word cloud

OMG this proves I suck as a mama. 5 kids names are huge. 1 is tiny. He's right...it sucks to be the middle child!!!

catchin up

This week has seemed really crazy. I think because D threw his back out on Sunday and then we had some friends over that afternoon to brew beer. I don't know. It just seems like there wasn't enough down time this weekend.

The big news of the week? Kelli started preschool yesterday! So very exciting for all of us. It's nice to go back to our homey little school when Emma went for 2 years and Clay went for just a few months. I really love the school and their program and the teachers, too. And Kelli was sooooo very ready to go. She's so different from Emma going. Emma had the same teacher for 2 years and she still acted so shy and quiet when I dropped her off. Kelli got out of the car yesterday and started running. Then she stopped and asked where the door was. She didn't know where she was going, but she was READY to go!

And Jack E did pretty well without his best friend/playmate/boss around for the morning too. He and I ran an errand, then he played on his own and then he watched a movie with D. Kelli had a birthday party in the afternoon too yesterday so she had quite the day.

Now I am just trying to get on top of stuff here. Yeah, right. Mt. Washmore will never be a hill again, I swear!

Better go before the kids start trickling in from school.

Valentine's Day ain't what it used to be!

I always give D a hard time when Valentine's Day falls a little short because on our first one together he gave me a CAR!

We were recently engaged and I didn't have a car. Our wedding was just a few months away and I'd need a car then. I honestly don't know if he planned to do it all on Feb 14 or if it just turned out that way, but every Valentine's since then just kind of falls short!

Yesterday for example. Jack E was up coughing like crazy just after D left for St.Arbucks at 4. Since Jack E was in Kelli's bed, he woke her up too. They played dollhouse for a while, and kept trying to convince me it was morning. Still dark out means it's nighttime, kiddos!

Finally, I relented around 6:15. By then Trey was up complaining that they were having a late start because of the snow. Remember he had a "special" valentine to give someone! I was trying to get my pink chocolate chip pancakes going. (Yes I really did that to my poor children!) And I had to cut rice krispies treats into cute little heart shapes for them to give to their teachers. And cut up 2 pineapples for the 5th grade chocolate fondue party this morning.

I got to the elementary school a little before the party was supposed to start. It was delayed too. Now I'm worrying about Jack E coughing on everything in sight...and trying to keep him and Kelli out of the chocolate and fruits and treats.

We did last through the whole party, though. And they really only had 1 plate of chocolatey stuff to snack on. Then we had to run to the market to pick up wheat berries. I grabbed some sushi for my special lunch too. On the way home, I drove through KFC and got some little chickens for the kiddos. Two small kiddos can be cheap to feed.

As soon as we finished lunch and I got Jack E down, Trey was calling to tell me he's sick. After all that chocolate, it's no wonder!!! I tried to talk him into feeling better. I really needed the baby to sleep and to get some stuff done. It worked. I picked up and started dinner. While I was picking Trey and his friend up from band after school, Aleena's math teacher called. There are "some concerns" we need to get together to discuss. Great!

I got back home, and talked to D about our lovely daughter. She was awesome at elementary school, but the freedom that middle school has brought has been a lot for her to handle. We just keep taking privileges away and she just hasn't seemed to get it. I think the phone call home...and the 2 D progress reports helped her get a better picture.

So I spent over an hour and a half doing math with her. D and the other kiddos made cheese. D and I were going to try to go out for a little ice cream treat, but after both being up since around 4 and then dealing with the kiddos and their stuff, we were just not in the mood. He watched Lost while I fell asleep on the couch.

Just another day in paradise!

maybe girls are a good thing

This morning we had one of those crazy Colorado storms come through. We were literally wearing flip-flops all week and now it's been snowing all day. Because of that, the elementary kids had a 30 minute delay.

You would have thought the world was ending by Trey's reaction. He was up by 6:20 dressed in a button down shirt and smelling VERY good. He was looking for a hairbrush and the detangling spray. He even sprayed on some hairspray to make it stay nice. Then he brushed his teeth and used mouthwash.

This is usually the boy that I have to remind to brush his hair and teeth each morning. He usually complains about it, but still gets it done.

But today is Valentine's Day and he had a special chocolate rose to give to a special girl.

Maybe if he keeps this up he'll even shower without a fight!

maybe I'm jumping the gun a little

This morning I ran out the door to take Aleena to school BAREFOOT. Then I met D at the gas station with some stuff he forgot he needed today. I was wearing flip-flops!!! I love being barefoot and flip flops. Literally my foot wear of choice as long as it's 60º or more.

But it's still February. And there is still ice on the streets. I gotta go paint my toenails!

pop tarts

The other day my kiddos showed me how much our family has changed in the last decade. Pop tarts used to be quite common around our house when Aleena and Trey and even Clay were little. They were easy to eat and the kiddos liked them. I bought the cheaper store brand ones so I felt better about it all.

But I've changed my views a lot about nutriton and food additives and avoiding artificial and processed foods. So Jack E and Kelli have never actually had pop tarts before. Maybe Kelli has once but we can't really remember. I got them one the other day at a gas station for a "special" treat. Kelli ate about half of hers. Jack E took 4 or 5 bites then wanted a clementine. He said "Jack no like it. Jack want a clementine." Yes he often refers to himself in the 3rd person. Aleena was so surprised that I had actually bought them pop tarts and only mildly surprised that Jack E didn't like it. She reminded me that he grew up on farm food. We made all of his baby food from fresh organic produce. He grew up only eating mama's homemade bread (until about the last year he's had store bought.) He has just been raised in a different way than the older ones. And he seems to be doing just fine. Even if he would rather have a clementine than a pop tart!

tingling on my nose

I woke up this morning with that familiar tingle on the end of my nose. I've only had a cold sore 2 or 3 times before, but I always get it in the same spot. At the base of my nose in between my nostrils...icky!

I ran out to the drugstore quickly and got some abreva. Hope it's gone soon.

Emma and D went to the Father Daughter Dance at the elementary school last night. They were there about an hour. I don't think Emma talked to anyone. Or danced either. She ate a cookie, had her picture taken with Daddy and then they were done. He'll have 1 more sedate dance with her, then Kelli will be able to go to the dance. I'm sure she'll be a little more lively than Emma!

Kelli is starting preschool in just over a week. She is just so much Kelli all the time. I'm looking forward to someone else getting to enjoy her for a few hours each week. I know that will help me to enjoy my time with her more, too. On the downside, I will finally have just one toddler at home with me. That hasn't happened since 1997 and she was still napping twice a day then. I have never had to entertain a 2 year old by myself. Am I up to the task?

We'll see!