Who Needs a Sled

We had a great time visiting with family. The girls loved every minute of it and hated to leave. I took tons of pictures and will be uploading them very soon. Happy New Year!

Better Late than Never

Well all that snow I was wishing for is here. 4 short days after Christmas. Seems to be how it always works though. A day late and a dollar short. We are busy getting ready to wrap up the season and ring in the New Year. Tomorrow we will be travelling to my sister in law's house to visit with some of the King's side of the family. We will exchange gifts and have a sort of post holiday celebration. Then we will be coming back to ring in the New Year right here at home. I plan to take tons of pictures of the girls over the next several days and I promise to share!

Famous Last Words

Not feeling well today and laughter really is the best medicine so I will leave you all with a little bit of humor from our house to yours. Here are some famous last words that the King or I have spoken in the last week or so.


" I see the lid, but where's the marker?"

"Who got chocolate on the floor?" After further investigation, "Everybody move and somebody get me a rag, it's not chocolate."

Said in a high pitched squeaky voice, "open up that cute little mouth and let me feel your new tooth!" Yeah, ouch.

On a bit of another note, when I was a dispatcher I had to take a class on negotiations. We learned several tactics and techniques for talking someone "down" in all kinds of circumstances. I must say though none of these techniques worked on my two year old perpetrator.

Me: Very Sweetly "Tea put down the cordless phone. Put it on the floor very softly. I have candy"

Tea: Grinning dangling the phone over an open toilet. "NO!"

Me: Panicking. "Please, don't you want some gum?"

Tea: Thinking it over. PLOP!

Yeah, just like we learned you can't reach 'em all.

Back to Normal

Ahhhh! It feels so good to have things somewhat back to normal. Yes I know it's only the day after Christmas but we move fast over here. If you know me then you are already aware of the fact that I have some quirky ways about me. I can' t help it there are just some things that I just cannot do. One of them, strange as it may sound, is rearranging the furniture. I don't do it. Ever. I have no problem with rearranged furniture in my family and friends houses, just not my own. The King learned this early on in our marriage when I came home to our apartment from school one day to find......oh the horror.......the furniture moved!

Him: What do you think? It makes the room feel so much bigger right?

Me: Ummm yeah I guess. (really forced fake smile)

Him: What's wrong why is your neck twitching like that?

Dead silence.

Him: Are you crying?

We moved it back the way it was and all was well. Luckily he understood that it had nothing to do with him just the fact that I cannot tolerate change and seem to have some minor issues with control. Anyhow this story is relevant to the present. We had to , brace yourself, move the furniture to put up our Christmas tree this year. Although there were several times I envisioned myself throwing it out on the back deck I restrained myself. Until today. Out the door that baby went and the couch was moved comfortably back into place. Weird, I know, but I am so happy!

Merry Christmas!

Hope everyone else has a wonderful day as well!

1 More Sleep

We were up really late last night setting up the King's Christmas present. It's a combination air hockey/pool table and it was too big to wrap so he got lucky. Plus I didn't want to be too busy setting up things for the kids tonight and tomorrow and end up not getting around to it. We finally bedded down around 1 am alarm set for 7 am. I can only speculate as to what exactly happened but long story short I now have 20 minutes to get five people ready for church. Yeah, I think we'll be going to the evening candlelight service. We had planned on going to both but I guess one will have to suffice.

Everything is ready around here. We will open presents tonight and then Santa will come by tomorrow morning. I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!

Boy oh Boy

I saw a show today where they were testing old wives tales on fetal gender. They would do the little "tests" and then immediately following give the woman a sonogram to compare the results. Turns out, according to their results, one of the most accurate ways to tell (excluding sonogram) is the ring over the belly test. As soon as the King got home from work we gave it a try.

I pulled out a strand of hair and looped my wedding ring through. I held the ring over the King's palm. It went back and forth. Male energy. I held it over my own palm. It went in a circle. Female energy. I held it over each of the girls. In a circle. Lastly I held it over my lower belly and it went back and forth. Male energy. Hmmmmm.

Me: Well that settles it, I guess we're having a boy.

Chiggie: I think it's a girl trickin on you.

Me: Well it might be a boy ya know.

Chiggie: I really don't think so though.

Me: You really think it's a girl?

Chiggie: Yeah, cause I made a wish for 3 sisters and I only have two.

Me: It'd be okay if it's a boy though right?

Chiggie: Do you wish it was a boy?

Me: I think that would be neat, we don't have a boy yet.

Chiggie: Yeah it would be neat, but you know what would be even neater?

Me: What?

Chiggie: Another girl.

Holiday Whoobie Whatie?

Yeah yeah, I stole my title from The Grinch, I am only so creative you know. It seems like this year has been crazy busy. Not normal Christmas crazy busy but above and beyond crazy busy. I love the season and all that goes with it but I have found myself becoming more and more reclusive. It seems the most memorable Holiday events are the ones we spent right here at home with family and not really at all the parties and big events.

We opted not to go to the King's Company party this year. Partly because I was so sick and partly because it was at a fancy restaurant where we would have had to both pay for our own meal and provide two gifts for a gift exchange. I didn't really know how people would react when we pulled our sack lunches from a cooler and dined on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and potato chips. We've just never really been the corporate type.

Chiggie's preschool ended up scheduling two parties. One for today and one for tomorrow. That means two days in a row of getting up early, dressing up, and taking the babies early to participate in the party activities. Why they did this I am not entirely sure. I am so excited for this weekend. Not for all the awesome plans we have but for all the free time we will have. We plan to just veg out as a family, listen to Christmas music, watch movies, and go to church. A little break from it all........

Seasonal Rambling

I planned on posting another picture tonight but my camera is acting a little weird and I don't want to risk anything this soon after the computers little bug. I think I might need to reinstall the hardware device needed but I want to make sure I know what I am doing when I do it.

Today was another rather busy day. Chiggie picked out a few gifts for her teachers and is ready for her school party on Friday. Tomorrow we have to make the chocolate chip cookies that we signed up to bring. I am so ready for her to be on vacation. I cannot believe they made the break so close to Christmas. Because of this the girls have been extra tired this week. We have been so busy getting everything ready that bedtime has been a little later everyday this week.

I am beginning to doubt that we will have a white Christmas this year. We have been on blizzard watch for almost 3 days now and I have yet to see a flake. It's ironic because I saw on the weather channel that Albuquerque NM got 10" of snow and that several places in AZ were also on blizzard watch. Here we sit in the middle of the Rocky Mountains and we may as well be in the desert. No, it'll wait until March and then we'll get hit hard, just when everybody is ready for spring.

5 more days. I can't wait! In 5 more days we will celebrate Christmas and then after all the festivities are complete I plan to go into hibernation.

Looking Up

Let me tell you, it feels good to be back. In a way the computer crashing and all worked out because it gave me a reason to take a break from my obsessive blogging during a really tough time. So much happened in such a short amount of time. Allow me to recap:

• I was diagnosed in the ER on Sunday night with Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Trust me it is as nasty as it sounds. Basically my head and our toilet bowl have become very intimate in the past week or so. So much so that I had no choice but to be put on IV Phenergan and fluids just to get it under control. I am now taking the Phernergan in tablet form and for the moment things are under control.
• All of our shopping is complete. I was surprised that we were able to get everything we had planned on and I am sure that we will have three very happy princesses on Christmas.
• We sold the gas stove. To a real person. Who paid us in cash. It was a little awkward when the King embraced the old man in a big bear hug while choked up with tears but hey we all have our moments.
• Midge is standing all by herself. She can now easily maneuver from a squat to a stand and back to a squat again.
• Chiggie and Tea are ready for Christmas. Each night they eat their advent calendar candy then join hands and do a little happy dance throughout the family room. They are counting down the days and have tried to persuade us in every way to have Christmas "early" this year.

I am sure there are a million things that I am either forgetting or intentionally leaving out as not to agitate my post traumatic stress syndrome. I will post more Christmas pictures starting tomorrow but for today I'd like to ease the computer back in slowly.

I'm Back

What a crazy hiatus. I have no idea what was wrong with the computer. A lot of technical mumbo jumbo. Oh well, a techie came by and we're all good now. I have a ton to update and will be back to daily posting. No time now but I'll be back tonight.

Out sick

There is so much sickness in our house even the computer caught a virus. The doctor is coming on Monday hope to see you then.

Anticipation

This is last year on Christmas Eve. The girls were getting ready to open up their gifts under the tree and they were so excited. It is tradition for us to open gifts on Christmas Eve night. It makes Christmas Day a little less overwhelming and they really get time to play with all of their new things.

When I see pictures like this it makes me so happy that the girls will always have each other. I love to watch them play together and help each other out. Even though they have their fare shair of arguments I know they love and appreciate each other.

Farewell Good Friend

Our t.v. finally let go sometime in the night last night. The King is taking it the hardest. Keeps asking why and how. They had an incredible bond. I am pretty sure he is still in the denial phase. I am looking at this as an opportunity to take a new direction in life. At least until we can afford another one. Who knows I might actually get something productive done.

North Pole

Last year we went to the North Pole and loved it. The rides are great and can be enjoyed by all ages. There is festive entertainment throughout the park and the kids got to stop in and see Santa. Here is my sisters' family taking a break for a quick pose.

Sweets & Treats

Nothing says Christmas like frosted sugar cookies.

Baby's 1st Christmas

There is something particularly magical about a baby's first Christmas. Midge is the first baby that I have had that is really old enough her first year to show excitement in the festivities. She is in absolute awe over our trees, loves the lights outside, and really digs eating a piece of advent calendar candy everyday. And of course you can't forget the cute little pajamas she gets to wear. Sweet dreams baby girl.

Wanted: A Little R & R

Sorry this picture is a little fuzzy but I think everyone will still get the idea. This gingerbread bed and breakfast is part of our own little village collection. I wish I was there right now. Things have been crazy and they just keep getting crazier. Unfortunately I have been sick all day and I don't know if I caught a bug or if this is the beginning of a long 9 months. I am praying it is something I caught and will be over in a day or so.

One thing that is definitely new for me this pregnancy is my forgetfullness. I am usually not this way at all, but lately I have really lost my mind. Just to give you an example:

• On Friday I took Chiggie to preschool. Just like every other day since the school year began I signed her in on the sign in sheet and off we went. When I came back to pick her up there was a note next to where I signed her in saying ' are you sure?' I had signed Tea in not Chiggie.
• Today we had to go grocery shopping and I could not find where I put the check book. I always put it in the same place and it wasn't there. After turning the house upside down I found it in Chiggies' back pack where I had put it when getting out of the car yesterday. Why, I don't know.
• We got to the grocery store and I had to use the restroom. I didn't want to leave the check book with the cart so I took it in with me. I'm sure you're probably catching on at this point. It didn't come out with me. We had to wait forever for someone to turn it in to the service desk. Luckily someone did we paid for our groceries and left the store.
• Once we got to the car I started frantically searching for.......you guessed it the check book. Thankfully the King had it and still does.

We made it through the day no worse for the wear. Now I am just trying to relax a little. All 3 kids are in bed sleeping peacefully......I have 3 right?

In the Beginning

This was taken the Christmas before the King and I got married. By next year our family will have tripled in size. What can I say we work fast.

The Check Isn't In the Mail

Last night we finally sold our gas stove. We have been advertising it for over a month and waiting patiently for a buyer. We probably should've waited to buy the wood burning stove until after we had already sold the one we had but we got over anxious and did things a little backwards. Today the King revealed what a blessing it was that we sold it before Christmas. He hadn't wanted to worry me or say anything before, but things were a little tight and he was getting a bit nervous. We did a happy dance, had takeout for dinner, and revelled in our new found security.

Not 15 minutes later we were brutally slapped back into reality when we received an e-mail from the "buyer." The original details were worked out over the phone and we had decided to correspond through e-mail. It was obvious after reading it that something was up. I called our local police department and they agreed and gave me some information on Internet sales scams http://www.crimes-of-persuasion.com/Nigerian/nigerian_auction_scams.htm After looking into some of these we were certain. Uggghhhh!

It was so funny though. Instantly we were reminded of the scene from 'Christmas Vacation' when Chevy Chase gathers his family, after receiving his bonus , and announces to them that he was really starting to sweat it. He didn't know if it was going to come and he had already spent the money. Everyone embraces and claps as he opens the bonus just to find out that it is a membership to the Jelly of the Month Club. Yeah that's us, only we didn't get a membership to any jelly club. Don't worry though, we didn't freak out. We can't afford to go to Nigeria anyway.

Christmas Village

When I was a child we occasionally spent Christmas out of state with my paternal grandparents. Some of the fondest memories I have are from these visits. This Christmas village is one of my favorite decorations they had on display. It is incredibly realistic and I love the cliff dwellings. Just looking at this picture puts me in the Christmas spirit!

Vote for Tea

I love this picture because it really sums up Tea's personality. She has never met a stranger. This scares me about her but it is so true. She loves people and social situations which makes her the complete opposite of the other two who are very particular. When we are shopping or out in a restaurant she spends most of her time waving and blowing kisses. Who knows maybe we have a future politian in our hands?

In Need of Motivation

I'm a little melancholy today. I have a laundry list of things to do and no energy to get them done. I need to break up the monotony around here cause we're kind of in a rut. Things have gotten a little disorganized being we have been so busy. I don't know if I am tired due to early pregnancy or just plain laziness. The days seem to go by so fast and before I know it I have run out of daylight and I'm putting things off until "tomorrow." I promise I am going to take a nap this afternoon when the girls do and then I am going to get busy.........or not.

Bikes and Shots

This was Chiggie's 1st bike. It has since been passed down to Tea and will soon belong to Midge. Chiggie was so excited to see that Santa brought it for her. This was our first Christmas in Florida and it felt so weird because it was so warm. I still dressed her in flannel Christmas pajamas because it just felt wrong not to.

Today was Midge's 9 month well baby check. She weighs 17lbs 12ozs and is in the 25% all around. While we were there her and Tea got their flu shots. We had to go back this afternoon for Chiggie to get hers. It ended up taking me and two nurses to restrain her and it was a terrible experience. Afterwards I took them to the gas station to get a treat. On the way home she said that she had just been joking and really she wasn't afraid to get the shot and it didn't hurt at all. Could've fooled me!

2006 Christmas Pic's

Week of Mishaps

Last week seemed to be littered with mishaps. I learned a lot of lessons though and they say that if you write things down you are less likely to forget and repeat your mistake. Well then, here goes:

• One piece of gum at a time is almost always sufficient. Don't give in to the pleading or participate in the effort to create the biggest gum ball ever. It will end up in her hair!
• Do not give your toddler a mild laxative and then put her in underwear.
• Do not tell you're 9 month old, fresh out of the bath tub, to wait right here while you run grab a clean diaper. She will wait for you but not the diaper.
• If you hear the toilet flush for the 10th time in a 30 second period GO CHECK! Do not wait until you hear rushing water.
• Do not teach your 2 year old to lick her finger and then touch her hip making a sizzling sound. She will wait until you are in public, finding the grouchiest looking couple and then perform.
• If you are stoking your fire and you know you saw a large spark fly out FIND IT. Do not wait until you see smoke coming from your coffee table.
• Flip flops are never okay when you have a foot of snow on the ground.
• If you try to wash a load of laundry and take a hot shower at the same time, you will get burned.
• Never set a full can of soda on the table next to a load of freshly folded laundry. You will have to wash that load again, after you shower.
• Do not let your toddler ride in the back of a grocery cart when you are shopping like a mad woman. Something to do with gravity and equilibrium, they can be randomly ejected from the cart.

Just to name a few! Also a quick update on the health of our t.v. I don't think it will be with us much longer. It has to be left on 24/7. If turned off the resuscitation process is time consuming and anxiety inducing. Tea has figured this out and often motions toward the off button as if she is going to push it just to watch everyone freak out.

Turning Point

Here is a pic from Tea's first Christmas. She looks so much like Midge it is unreal. This picture is so bittersweet. Too much to go into all the way, but this was definitely a turning point in my life. This was one of the hardest years I have ever had. Luckily I have a wonderful family that helped me get through it all and make some decisions that would change our lives.

It was at this time that I decided that I could no longer work outside of the home. I missed my kids so much it was breaking my heart. Coupled with the fact that I had a job that was not family friendly at all, it was just more than I could bear. We spent the next 6 months getting our finances in the best order possible and soon I gave my notice. It was by far the best decision of my life. I know it's not for everyone, but I have never been happier. I think the girls would say the same.

Christmas Parade

If I were speaking to you now, you wouldn't understand a word I was saying. My lips and face are frozen. I can barely type my hands are so rigid. It snowed all day and the high was in the 20's. I finished my baking but thought for sure there would be no parade. I mean the roads were like an ice rink, the temperatures were predicted to drop into the teens, and the snow would just not quit. Who would go anyway right? Wrong. The parade was not cancelled so neither was the bake sale. Now, the parade was not cancelled but more than 75% of the participants dropped out due to the weather conditions. We couldn't get a refund because there was no official cancellation so we stood out in the blustery cold to make $5 on a few chocolate chip cookies. We had technical difficulties with our hot chocolate and cider, basically they never got hot. In total I think there were 7 floats. The whole parade lasted about 15 minutes. We were there though for 3 hours what with set up and take down.

The King kept Tea and Midge home as it was just way too cold to have them out. Chiggie did very well under the circumstances and was none the wiser that the whole thing pretty much stunk. To end on a good note, here Chiggie is her first Christmas sitting on the big guy himselfs' lap. She was so tiny. Anyway I am off to unthaw by the fire!

25 Days of Christmas

Throughout the month of December leading up to Christmas I will be posting a picture a day from Christmas past or present. I thought this would be a way to both reminisce and celebrate. This is me at my 3rd grade Christmas party. I was so excited because it was the last day of school before Christmas vacation. I was lucky and I had a wonderful childhood. My parents worked very hard to make sure that my siblings and I had Holidays full of happiness and tradition. We work hard to do the same for our girls. I just want them to have memories that they can treasure forever. I know that I do.

Playing Hookie

As it turns out they made an error on the radio yesterday morning and instead of a snow day Chiggie was playing hookie. At first I was a little irritated but then I just laughed it off. She didn't care that they had school and she missed it and I guess only 5 kids out of 15 even showed up. I guess her preschool is like the mail and come snow, sleet, hail, ice, hurricane.......

We have a busy weekend ahead of us. Tonight we are getting and decorating our tree for the family room. Tomorrow is the Christmas Parade and bake sale and then Sunday we are going to do some shopping. Such a busy time of year, but a happy and exciting one as well. I feel a little crazy trying to get everything done and keep up with committments that I have made. It seems like there is something to do or somewhere to be everyday. I hope everyone is having an enjoyable season!