Princess Tea

I was so excited when Julia and I were invited to attend a "Princess Tea"! (This seemd like one of those perks for moms with girls, and a first real girlie program for Julia and I!)

(A very tired) Julia and the Disney Princesses...

Julia, Allison, Sarah and Lexi with the princesses. I was so excited they invited Julia for this fun event! The poor child mostly gets dragged along to all of Ryan's activities and doesn't really have her own "friends" yet, so it was so sweet for the "older" girls to let us tag along!

TGIF!

We had a fun Friday playing! I pulled out some toys the kids had received as Christmas gifts that we hadn't opened yet and they had so much fun playing with their "new" toys! Then Grandma and Grandpa Schuette came by for a visit. The kids L-O-V-E jumping on Grandpa's back and taking rides around the house. (Yes, it does make me a bit nervous!!!) Grandpa seems to love it too though, so let's hope for no falls!

Bacteria, Anyone?

Dear Health Department:
My son found the above bottle this morning hidden under my bed. This picture does not even do justice to show some of the organisms and bacteria we seem to be growing here at our little lab. See the top part? All fuzzy up inside there. Yummy. Anyways, should we all come down with something crazy from breathing in these vapors, I wanted to have this documented. I immediately threw it out in the trash, so that's where you can find this "evidence" if necessary. It particularly scares me that our family (uh, excuse me, my husband's) dog, who is normally not picky about what she chooses to eat/chew on (her personal favorite is Little People and DVDs) didn't seem to be interested in this goodness.
Sincerely,
A mom who apparently has inflated pride about the cleanliness of her home!

Sledding

"

Jeff was SUPER excited to bring the kids sledding this year. Actually, to bring Ryan sledding. However, Julia doesn't like to be left out and she wanted to go to, so I "got" to go along on the trip to our local park since we thought it might be difficult for Jeff to supervise the two of them. (And because I was putting my foot down that Ry is too young to go down the hill by himself! I mean, seriously...that just sounds like an accident waiting to happen! I think only a dad would consider sending his barely 4 yr old down this hill by himself. The part you see here in the background is not even the steep part!)

Would you believe I trek the camera up this big hill and the batteries are dying as I try to take a pic?! So here is a (bad) shot of Jeff and the kids. Julia decided to stay up at the top with me, and Jeff and Ry went down. Ry did not like his first trip down (snow flew up in his face), he said "cool!" about the second trip, and then I went down with him...probably not nearly as fun since I am a safety-freak with out-of-control sports and had both hands and feet dragging the entire way..and it was still too fast of a ride in my book!

Julia did one small portion of the hill with Daddy, and she said, "I ant to go again! Again!!" but before Jeff could climb back up the hill with her she saw the merry-go-round and was distracted.

The kids had TONS of outside play time today...we did this between when Daddy came home from work and our small group came over tonight, and they played outside with me this morning, and Ryan again with Grandma/pa this afternoon!

Oh well, if my opinion counts, we've had enough sledding fun for this year. =)

Wednesdays With Grandma & Papa

Fun news! Grandma started a Wednesdays With Grandma And Papa blog!

I know that the kids will cherish looking back at this someday (they already enjoy the photos!) and seeing all the fun memories from their childhood!

Perfect Jammie Day

Today the kids preschool was canceled due to our latest snowstorm...I don't seem to remember school being closed when the snow doesn't even cover the grass when I was a kid, but I didn't mind having the extra-hang time with the kids (we've been super busy and on-the-go lately), and a great excuse to stay in comfy clothes all day! =)

A foo-foo drink...a great way to start the AM!

"I ant some!" demanded Julia, so I gave her a little squirt of whipped cream to top off her cereal.

Then we headed outside for some wagon rides....think Daddy will have to head up the sledding...that was a bit too much for me. I did shovel the driveway/front walk and the kids had fun playing in the snow.
Jeff hates to shovel. (Strangely, the past few years he has been out of town for every single one of our big snowstorms.) He has the "it's just going to melt in a few days anyhow!" attitude. I am the opposite. I think a shoveled driveway and walk are so cozy and welcoming! We have an ergonomic shovel that I LOVE. Jeff would like to sell this every spring in our neighborhood yard sale. So I make great effort to put it to good use when I can. Today was no exception. It really does make the job easy, and not tough on your back. A few years ago, 9 mos pregnant with Julia I was out there shoveling. One of my very kind neighbors sent her boys over to help me out afraid it would send me into labor...little did she know labor was exactly what I was going for!

Our neighbors are so kind to us! We were gifted this when they outgrew it, and Ryan loves to use it in the summertime to play in (mess up!) the landscaping, and it worked very well today in the snow!Later we came inside, had lunch, and had a playdate with Josie and Izzy O'Day. Their parents are busy at work trying to get their new restaurant (Wang Gang Asian) up and running, so the girls spent some fun play time here.

Dinner Anyone?

Ok, so here it is 5:30 pm, my hubby will be walking in the door STARVING any moment now, and Ryan has already told me, "I so hungry, Mommy!" which Julia happily repeated and it sounded something like this, "I ooo ungry!"

It's one of those days where I have ignored dinner plans all day long...despite the fact we haven't left the house except to venture outside for about 30 minutes of playing in the snow.

One of those days where everything I think I might whip together, I am missing ONE ingredient...the one you couldn't do without.

So, does anyone know what happens if you put frozen chicken tenderloins in the oven and throw a can of cream of broccoli soup on there? It kinda sounds like something my mom would have done years ago. You know, one of those things we would have hated as kids (sorry Ry and Julia!) but might have liked when we were older?

Well, going to try this out...cross your fingers! =)

UPDATE:

This is what it ended up looking like. (I sprinkled some crushed Ritz Toasted Chips on top to add a bit of crunch). I also got nervous when the chicken was in the oven that I wouldn't get it cooked all the way through, so I nabbed it out of the pan and stir-fryed it on the stove, cutting it into small pieces at the same time as to cook faster). Then I put it back in the oven and topped it with the chips. I gave this about 5 stars out of 10. For sure not something I would ever crave again. However, Jeff (who seems to be picky) really liked it enough for me to pack up the leftovers for lunch tomorrow.
Now, I did do a little PR job on him...when he came home, he said "What's for dinner?" And I said "Oh, It is a special surprise!" (Ok, not really stretching the truth too much there...it for sure was a surprise to me what this would be like, too!). Then I said "I think you will like it!" Well, either the cooking, or the PR worked...=)

Little Momma!

I hiding!

See this door? This is the pantry. Julia's new favorite hiding spot. And it took me about 5 FRANTIC minutes to find her!!!
She is very into hiding everywhere these days...last week I had her at the Y and she ran on the tennis courts, ran down the backside of the curtain and was hiding out near court 4. I saw her walking down and then "disappear"...when I finally walked down and found her in the folds of the cutain, she looked at me, laughed and said, "I hiding!"

What's in a name?

Jugi Jones.

Does that make you think of anything?

It does me. A stripper. (Really not sure why).

But that is the name Ryan often calls his baby sister.

The "Jugi" part started when Ryan couldn't say "Julia" clearly. That is his nickname (and ours) for her. I think the "Jones" part may have been added at grandpa/ma's house, but I am not sure. And it's stuck!

Lately, this name seems appropriate. Our little girl has been refusing to get dressed! Once we get her clothes on and distract her, it's okay. It's just getting there. I have even tried letting her choose her outfits lately (EEK! Maybe that answers questions for anyone who has seen us lately!) thinking if it's her idea she'll put them on. Nope. Funny thing is, she is totally fine running around naked. But the girl demands her hair bow. Gotta love it!

Potty Princess

Today when I picked up the kids from preschool, Mrs. Gwen asked about Julia and where we were with potty-training so she could follow the same routine at school. I think she jinxed us.

Julia has showed very little interest in this. Until today. She did carry the potty up from downstairs last week. Being the stellar mother I am, I ignored this. On purpose. You see, I am not ready for her to do this. For one, she is my baby, and somehow, this makes her less of that. Secondly, I am not ready to really do this until she is old enough to make it through car rides and stores without accidents and mad dashes to the restroom or side of the road. We avoided most of this with Ryan, and I really hope to do the same with her. Besides, she likes to sit on it (lid down) and watch tv, and it was serving that purpose just fine..until today!

"I did it, Mommy!

"Air it is, Mommy! Mommy, potty!!"

"I ant to try again!"
(We repeat this step about 10 times.)

Ryan comes to check it out. She is SO proud and won't stop telling him she went potty. He at first is like "so what" and then gets excited for her.

It took me over 1 hour and 3 accidents on the floor to convince her to put her diaper back on. Fun! Aggggg!

Dirty Little (Big) Secret

You ready for this? It is my project for today...



This is my dirty little (well, actually BIG) secret. You know, most people have this in the form of a "junk drawer" in their kitchen. Mine is a C.L.O.S.E.T. - I outgrew the drawer long ago. =)

I'm still running around like a madwoman on an organizing mission. We have almost recovered from the Christmas chaos. The toys are mostly under control in appropriate bins in the playroom.
This is what I have been putting off. YIKES! I better get to work! Thank goodness for Wednesdays with Grandma! =)

Beauty Shop

I thought I'd better document another reason why Katy earns her keep around here. It seems like lately I've really really been closer and closer to kicking her out...so, here is more proof. Someone remind me later when I am taking out that "Wanted: Good home for bad dog" ad.

"Rush air, K.T. Rush ur air, K.T." Julia says.

Cousins

We had a little cousin playtime this afternoon when Aunt Krista and Baby Tyler and Lucas stopped by. Bonus of family living close! This is why we put up with midwest winters!
It's worth it!

Kid Chatter

Julia: Ant some! Ant some! (She is pointing to the soda I am drinking in the front seat of car.)
Ryan: No, silly baby sister! You can't have that.
Julia: Ant some! No!!! Ant some!
Ryan: You can't have that or you won't grow to be big and tall like Daddy.

Ryan is sitting on my lap. Julia walks over and sits on his Smartcycle.
Ry: Baby sister, your baby [doll] is crying!
Julia: No!
Ry: Yes, baby sister, you better go rock your baby!

Julia completes a puzzle.
Julia (clapping): AAAA! I id it. I id it, Mommy!

Me: Ryan, hurry and put on your seatbelt!
Ry: Why, Mommy?
Me: We are late! Hurry, buckle up!
Ry: We be late for gymnastics again?!
Me: Yes! So hurry.
Ry: Ok, Jugi, hold on tight!

Ry: Mommy! Mommy!
Me (walking downstairs): What, Ry?
Ry: I can't see you. I was so worried about you!

What's In You?

I saw this on my bro-in-law Jeff's blog and thought it was so good I would "steal" it for ours.

So, after watching this, ask yourself -- what would YOU hear if you put this stethoscope up to your chest?

Nightmare night!

8:40pm - We return home from our friends, the Karlas' house, where we had small group Wednesday evening. It's already past bedtime for the kids, so we rush to get them ready for bed.
8:50pm - I am reading stories to Ry in his bed, Jeff is giving Julia a bath because her poor bottom is raw from the antibiotics she is on to clear up her ears.
9:30pm - I tell Jeff, "I'm exhausted. Let's go to bed early, I'll meet you back here in 30 minutes."
10:00pm - I'm on the computer downstairs and straightening the kitchen, him on the computer upstairs...we both ignore the 30 minute deadline.
12:03am - I go up and say "Why are we doing this again!? Let's go to bed!" (We have a late-night habit that needs to stop!)
1:something am - Julia cries out. I ignore her. She continues to moan for the next 10 minutes or so.
2:15 am - Ryan comes walking in my room and tells me he wants to get in my bed. (It is weird opening your eyes to someone staring in your face.) I am not sure where this came from. He has never slept with us. Except for when we had an ice storm and no power, we did for mere warmth! I bring him to the potty and put him in bed with us.
2:25 am - I tell Ryan to stop squirming and kicking. He asks me, "Why?"
2:30 am - I tell Ry it is time to go back to his own bed and carry him there. "Why?" he asks again.
2:31 am - Kate meets me in the hallway. I ask if she needs to go outside and she runs ahead of me downstairs to the back door. Darn dog!
2:50 am - Julia cries out again. Starts as a wimper, and grows louder.
2:55 am - I kick Jeff, and continue to do so until he says "What?" I decide I am annoyed by all the questions from the boys in my house in the middle of the night!
2:56 am - Jeff goes in and fulfills Julia's request for water. He rocks her for about 60 seconds and puts her back in her crib.
3:10am - Someone is wimpering, I have no idea which child, am surprised I can't tell which one, and I am just too darn tired to care. It isn't too loud, so I choose to ignore it.
3:14am - It is very loud, and it is Ryan. I run in and he tells me, "I am scared! It is dark in here!" (Ok, so at 4 yrs old he is going to decide to be afraid of the dark? No way. This can NOT start now!) I remind him that Jesus is here with him and to not be afraid. This hope does not last long.
3:16 am - Ry cries out loudly again. I run in and he tells me "I can't breathe." I return with a kleenex for him to blow his nose.
3:20 am - Julia cries out again. I go in and she flat out demands "arm ilk" and repeats this over and over until I give in and make her some warm milk and a Motrin tablet. What is going on here?!
3:25am - I have just hopped back in bed, and Kate comes over and barks at me. She wants to go out. Again. I decide I am going to take out an ad offering the dog to a good home first thing in the am.
3:35 - Ry screams out again. I go running, lest he wake up Julia. I run in and he says "But it is scary here!" I run back to my room, grab my pillow, and jump into bed with him. I shake Jeff up and tell him where I'm headed, and remind him to listen for Julia (I probably won't hear her over Ry's sound machine.) and I would bet the house she'll be up again at some point!!
4:10am - I wake up sweating under Ry's down comforter. Like to the point I think he might have peed the bed or something. Yuck. I move the blanket to let some cold air in, and Ry says, "Whatcha doing, Mommy?" He's still awake??!
4:37 am - I am waken up by this little voice: "Mommy, I just can't sleep. I am not tired." At this point, I am about in tears. Thank God preschool is tomorrow morning, if we actually can make it there. With this type of night, I wonder if the kids are coming down with something awful!?! I have volunteered to help out with something at church after I drop them off, and now I am regretful of this, as I wonder how I will ever make it without a nap. I run downstairs, pour Ry a dose of Benadryl, and run upstairs to dispense this. At some point after this, he fell asleep. I'm not sure when, because I did too. Finally!
9:00 am - Jeff comes in Ry's bedroom and tells me it is 9am (preschool starts at 9:30am). He literally lifts me out of Ry's bed, so I don't make any movement on the mattress as to wake up our resting boy!
9:01 am - I jump in the shower and Julia is "talking" already in her room.
9:15 am - I run downstairs and make some warm milk for Julia. Run upstairs and snatch her out of her crib and carry her in our room to drink this. She refuses, as she wants it in another cup. I pour it in the other cup. She cries. I pour it back in the first one. She drinks it. Augh!! I get a quick blow-dry and dressed.
9:30am - Ry is still sleeping, and I am not about to wake him. We will be late for preschool, and I will be late to help at the church. I get Julia ready, (thankfully, it is PJ day at school. How absolutely convenient!) make lunches, and pack backpacks.
9:40am - Jeff asks me if I'd rather let Ry sleep all morning, or if we should wake him up and that way he will for sure do an afternoon nap. I send Jeff upstairs ASAP. We throw on "fresh" jammies (he decided yesterday he wanted to wear his train jammies).
9:55 am - We're out the door! (Me with a large large coffee drink for myself! Eek!)

Hoping for a WAY better tonight!!

Wednesdays With Grandma

Today
See these two crazy kids? They are doing what they do most every Wednesday since they have been born! Having a great memory-making, time-off-for-mommy-t0-clean-shop-or-whatever day! We call this day "Wednesdays with Grandma".

Jeff's mom (and dad!) have watched the kids Wednesdays since Ryan was a tiny baby, and Julia about 2 or 3 weeks old! (Except for when they travel. Which they are doing more now. Darn retirement! =) ). She takes photos each week and has a scrapbook for each of the kids so that they can look back and see a photo of themselves every Wednesday. Isn't that neat?!

Here are some pics from Ry's book, and from Julia's book:July 20, 2005 - "The Greats" come to visit on a Wednesday.
July 27, 2005 - Ry and Papa hanging out.
August 3, 2005 - Modeling a sweater Grandma made. Ry wasn't feeling well this day, so not in much of a modeling mood!
August 10, 2005 - We meet up down at Lake Norfork
August 17, 2005 - Ry checking out his first haircut by Daddy. He seems pleased!
August 24, 2005 - Modeling with the horse Grandma bought before Ry was even born!
March 14, 2007 - Julia's first official "Wednesday With Grandma".
Pictured here with Papa and Aunt Stacy.
March 21, 2007 - Grumpy visits Julia for the first time
March 28, 2007 - Grandma bought this blankie for Ryan and he never liked it, so she's hoping Julia takes to it!
April 4, 2007 - Papa and our sleeping doll baby.
April 20, 2007 - This is a Friday visit, as Grandma was gone Wednesday that week, but she had to get her memory making time in with the kiddos so we rescheduled our days!
November 12, 2007 - Ryan drives Baby Sister around in the jeep at Grandma/pa's house.

You know you are a mom when...

..you open your email and see this:

Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 3:36:44 AM
Subject: Pumps for the office + meet Rachel Zoe!

...and immediately think there has been some new breast pump invented.

Of course, had I been paying attention and not browsing so quickly (but who has time for that these days!?!), maybe it would have registered since the email was from Piperlime!

Daddy's Home (& Safe!)

This is an excited boy!

When he woke up this morning, his Daddy had returned from his Vail ski trip! To make up for "lost" time, the boys filled their morning racing airplanes around the GeoTrax.
Julia and I woke up to their laughter...what a nice way to wake up!

Editor's note: Mommy is very glad Daddy is home safely also, as he did not (at all, whatsoever) follow the "remember you are a husband and father, no dangerous skiing even though we just updated our life insurance policies!" talk he got before he left!

Warm Welcome

When Jeff returned from work this evening, he was greeted with a VERY warm welcome! The excitement that he is home from his trip has NOT worn off yet! They took off running when they realized the paparazzi had spotted them (that would be me!).

Seriously, who knew an empty box could be such fun!?

Birthday Parties Galore!

Happy Birthday, Izzy!

Happy Birthday Papa, Tyler, and Granny Re!

Ryan and Julia have fun playing in the box Tyler's kitchen came in! I think the kids might have played with this box as much as the toy that was inside!

Tyler and Aunt Amy enjoy some hugs!

Mommy and Julia get down as to not miss any of the action.

Parties are over...please don't drink and drive...the cake sugar high we are all on is probably dangerous enough! =)