Paradise

I skipped a Wednesday of blogging. Not sure anyone except Wendy noticed. On Friday she texted me, "Where the hell's your blog?!!" Such a sweetheart that one. I only had one pic and not much to say so I thought I'd skip a week. And that's going to happen from time to time, Wendy. And now I have words to share. So here they are.

I think so much of my mood depends on how balanced things are. Like when I'm home too much or out too much. Or when I've been with the kids too much or by myself too much, (not that that ever happens). Too much healthy food or too much junk food. I like to alternate between yoga classes and boot camp classes at the gym. I think we need to balance things out in order to maintain a healthy mind and body. Just an observation for the week.

I've found that I feel way more sane now that the kids are back in school. See, balance. They are at school half the day and home half the day. With peers half the day and parents and siblings the other half. Balance.

And speaking of balance, Dan climbed up to the 2nd story to wash the windows and spider webs etc. Angus said, "Daddy is yoooo high!" Addie matter-of-factly replied, "Yeah he'll probably fall." It makes me nervous every time Dan does stuff like that, even though he literally does that for a living. Ya know, climbs ladders and sprays stuff with a hose.

Another conversation I overheard:

Angus - You mad?
Addie - Yeah cuzza you!
Angus - Oh... Wanna play trucks?
Addie - Ugh of course! 

I'm glad they were able to work that one out =)

Dan took this one. They always smile for him. They never smile at me when I say smile. Maybe they fear him more... 

Here's another one he took yesterday. She said she was a cupcake queen. I guess I can see that... I laughed so hard when she fell down the stairs in slow motion saying ooooooh nooooo.... heeeeelllpp!!  Priceless. Don't worry she didn't get hurt at all. She was wearing 5 floaties.

My sister and her family have been going through their entire house donating stuff they don't want. They donate it all to me because I like free stuff, I like to sell stuff and Wendy and I are the same size. In clothes AND shoes. I know, it's awesome. This wedding dress was in the bags. I guess they got it from a thrift store for a costume or something. Winter discovered it and was immediately in love. 

Winter: What's in that bag?

Me: No

Winter: Is it a dress??

Me: I don't know, don't take it out.

Winter: It's a dress! Take it out!

Me: No

Winter: Please mom! (pulling it out)

Me: Ugh fine.

Winter: Oh my goodness I LOVE IT!! IT'S A WEDDING DRESS! CAN I WEAR IT?! WHO'S IS IT? IS IT YOURS?? I HAVE TO PUT IT ON! (trying to get into the dress)

Me: It's not mine. No, it's way too big. You can't wear it. 

Winter: Help me mom!

Me: Ugh okay.

Winter: It's soooo beautiful. Can you save it for my wedding??! Take a picture!

I held the back tight and took a picture. This was one of the happiest moments of her life I think.

The whole family one by one got the stomach flu last week. Well except me of course. And Winter never got it for some reason. She's usually the first to get sick. I love this pic. Dan is totally loving snuggling with sleeping Angus regardless of his expression.

I read a book to Angus the other day and realized it may have been the very first time. It's possible I've read to him before because he kept asking about a truck book. Actually Winter likes to read to the kids so it was probably her.

I got my hair did on Tuesday and am pretty happy with the way it turned out. I always am. Love my hair girl. I got the usual. Highlights and a short cute A-line bob. I came home and Angus ran up to me then backed up and asked, "Mommy what you do?" Addie asked, "What happened to your hair?!" Dan asked, "What color is that?" I checked the mirror and still thought it looked cute. Then I picked the big girls up from school and Winter also asked, "What happened to your hair?!" I replied, I got it done, like it? Mya commented, "Ummm I like it when you have it back in a cute little bun." I guess no one likes change around here. 

 Winter does things a lot of the time that frustrate us. But we can't get too upset because she's not trying to disobey or do anything bad... most of the time. She just has ideas that aren't the best. Like Thursday right before bed, she decided to give the dogs a shower with the hose in the backyard. We rarely bathe the dogs so she was just trying to make them smell better. Unfortunately, she didn't use soap so they just smelled like wet dirty dogs. But it was getting dark and they needed to come in the house but they were soaking wet and smelly. So they had to sleep by the back door blocked off from the rest of the house. Not a great idea but a nice thought.

Saturday morning Dan let me sleep in until like 9:00. I know, I'm ridiculous. And he's wonderful for doing this on a regular basis. I LOVE sleeping. Love it. One of my top 5 things to do for sure. Anyway, so, I woke up rested, walked downstairs to the crazy that is my life and just smiled. I thought of that country song, Just Another Day In Paradise by Phil Vassar. Listen to it if you like country. But don't watch the video. It's cheesy. Now you're going to watch it. Okay do whatever you want. It's about how life can look nuts and messy and things rarely go perfectly, but it's exactly what he's ever wanted. I totally agree. I wouldn't change a thing.

The house was all cleaned up when we went to bed. All the toys were put away and all the dishes were done. And yet, when I came downstairs, there was already a pile of dishes in the sink and the floor was covered in toys.

There were so many sounds happening at the same time. My just woken up self, moving in slow motion to the coffee maker, really noticed all of them right away. Addie and Angus were having a conversation about shopkins and tools. But they were literally yelling their words. Because when you're kid #3 and kid #4, you yell your words.

I turned on some music to kind of drown out the noise. Didn't really work but it motivated me to empty the dishwasher. Dan was playing with a toy train because he didn't have trains as a kid he says.

The TV was on in the background playing Angus's YouTube videos about trucks and tools. And twitch was making his old man noises. He gets these hairballs or something stuck in his throat and makes the worst noises every 30 seconds until it goes away. It sounds like an 80 year old smoker gagging. Lovely. But with all the noise and mess I still looked around and had a moment of total happiness and appreciation for our life that morning. Probably because I slept in 'till 9:00. I hope you can take a moment today and appreciate the little imperfect things that make your life awesome.

Happy Labor Day friends.

P.S. It's time for our annual Newport trip so I won't be posting for a couple of weeks. But there will be lots of beach pictures on the next blog. I'm so excited not to take a stroller and a pack 'n' play this year. We're going to have more room in the van. I guess I'm excited to hang out at the beach for a couple weeks too.

feel good stuff

Winter and Mya remind me a lot of my sister Wendy and me. Winter is definitely the Wendy in the relationship. This is so something she would have made me do. Here, put this bucket on your head and see if you run into anything. 

Angus loves picking Addie up from school. He demands that she hold his hand all the way to the car. 

Mya was baptized Sunday at the church pool. She's been begging us for about a year now to be baptized. What an awesome moment for her proud mom and dad. She wanted Dan to be the one to do it. He did an awesome job. He was made for this dad thing. It's an amazing thing to watch. And Mya is such a shining light for Jesus. She amazes me and teaches me daily what it looks like to be a Christian.

💗

oh happy day

It's our first baby's 9th birthday today. Every time August 15 rolls around, it takes me back to that crazy delivery filled with so many scary and exciting new parent moments. It's so fun to watch her become more and more her own little human with each year. 

This year Mya wanted to have her party at Rockin' Jump. I was so happy to hear that come out of her mouth. I hate throwing parties. It gives me anxiety and I become a cranky frazzled person the weeks leading up to it. This was THE easiest party I've ever thrown. We went to Vons and she picked out cupcakes and Rockin' Jump did everything else. Even though she couldn't invite all of her friends, because that would be like 3 car payments expensive, she had an awesome time. She even made her own party favors. Edible necklaces made with peachy O's, gummy life savers and fruit loops. Addie is modeling hers below.

It's the most wonderful time of the year. It's the first day of school.

It's Addie's first day of TK. She's never been to preschool so I'm really looking forward to hearing all about how she does in a classroom setting. I'm really hoping she doesn't yell at her teacher. But I know she'll be her favorite for sure. Addie is super excited. Winter and Mya are looking forward to recess and not so much the rest.

Happy Wednesday!

home stretch

I'm craving structure and routine at this point. I'm sooo thankful for our community pool. We've had a few swim play dates and we've spent lots of pool time with the neighbors. But I think we're all ready to do something else now. I have just a few pics this week.

I'm so thankful that Dan doesn't mind having the kids all over him. I mind. Very much.

This is Winter's fanciest dress. And heels. Why not climb a hill.

Addie and Winter pretended they were dogs for like an hour. They just stayed on their little doggie beds and Mya gave them food and water. It was nice... until Angus let Otter and Twitch in the house and they ate all their dog food (Raisin Bran).

Mya is obsessed with videos of life hacks. She saw this one the other day and it's actually a great idea. Cupcake liners to catch popsicle drops.

Our neighbor gave us this racetrack for Dan to put together. It's super loud and it makes the kids noisier than they already are. So we let them play with it for about 5 minutes at a time then turn it off for an hour or so. 

14 days 'till school starts

They like to compete for the biggest smoothie mustache.

I told Angus to go get ready for bed. He came back like this. I assume it's because he’s good at taking clothes off but sucks at putting them on so he just grabbed the easiest thing.

Excited that dad let him help paint the new wall where the fish tank used to be.

Trucks need walks too. It's been difficult to get out of the house recently because it's been a billion degrees out. We play for a little bit before 9AM when it gets hot and around 6PM after it's a little bit cooler. And from 9-6 we hang out inside and the kids play (fight mostly) and I do laundry and dishes (yell at the kids to stop fighting). Sometimes we go to the pool where the kids fight some more. But at least it's a change of scenery. 

Twinsies. I find these two lying in the exact same position all the time. It's kind of weird. If I were twitch I would not lay my head anywhere near Otter's butt. But that's just me. 

One last visit to the Higerds' before school starts. We went on a few adventures. One dad, two moms and 9 kids. Gabe thought we looked like a very fertile polygamist family. I think it's the first time they've used all 12 seats in their beast van. We were happy to help them break it in. 

3 weeks

There are exactly 3 weeks until school starts. Sorry teachers. And I will have THREE of them in school. THREE. Addie starts TK this year. I'm so excited. Love them.

Everyone is so over being home with the family. And it's so hot that I can't just send them outside. Sometimes I just turn the TVs on and hope they will get sucked in and stop fighting. Keepin' it real.

They are definitely spending quality time together so that's good right?

This pretty much sums up our afternoons. Tons of goldfish crackers. Tons of swimming. Winter used her goggles to serve as a plate at the pool. Kids are so smart.

Angus is hanging out with neighbor boys for a change. 

Addie was the queen for about 10 minutes.

The big girls are being guards. Serious ones.

Addie continues to entertain me.

Toaster oven dings.
Addie: Are the chicken nuggets ready?!
Me: No Addie. Once again, they are burning hot when the toaster oven dings. You have to wait 5 minutes.
Addie: Ugh there’s nothing to do in this whole family. I guess I’ll just go potty.

They've had cereal every single morning since school got out. Favorites around here are Raisin Bran, Honey Nut Cheerios and Panda Puffs.

Mya and neighbor buddy Kendall making collages from old magazines. My idea. I was pretty proud of myself for thinking of something creative that kept them busy for an hour.

Dan had a birthday last week. I think he's 43 now. He had a physical recently and the doc said he's young and healthy so that's good. He's sporting his matching blue rainbow loom bracelet and necklace Mya made him.

In the summer we have no choice but to take everyone with us to Costco. Both Dan and I have to go because we need two carts for all our stuff. We have different shopping styles. Dan likes to go super fast, in order of the aisles, never doubles back, never forgets anything and never stops for samples. I usually forget a few things, stop at ALL the sample stations, zig zag back and forth between the middle and both sides and take my time looking at everything in each aisle. We have it down to a science now I think. He slows down and I speed up so we meet in the middle somewhere. He loads the food etc. in the car while I get the kids in and buckled. Then I return the carts. This trip wasn't too horrible actually. Addie and Angus both dropped the little toys they were playing with about 20 times but other than that, not bad.