Kiss the Cook!

She is kissable, isn’t she? Eden just finished her 3 day cooking camp at a local Tea Room, and I was secretly told she was their star student. The first day she learned to make boiled omelets, banana pancakes and Baconator breakfast rolls. The second day they learned new lunch recipes, and the third day dinner. She had a blast and has become quite the cook! I have decided to let her handle the rest of the meals for the summer so I can take the time to put my feet up. You’ll have to come over to Café Vest and sample her delicacies. Bon appetit!

diAPeR dAys

It is estimated that a baby will need approximately 6,000 diapers during their first two years. On average, that amounts to $1,600 or $66/month. With those calculations, I have figured that we have spent about $5,000 in diapers in the past 6 ½ years! I probably shouldn't be making that tally within earshot of my husband or he'll have me swishing the cloth diapers. I my humble opinion, it's worth it! Landon would be potty trained by now if Damian would have taken me seriously when I put it on his list of things to do while he was on his break from school, but no luck.

Any parent out there knows how difficult diaper changes with a toddler can be. We have learned how to get pretty creative. Today I enticed Landon with a diaper headpiece modeled by big sister, Eden.

Of course he wanted one too and then the diaper craze began. They were all trying to figure out how many different ways they could ‘wear’ diapers. It was pretty entertaining for all involved, especially when Eden and Carter decided to test out the theory that diapers make good padding as they ran, slid, climbed, jumped, and fell. Who knew diapers were so cool? This thought process has probably set us back a step in the potty training process, but the fun was worth it and yes we eventually got Landon’s diaper changed.

fLyiNg hIGh!

Today was my bi-monthly Costco trip. Damian would prefer it to be only a once a month occurrence, but I can’t make myself do it. I’ve tried. Really I have. I can’t stop it. Sorry babe, it just feels too darn good!

Some people feel a ‘high’ after buying shoes. For some it comes with finding bargains. Still others feel it after eating chocolate. I completely understand these highs because each of these causes a semi-high for me as well. But there is nothing like the post-Costco or post-Container Store high I get when I unload my treasures and get to ORGANIZE them!

I am getting excited just writing about it! It makes me so happy when I can open my cupboards, closets, pantry, fridge, etc. and see order. Groups of like things together in nice perfect rows, every item exactly where I put it! But the best part is actually moving things around until I can find that perfect place. Oh, beautiful and wonderful day!

YEAH BABY!! Aren't you feelin' it too?

Sketties

Damian usually doesn’t make it into the house when he comes home from work before he is assaulted by a joyfully screaming toddler. It is too cute! Landon loves his daddy, but I think it is safe to say the crazy love is reciprocated.

As soon as Landon heard the door open today immediately started screaming, “Daddy home! Daddy home!” and took off running for the back door. He tackled Damian with a bear hug around the legs that, catching him off guard, almost brought him down. After Damian returned the squeeze Landon began his pleas, “Daddy, wrestle me! Daddy play wit me!” Daddy, I wanna hold you!”

Everyday weekday a similar conversation ensues about letting daddy change his clothes first, and then IT BEGINS…

All the kids eventually join in, and sometimes the mom, although I have learned I have to have an empty bladder because the finale always includes bouts of hysterical laughter for one reason or another.

Landon was showing us his new wrestling move he calls “Sketties.” Apparently, he uses Sketties when he wants to tackle someone and take them down. He primes his attack by bobbing up and down as fast as he can and then springs on his prey. Hopefully I can figure out how to get the video thing to work. He was making us laugh our heads off!

You better watch your back if our little man is around. You wouldn’t want to be caught off guard if he’s bringin’ the Sketties!

Grateful...

I win the mom of the week award for leaving Eden and Carter at Vacation Bible School a half an hour past pick up time! My brain told me it was over at 12:30pm instead of noon. Embarrassing!

The theme is Power Lab: Discovering Jesus’ Miraculous Power. It is at St. John’s Lutheran Church and they pulled out all the stops today. All of the leaders were wearing goggles, white lab coats and gloves, and when we came in there were several on the stage jamming to some Power Lab tunes.

Eden and Carter learned about how Jesus gives us the power to be thankful and came home with one suggestion on how to remember to show gratitude that I have never heard:

Think of something you do every day- like tie your shoes,

take a drink, or brush your teeth.

Plan to thank God for

something every time

you do that activity.

I am going to give it a shot, no pun intended...

I have so

much to be grateful for!

Today I am grateful that:

Landon is playing on the sewer and not in it.

Chaos ruled our house with 10 healthy kids running around.

Landon loves me so much that he wanted to be held all day.

Home Sweet Home

I can’t describe the feeling I had when I opened my eyes…it was light and I could see familiar surroundings! Damian had some kind of super power to drive all night long and I am filled with guilt and gratitude because of it.

We did it…3,000 miles, 8 states, $600 in gas, and 46 driving hours in the car with 2 kids and Landon whose lung capacity blows my mind! I lost count of how many times I heard “bum bum,” “smarker face,” and “young man” at a decibel level I am positive has permanently damaged all of our hearing. The boy loves his books though and would not share even the one he was using as a headrest. Nevertheless, everyone is still alive and we all arrived tired but relatively happy. This is nothing less than a small miracle!

Some of our travel tricks:

- separating the kids so they can only hand each other things

- new children’s books on CD

- individual snacks with enough for everyone to have the same

- suckers for when I feel too guilty using ear plugs

- flashlights for nighttime shadow puppets and entertainment

- kids songs to help the kids settle down

- tiny travel pillows and blankets for all (thanks Ann!)

- rolling down the windows when sanity is at stake

- flicks for screaming

- hand sanitizer in the mouth for potty talk

- using movies as rewards and taking turns choosing

- an empty bottle for just in case

- stickers and surprises up front to pass out when car fever strikes

- maps with the states to follow along and the license plate game (We saw plates from 38 states!)

- nap mats on the floor for mom crawling back and forth

- family stretches and relays during gas and potty breaks

It’s great to be home and I must have gotten some sleep last night because I had everything unpacked and put away within a couple of hours of getting home. There is no feeling like walking into your own house and sleeping in your own bed. Ahhhhhhh

daddy's girl

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Anyone who knows me well knows I am my Daddy’s girl!

We have always had a special relationship and I was thrilled

when I realized that I got to be with him on his birthday!

I feel so blessed to have this incredible man as my father and one of my heroes. He has taught me practicality like how to fix things around the house, spirituality by reminding me what is most important, and how to be a friend by showing me unconditional love, support and encouragement throughout my life.

As I listened to his cell phone ring though out the day with people calling with birthday greetings I realized that he has touched so many lives, but he still makes me feel like I am the most important person in the world to him, besides my mom of course!

At 65 the

silver fox

can still dunk!

I love you Daddy-O!

Thank you so much for all you do for me!!!

uNcLE diRt

We were grateful for the shelter of Oddy (the name of our Honda Odyssey courtesy of Becky) as it poured on the way to see Kevin. He has been training just outside of DC since January, and the kids have been talking about seeing him since he left. The closer we got the more anxious they got! They were ready for wrestling and bull rides and of course Uncle Dirt didn’t let them down!

We filled up with biscuits and fried apples at Cracker Barrel and then went back to the hotel to torture everyone else staying there as they listened to the kids screech, laugh and scream as they each took a turn getting bull rides and wrestling Uncle Dirt! It was so great to see him, but made us miss him even more! We are still recovering from Megan and Kevin moving to Colorado. It was such a blessing to have them living so close while they were here! We were so spoiled, but I foresee some road trips to Colorado in our future...

Eden and Carter had fun duken' it out and we had even more fun watching!