Box Car Girl

This is how Molly insisted we stroll around town Thursday afternoon. 

She makes life awfully fun.

Sous Chefs

I'd had my fill.  It was sometime last week between the day I knocked my spices off the stupid spice shelf that resembles risers in an elementary school music program and the day I caught the recycling papers on fire from the flame of the gas oven getting a little to close. 

 

I'm the first to admit I love to cook.  But... the constant requests, spilt drinks, dishes left in the living room, lunches to make, tables to clear and the never-ending 'I'm hungry' whimper brought me to my knees.  I'd had enough.  My kids were moochers. 

 

I called a mandatory meeting.  Effective immediately, each of my children were assigned a night of dinner-preparation.  Even Molly.  They could prepare anything they wanted.  By that point, I didn't care.

 

Ross decided he would make homemade pizza on Monday's, Maisie would make lasagna casserole on Tuesdays and Molly would make tacos on Thursday (mostly so she could gorge herself on black olives during the slicing process).

 

The first week is the teaching week.  I teach them the recipe.

The second week, I will be their assistant throughout the cooking process.

The third week, they are on their own and we get, what we get.

 

Maisie prepared her casserole on Tuesday night.  Following a recipe from start to finish.  The hardest part was sharing tasks with Molly as she wasn't to be left out.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Working the can opener proved to be even more daunting than browning the beef.  It ended up being a 2-man job.

 

The casserole turned out fine.  A cross between Chef Boyardee and school lunch quality food.  I asked Molly if she wanted some leftover lasagna casserole for lunch on Wednesday to which she replied, "No that was so gross."

 

We'll see how long this lasts.

Fun Stuff

We've lost touch.  I've had my hands full, however I'm back in the ring. 

 

Let's cut to the chase.   'How's the house coming?' 

 

Oh, so many changes.  Mike worked his tail off over weekend vapor-wrapping the entire house in preparation for dry-wall.  I was busy re-thinking flooring colors and learning to use a caulk gun. 

 

On Saturday, Mike had to redo our chimney insulation.  The spray foam company got a little carried away and sprayed a few areas they shouldn't have.  Mike's conclusion... it's easier and faster to just fix it yourself. 

 

By the time everything was repaired and ready to go, Mike realized he was stuck. 

Of course I went straight for my camera.

 

By Monday night, the house was mostly ready for drywall.  At least Mike and I decided we were done on our end.  Our plumber still needed to sweat a shower valve, install a fart fan and set the kids' shower.  The plumber was there all day Tuesday, so I'm assuming we should be ready to rock.  Literally.

 

Meanwhile, the fireplace slate and bathroom tile arrived.  Appliances will be delivered Wednesday.  Siding is 1-1/2 weeks out and the paint color has been chosen.  I'm starting to think about packing again and saving boxes. 

Holy Crap!

 

In the meantime, Ross told me nobody is building him a fort, so he's doing it himself.

 

  He's digging scraps out of the burn pile to build it.

 

The notepad in his back pocket has the plans he drew, and the pencil with the stick-on eraser in the other pocket turn me to goo.

 

He's also been busy hunting rabbits.  By the time this house it built, it may be all we have to eat.

 

In other news, Grandma Boyd knows the way to Maisie's heart. 

She made her a hoochie dress!  And of course Molly insisted on a matching one.

 

I find them adorable and know how much Aunt Heather and I would have loved dresses like this at their age had we known 'pencil dresses' existed.

 

 

 

 

 

I happen to know G-funk would have made Heather and I hoochie dresses had we asked.  She was the one who bought me a water-bra the moment they were available at VM.

 

It's the fun stuff.

The Things I Think About.

We all have internal dialogue, right?  The things running through my mind keep me entertained, motived, giggling to myself, asking weird questions and making more plans than I have time for.  Most of my inner thoughts begin with , 'I wonder...'

 

For instance;

I wonder why Ross didn't seem concerned about the whitehead on the tip of his nose this morning before school, yet insisted I made sure his ears, nose and rear end looked clean.

 

I wonder how Maisie is getting through the day based on her theatrical demonstration of her stomachache this morning.

 

I wonder how Molly learned to work my Kitchen Aid mixer so well and how she knows to correct me when I accidently call 'Focaccia bread Ciabatta bread'.

 

I wonder if it's bad to cook raw bacon with almost fully-cooked bacon in a hot skillet.

 

I wonder if the checkout ladies at Fareway think I have a grocery shopping addition.

 

I wonder if I have arthritis in my hip.

 

I wonder why Molly said 'dickhole' this afternoon.

 

I wonder when Molly will stop sleeping in Pull-Ups.

 

I wonder when we'll move out of here.

 

I wonder if Maisie knows her pants are the definition of high-waters.

 

 

 

I wonder how Ross is able to eat 9 pancakes and drink a big glass of chocolate milk afterschool.

 

I wonder if Mike wonders how the house got so trashed during the day.

 

I wonder how many more times I'll have to clean the shower in the rental.

 

I wonder what color of floor trim to pick out for our new house.

 

I wonder how to entertain all 3 kids at the same time when they have completely different interests.

 

I wonder when Ross outgrew parks.

 

I wonder why Molly needs so much toilet paper.

 

I wonder why Maisie's so nice.

 

 

I wonder if I'll miss today.

Our Girl is 7

Since Ross was born, Mike and I have celebrated 20 kid-birthdays.  Not all, but many have been 'friend-parties'.  I still can't figure out why we as parents put ourselves through it.  We actually sign up for it the day invitations go out.  As each invitation is sealed and delivered, the thought of 'Here Goes Nothing' runs through my mind. 

 

However, according to me, the definition of 'Mom' is sacrifice.  We sacrifice our bodies while they form in our womb, we sacrifice our comfort during childbirth, we sacrifice sleep, nice clothes, salon haircuts, long showers, fancy meals, careers, nipples and on and on and on...  Another sacrifice comes each year on a child's birthday.  As a mom, I feel the need to go above and beyond to make my children feel ultra-special.  It's the celebration of their birth for crying out loud! 

 

Therefore, each year my children decide they want a birthday party, by golly I'll do everything in my power to give it to them.  I'm the mom... I can do this. 

 

Maisie decided on a Mermaid Themed Party this year.  Games were Mermaid Races, a Treasure Hunt, A Tape Ball filled with Candy Bars, Pin the Tail on the Mermaid and a Chum Toss.  Thank God I don't work outside of the home.

 

Did I mention it rained all day?  Did I mention the party had to be inside our 700 square foot rental house?  Did I mention 8 girls showed up?  With my 3 love bugs, that makes 11 kids.  Lord have mercy.  I was later told Maisie told her friends I was making mermaid tails for each of the girls to take home and wear.  No wonder everyone showed up.  If they knew they were only getting a ring pop, we may have had a smaller crowd.  Who knows.

 

Below.  The girls on the Treasure Hunt around the rental. 

 

Ross being tackled by the girls.  I'm sure he hated it. ;)

 

The Mermaid Cake.  Thank God Skipper's legs are shorter than Barbies.  Barbies knees only came up to the top of the cake.  Skipper also has not gone through puberty.  Her breasts are only buds which made it much easier to make a bandeau bikini top for her.

 

 

 

I love this girl.  She's the one who ate everyone's leftover cake and ice cream off their plates.  She also licked the bikini top of Skipper.  She then asked for more ice cream.  Reminds me of myself in elementary school on fried chicken hot-lunch day.

 

Ross was not to be left out.

 

Believe it or not, only 2 girls started crying after this attack.

 

Ross posing half-naked with the little girl from Brazil who doesn't speak English but loved playing with the pink rifle.  There are no words.

 

Again, so many things I could comment on.

 

By the way, Maisie received 2 of these types of dolls.  This particular one has a bolt going through her neck... WTF?

 

Weird-o-rama

 

Maisie's best friends in 1st Grade.

 

Many guests left with a balloon in their shirt.  I told each of their parents, 'It must have been quite a party, several girls are leaving pregnant!'

 

Maisie's best friend Delaney was able to make it to her party.  I found this on the easel Monday morning.  Best friends are the best.  So glad she found one.

 

Until next year...

As Promised...

Sunday evening it looked like this.

By Thursday evening, it looked like this.

 

We have a garage floor!

 

On Monday evening, our windows and walls looked like this.

 

 

And by Thursday night they looked like this!

 

 

Spray foam insulation is going in!  Molly said 'Someone destroyed our house!'

 

Last, but certainly not least we've got a porch.

 

More changes coming soon!

Poured

This wasn't the only thing getting poured Wednesday morning...

 

 

Stay tuned for house updates!

 

In other news, Kratt's shedding.  'Tis the season.

I'm not raking it. 

Just praying for strong winds.

Doll House

I think we've been living in a cramped rental too long.  I realized it when I watched Molly set up the doll house.

 

Something about a kid bed, a crib, dogs and food, bouncy chair, vanity and barber chair all being in the same room. 

 

The dining room table isn't too far off either.  The random assortment of chairs and mop bucket nearby.  It's all too familiar. 

 

I didn't mention there is a completely empty middle floor.  I don't get it either.  I guess it's for storage.  Who knows?

Trash Garden

Forget the money-saving challenge.  We've starting re-growing our own trash!

 

No kidding.  We've discovered celery will regrow itself!

 

I love science.

A Good Book

Every once in a while you find one.

A book you can't put down. 

You finish the book and discover another one by the same author. 

It's just as good as the first. 

The author has lots of books on the library shelf and suddenly it's like another world has opened up. 

Ross discovered Peg Kehret.  I imagine she's the R.L. Stine of this age.  He's hooked.

 

Tuesday he checked out Ghost Grave.  Tuesday night he read Ghost Grave before dinner, after dinner and skipped 'The Office' with me in order to read. 

 

Wednesday morning, he ignored breakfast to read Ghost Grave.  He finished Ghost Grave while sitting in the mini-van of the school parking lot before school Wednesday. 

 

He wanted to finish it before school started so he could get to the library to check out another one. 

 

I think 'The Blizzard' is next.

 

I'm finishing up an awesome book by Kimberly McCreight called 'Reconstructing Amelia'.  It's a murder/suicide/lesbian/bullying/gang type book.  Along the same disturbing tone as Gone Girl.  I can't put it down. 

 

Unless I have soup to make, of course.

 

For the love of books...

Tuesday Morning

I don't know what your mornings are like before school... but here's a tiny glimpse of ours on a Tuesday morning.

 

 

Plus, Ross won the award for quote of the day this morning. 

"Shoot, my farts are becoming more serious"

Rising

I don't know why the phrase "He Has Risen!" kinda drove me nuts this year.  I get that Jesus disappeared from the tomb after His death and rose into heaven, just as He said He would.  I wasn't feeling anti-Easter by any means.  I love Easter.  I love the way eggs symbolize new life and the bright colors symbolize the coming of spring.  I love Easter baskets (my kids used plastic sacks), girly Easter dresses (thanks for those GG) and the 'hunt' that precedes sticky-chocolate fingers.  I have nothing but fond memories of Easter and I know my kids will as well.  My kids have never attended church on Easter Sunday. 

 

Never.

 

Not because I don't want them to or because I have anything against it, but it just doesn't work out for us. 

 

Once again, the Greens came up from the Quad Cities and met the Schulz' and us at the Ramada Inn Waterpark in Des Moines.  The kids got to swim together and we got to drink together.  It was a win-win.  We realized the kids have gotten so independent, we're finally able to talk and get to know each other again.  I think I might kinda like em after all! 

 

So, once again we didn't make it to Easter church services.  "He Has Risen".  Not to be ignorant, but was there any doubt He would this year?  He rose 2000 years ago (give or take).  It'd be like saying "She's been born!" each year on Maisie's birthday. The bottom line is, He died and rose 2000 years ago in order to give us eternal life.  That's how much He loves us.  And He didn't even know us!  I don't think we can even comprehend that depth of love on earth.  Do I think God is angry we didn't make it to Easter services?  Do I think God feels I'm ungrateful because I find the 'risen' statement to be unsurprising? 

 

Nope.

 

I believe God loves seeing us just 'be' together.  I believe Jesus sacrificed his life so we could enjoy ours.  So we could love and truly know one another.  So we could share and enjoy one another.  To laugh, eat, drink, play and love each other. 

 

As far as I'm concerned, that's the whole purpose.  As far as church.  'Do kids like sitting though church?'  My response, 'How does God feel about kids?'  I believe my point has been made.

 

I'm still young and my opinions on this could all change; however at this point in my life the below photos are my church.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

 

GG giving Egg Hunt Directions and Aunt Heather laughing.

 

Cole wondering when the directions will finally end

 

Zach barking back

 

The girls found an egg they couldn't reach

 

This was spotting flying above us

 

It was just Eric videotaping the Egg Hunt

 

My little optical illusion photo I didn't plan

 

Cole and Ross.  I think Cole could be a hurdler someday

 

Safe or not safe.  You make the call

 

 

Tim kicks

 

 

And Mike makes sure he's out.

 

A few of my favorite girls

 

 

He Has Risen!