A Little Late and a Few Extra

1. Eric's birthday was last week. He didn't get many desirable presents but the girls had fun wrapping the candy and hand painted little statues for him. They had a wonderful time celebrating his birthday. We spent a long weekend up at the lake and had a great time. We ate out a bun ch for his birthday "week" and even went out by ourselves one night!! One night we went to a restaurant up on cliff kind of. You had to park your boat, they pick you up in their boat and drive you to this little outdoor elevator thing. And up to the restaurant you go. One of the many b-day dinners. Hope you had a great birthday Eric. We love you so much.
2. While in Austin the girls were in the tub in Brenda and Alan's room and got a little rambunctious and accidentally hit the button that put the jets on. Well it looked like a water park in there! The water was shooting all over the bathroom, hitting the ceiling and soaking everything. I could not find the button to turn it off so I was screaming for Brenda and the girls are just screaming because they were scared. The bathroom ended up with 2" of water all over the floor. It was pretty funny when it was done. If only we had a video camera. 
3. Last week Eric brought me flowers. Not for anything special just because. It was so sweet of him. And I actually didn't even see them when I first walked in, oblivious sometimes when so much is going on, but he waited patiently until I noticed them. Thanks so much Eric. They were beautiful.
4. Livy is definitely the independent one. She wants to do everything on her own and doesn't want my help anymore. From opening stuff, climbing, dressing, just pretty much everything, etc. She loves using the public restrooms by herself too. She locks me out and I hear her clanking the little trash can around. How gross. She likes to clean all the stray toilet paper off the floor before she begins. Gross again. I do love her independence though. It is so awesome to watch it bloom. Even if it means extra germs, backwards clothes, and more messes. She's awesome.
5. All the kids have colds the past two weeks. And now Colt has an ear infection from it and Rachel has bronchitis. But at least they are pretty good while sick this time. Two things I didn't realize when I became a parent. How many messes you will clean up each day and how many times kids get sick, a lot!
6. Well I am sad to report that the stroller I ordered got here and has a weight limit that the kids already reached. It was different than the one listed online so I am bummed. It is not great quality or I would just keep it and say who cares about the weight limit but I don't want it ripping on me next week. So the search continues.
7. Earlier this week I posted about a hard day. I haven't posted one like that in a long time and it has not been because I have been trying to hide it but honestly because there haven't been many. I don't know why this week it got to me. But I am glad to report that things are good around here. We are hitting a good age with everyone!
8. Except for these baby voices the girls like to do now a days. They talk in these high "baby" voices which are not so fun to listen to. Hopefully those will go away soon.
9. Colt loves opening cabinets and drawers. He has played it a lot the past month but now just stands there without holding on and does it. He is getting so big and old! One of these days he will just start walking and then there will be no stopping him. He is just starting to stand up in the middle of the floor by himself without anything to hold.
10. Oh how I love little Rachel. But the sweet little smartie pants just will not let me get my hands on her curly head of hair. I can barely get a brush through it without tears, and there is always screaming when I brush it. It looks adorable in a ponytail or anything pulled off her face but she will not have it. She cries and rips anything out that I put in saying it hurts. Again I guess it is the independence. Sometimes I just want to put her hair up but I guess I will just have to live with it all crazy and up in her face. Not something to complain about but just jotting it down so she know why she always has her hair in her face in every picture!
11. The girls are so good with Colt now. They still cry when he takes their stuff but they have gotten better about just asking me to move him or giving him something else to play with. He is a punk and always tries to take what they are playing with. But the girls love him and always want to make him happy, make sure I know when he is awake and to go get him, like playing with him, and telling people about their baby brother.
12. Bonus: Mom, Dad, Hannah, Richie, and Erin + baby boy are all coming to visit us next week! Can't wait to see everyone!

Trying to get them to do a train, not quite successful.

The ghosts which have already been poped and ripped down by the girls!

Eric's 29th birthday!

Livy did her own lion makeup with my eyeliner.

It's Been a While

I haven't had a post like this in a while and it's due time. It is just one of those days where I can't manage to get my head above water. I go from mess to mess, sick kid to sick kid, making injuries better, solving toy fights and disappearances, trying to unpack from the long weekend at the lake, debating whether to bring the kids to he doctor, medicating kids, taking temperatures, wiping noses, laundry, cleaning, feeding kids this and that trying to avoid the food store with all three of them, more laundry, more messes sometimes involving pee, and the house is still looks like a bomb went off in here and  you can bet I am not even going to try and cook dinner. It's pizza for sure tonight. And now that I have snuck away and I am getting a second to myself to type this and I don't hear any crying or anyone even looking for me, I feel guilty that I was complaining. I really do know I am blessed and I am so grateful for my three beautiful, healthy, sweet, children. Sometimes it all just feels overwhelming. I then feel guilty for feeling that way. So this was my little outlet and now I have got my head back together. Even if it is only lasts for an hour or two. Days like this go hour by hour and I just try and hold on. Hope you're holding on too.

Ten Today

1. Monday was the beginning of Eric's birthday week. His 29th birthday is on Thursday and we decided it will be a 7 days of celebrating. I think it is just an excuse to eat good food all week! The girls picked out a skeleton for him for his birthday and we gave it to him last night for his first gift. They wrapped it, colored on it and hid it. But as soon as he walked in the door Rachel said "we got you a skeleton dad, look here it is!" They get so excited they can't hold it in! We had a yummy dinner at Saltgrass for the b-day night number 1. We hope you have a great birthday week Eric! We all love you so much!
2. Eric bought himself a new smoker/grill last week and cooked us some awesome ribs on Saturday for lunch. They were excellent, and especially surprising since it was his first time cooking ribs. This is probably his real birthday present because I don't think a skeleton or some other little stuff counts!
3. The simple things. The girls love those tiny princess dolls with the terribly annoying plastic clothing. You know which ones I mean, the ones with the tiny shoes that don't stay on. I am constantly searching for them and dressing and undressing them for the girls because they are too hard for them to do. Anyway, yesterday at Wal-mart I let them get a Jasmine one because they don't have one of them and I was so pleasantly surprised. They have made the clothes so easy to get on and shoes that are painted on her feet so they don't come off!!! I could hug the people who make these because I am so happy with the new ones!! I know it seems stupid but it made a difference. Now we just have to replace all the other princesses with new ones! And you know what, it just might be worth the money!
4. Colt is allergic to eggs we found out this week. And peanuts but only slightly, whatever that means. We will go to an allergist next week to get more info but for now we are to avoid all things with eggs and peanuts, even baked goods where egg is a distant ingredient. We got an epi-pen for him in case of severe reactions. Hopefully we will not have to use it. But the encouraging news is that most kids grow out of their egg allergies in a few years.
5. What is going on with the weather? I was so happy it was getting cool. I got the kids some pants and long sleeves. And now it is back to 90 during the day. Ugh. I am ready for some cool. I was not made to live in the heat.
6. I ordered a triple jogging stroller and I can't wait for it to get here and have some freedom to go on walks or runs! For a while I could put the girls in the double jogger and carry Colt on me in the wrap but now he is getting so heavy it is really hard and not so fun. And there is no option of jogging if I feel up to it. And when it was hot it was not an option because it was way too much to wear him. I looked on craigslist in Houston and Austin for a few weeks but nothing ever worked out. So I just ordered one. Can't wait to get it just in time for cool weather, hopefully!
7. Today the girls and I made 25 ghosts. They are all hung in the front yard on strings from tree to tree. More than we planned to make but the girls insisted we use all the balloons in the package. A little overkill on the ghosts but they had lots of fun drawing faces on them and playing with them outside.
8. Finally got Halloween costumes that fit. The final choices are Jessie from Toy Story for Livy and Rachel will be Merleah (Barbie in a Mermaid Tale movie). And Colt doesn't have one yet.
9. The girls are still loving school. So am I. Their open house night is scheduled for a night we will be out of town so I am kind of bummed. I know that kids like to take their parents to see their class and all the things they are doing. Wish we would be here for it. But I am glad that they like it so much still.
10. Colt is completely weaned now. He did so great. No issues at all going to bed at night or the few times he woke up at night without nursing back to bed. I was kind of scared and sad to wean him but it went great and he is so happy when he gets a bottle that I don't think he misses it. Happy the weaning is done and everyone is good! Well, maybe not my boobs yet but soon.

Our Weekly Update

1. 1 year 9 months 5 days. That is how long I gave up diet Pepsi for. And today I fell off the wagon. There was no big event that sparked my fall, I just wanted one. I had been wanting to have one for a while and I figured, why and I fighting it. Ah...it was so good!
2. While I was changing Colt's diaper yesterday, Rachel said to me "Be careful with is peanut mom." Of course I couldn't help but laugh. What a funny little gal she is. And I am glad she forgot the real word. This is much funnier coming out of her mouth even though it is not atomically correct.
3. Yesterday Livy asked me to help her write cat. She said "Can you help me write cuh, ah, and tuh (making the sounds of the letters). This is her first word she can spell all by herself! Rachel has learned our street address. She knows the number and street. Way to go Rae!
4. Colt has a certain song he sings in the car as he is going to sleep. I call it his sleep song. It is really just some tones he carries out but it always sounds the same. Maybe since he doesn't suck his thumb or a pacifier this is his relaxation. I love his sleep song. And when I nurse him at night he likes to play with his eyelashes. At first I was worried that he was ripping them out but he just rolls them between his fingers.
5. We were at the lake this weekend for General Conference. It was beautiful up there but I did spend most of my time inside and actually got to listen to almost every talk! It was great. I loved this session. I am truly grateful for a prophet. I am grateful for the instruction we recieve and a huge spiritual uplifting and sense of renewal after each General Conference.
6. The girls are getting older again. We just switched them into booster seats this week. They love their new seats and Colt is loving his new one too that just got passed down to him. We are loving that they unbuckle themselves now!
7. On the boat this weekend we were taking a slow drive and Livy sat next to me in the back and leaned back and said "woo-sah, woo-sah." Which is hysterical and I will tell you why. This is something that Eric has said for as long as I can remember. It kinda means relax and chill out. It is from the movie Bad Boys with Will Smith. The captain is stressed out and they tell him to do his woo-sah and rub his ears, or whatever his therapist told him to do. Either way, it is so funny to hear the kids pick up stuff we say. This was the first time I had ever heard her say it. And she got the meaning of it without us ever explaining it to her. And she was right, what a great time to woo-sah.
8. The other night at our Relief Society Activity we learned about education. One of our RS presidency members works at the library and gave a presentation on some of what the library and the web site has to offer. She showed us this site from the kid's page that is called Tumble Books. It is great. It shows a book to the kids and reads it to them page by page. We started using it the next day. The girls love it and it is good if I need a few minutes.
9. Colt started using his "more" sign. It's so cute. And started giving kisses. Wet, wide open mouth kisses that I love.
10. We hung these magnetic strips in the play room for all of the girls artwork. We had bought them before Colt was born but just got to hang them only to find there was not nearly enough. They are already full and having to be rotated. The girls love seeing their pictures and always ask me to hang their stuff in there instead of the kitchen where I put some on the pantry door. I guess we need more for the other wall in the play room.  

Night fishing at the lake.



The "big" catch of the night.


Happy kids swinging in beautiful weather.



Boat ride out to "the beach."









The beach. It's a little island in the middle of the lake.


Picassos.




Eric napping anyway he can.