly- yet again- I am wanting to bake something warm and gooey. Chocolate is one of my vices in this life, and I have had several friends asking me to post recipes, so here is a recipe for an ooey gooey chocolate bundt cake. Very tasty and perfect for a cold, snowy April day. Or really any day because chocolate makes every day happy! And as I don't have a picture of this tasty cake you'll have to settle for a picture of the snow flying. Real, huge flakes of cold snow taken just moments ago.

Ooey Gooey Chocolate Bundt Cake

1 milk chocolate cake mix

1 c. sour cream

1 small box (4 serving size) instant chocolate pudding

4 eggs

1/2 c. water

1/2 c. oil

1 1/2 c. chocolate chips

Combine all ingredients together. Mix well. Pour into well greased bundt pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes, or until done. I like to eat it with lots of Cool Whip.

What kind of shoe are you?

I saw this on a couple of friend's blogs and thought that I'd give it a try. Funny how it all worked out. I really would rather be barefoot than wear shoes any day. And I am always barefoot or in socks around the house. Go figure!

You Are Bare Feet

You are a true free spirit, and you can't be tied down. Even wearing shoes can be a little too constraining for you at times! You are very comfortable in your own skin. You are one of the most real people around. You don't have anything to hide. Open and accepting, you are willing to discuss or entertain almost any topic. You are a very tolerant person. You are accepting and not judgmental. You should live: Somewhere warm You should work: At your own business, where you can set the rules

What Kind of Shoe Are You?