Spilled Milk

2010-06-22T09:26:00.002-05:00

This is where I find the babe...

...and I wonder and I remember how they watch us. How they re-enact. And I am humbled. And I am awed. By the responsibility and the faith that He has in me.

2010-01-09T19:48:00.000-06:00

The babe is nearly one.

Happy Christmas season!

2009-12-09T10:09:00.004-06:00

2009-11-21T18:58:00.002-06:00

I am no chef. When I married, I could make boxed mac and cheese, frozen pizzas and almost anything instant. But, oh how I tried! I have concocted all manner of meals that I thought would be delicious, burned weeks worth of groceries and misread countless recipes (i.e. adding soda instead of powder, salt rather than sugar).
Though progress has been made...there are many, many things that, quite frankly, intimidate me. Mostly they are the down-home, grandma kind of foods such as roast with potatoes, beef stew and...chicken noodle soup.
Until tonight. My son is feeling ill. Chicken soup, being the all-sickness cure, was needed. With sweaty palms and a firm resolve I boiled some chicken. It worked! So I added some carrots, onion and celery. Beautiful. Minimal spices and some noodles....voila!

I am quite proud. And in case you cannot taste the goodness through the computer screen, it was delightful.

2009-11-06T17:30:00.002-06:00

Hey, Mom, do you wanna see my fashion?

2009-11-06T08:20:00.000-06:00

2009-11-05T07:50:00.002-06:00

Finally I was able to download pictures from my camera!

For Halloween...Eavan was a monkey (eating her very first sucker)...

...Joel was Aaron Rodgers...

...and Cate was a clown (again)...

The weather was perfect this year for trick-or-treating. Even so we did most of ours at the mall, but also went around to a few houses in our neighborhood. And yummy candy was had by all.

2009-10-29T14:14:00.002-05:00

My sweet, beautiful 7 year old daughter somehow decided that she'd like a "makeover".

Before

After

Now if only she'd decide she needs a make-under. Silly girl.

2009-10-28T08:47:00.003-05:00

They ask me every year. Every year it seems a waste.

This year, after some thought, I concluded that their enjoyment is never waste. And I would get toasted pumpkin seeds. :)

(Joel's, Eavan's, Cate's)

Cate's Book On Dating (for boys)

2009-10-20T12:34:00.003-05:00

Chapter 1: Take The Girl On A Date
Chapter 2: Tell The Girl You Love Her
Chapter 3: Take The Girl On Another Date
Chapter 4: Break Up With The Girl
Chapter 5: Go On A Date With Another Girl
Chapter 6: Go To Church With The Girl
Chapter 7: Take The Girl On Another Date
Chapter 8: Marry The Girl
Chapter 9: Love Her
Chapter 10: Let The Girl Do Whatever She Wants

I'd buy that book. :)

Eavan Grace

2009-09-10T11:48:00.003-05:00

A seven month old's daily to-do list:

wake up 3 AM - check
eat- check
wake up 5:30 AM- check
eat- check
give mama a sloppy kiss- check
crawl around and get into everything under the sun- CHECK!
work on balance and standing- check
eat-check
nap 9 AM- check
poop- check
eat- check
mess up older sibling's game- check
play
get into everything under the sun
work on balance and standing
eat
nap 2 PM
play
eat
play
don't eat rice cereal mixed with fruits or veggies
read book with mama
eat
fight sleep until I pass out from exhaustion

2009-06-15T16:51:00.002-05:00

Here's to...

...a new sister-in-law...

...new discoveries...

...pedicures!...

...and girl time.

What a fabulous week!

2009-05-02T16:08:00.002-05:00

I took Cate in to get her eyes checked on Thursday- after months of suspecting that maybe she was having trouble. She is slightly far sighted and will need glasses to read, color and watch television. Her eyes should correct themselves within a couple of years. But she looks so doggone cute!

2009-04-26T14:20:00.000-05:00

I give you....my children.

2009-04-20T12:51:00.004-05:00

We checked on Eavan after putting her in bed last night. I find no need for further introduction....

Snuggling up!

Enjoying her daily morning chat with Daddy- in which she voices her opinion, tells of her grievances, and praises him immensely.

2009-04-15T10:32:00.005-05:00

Sunday found us prettied up for Easter. I was dashing around trying to find the ingredients for the breakfast cake I was making for a potluck brunch that I was, apparently, ill-prepared for. We had yet to unpack since our return from Wisconsin on Thursday (don't judge...you know it takes awhile sometimes!), the house has been mostly unorganized since the arrival of Eavan in late January, and Spring cleaning- which I started over a week ago- is still a goal. It was, in spite of all the madness and clutter, a very happy and fabulous family day.

Monday found us in the basement inspecting the black mold inside two of our walls. The kids and I left for the day and Roger and some wonderful friends started tearing into the walls. Thanks to our awesome friends we had: 20+ hours of free labor, a place to stay that night, a delicious meal, companionship for the kids and I, a truck for hauling the mold away and bringing in new supplies. We are so very blessed by our church family.

And to further pile on the blessings, we found out last night that our insurance will cover above and beyond what we need to fix the problem- and to think we weren't even going to call them!

2009-03-31T10:04:00.002-05:00

It's so crazy that Eavan is already two months old! We had her well child checkup yesterday and found out she is 13 pounds, 6 ounces and 23 inches long. And while she's not the size Cate and Joel were at this age, she still seems so big! Eavan is a morning baby and is so happy and smiley right around 6 AM (much to my chagrin)- at night she fights sleep for hours. We decided to try some rice cereal to see if that would help fill her belly and make her sleep better.

2009-03-22T18:30:00.002-05:00

Today we celebrated Joel's 5th birthday. He had his first official party and invited 15 of his closest friends and cousins. :) We ran around playing games, meeting the mouse (Joel reassured us all that it was "just a perthon inside"), opening gifts (which were all "Awethome!!!"), and partying like 5 year olds.

2009-03-08T19:09:00.002-05:00

Much to my extreme delight we were able to visit a going-out-of-business sale at World Market last week. There are so very many things that I adore at World Market, not the least of which is their great selection of dining room furniture. Being the sucker for a clearance that I am...we came home with a new dining room set (which we did actually need) bought at 50% off! Adore with me, if you will....

We will still need another chair and a bench for when the table is fully extended. And some rearranging is needed in the dining room- as soon as I have time to play around and find the best placement of furniture.

2009-02-09T19:54:00.003-06:00

After five years without, we have been trying to adjust to having an infant around again. Naptimes, baby sounds, diaper changes....I don't believe that any meal has been served on time, the house is in a constant state of disarray. The world, for the moment, revolves around this tiny person.

Eavan Grace

2009-02-01T11:21:00.003-06:00

I went in early Thursday morning for an induction and came home the next day with this...:)
After 6 and a half hours of labor, Eavan arrived looking, cock-eyed up at me. She was 7 pounds, 15 ounces and 19 inches long. She has a triple chin and big chipmunk cheeks. :)

Eavan rarely cries- though she makes this face all the time. It seems she forgets what she was doing midway.

She (like her sister) sleeps with her arms up by her face and refuses to keep them tucked in her blanket, even when they are purple with cold.

A very rare picture with her eyes actually open. They only are for about five minutes before eating.

And for those of you who are wondering...Eavan means beautiful and is pronounced EE-vuhn.

2009-01-24T12:58:00.001-06:00

Joel lost his first tooth today. He is very excited! He has another loose one that will be following soon.

Counting my blessings...

2009-01-14T14:47:00.005-06:00

from children who bring me gifts of artwork all throughout my day (even if some of the depictions of me are quite too proportionately realistic for my ego)....

to a healthy pregnancy and being ready for our child and anxiously awaiting her arrival...

to finding good deals and actually being able to take advantage of them...

and yes, I suppose, even blizzards and wind and treacherous weather that remind us that God is God and we are tiny (but significant) pieces to the puzzle.

My days are far from relaxing, my house is never clean and my children are not perfect and though I can feel myself sliding closer and closer to the steps of an institution, there is a peace to my life. And I am quite happy to be right here.

2008-12-30T09:40:00.003-06:00

Last night was Roger's birthday. Cate was very excited to make him a cake with her new Easy Bake oven that she had gotten for Christmas. Daddy was properly appreciative of the quarter inch thick cake with packaged chocolate drizzle on top. :)

2008-12-30T09:19:00.005-06:00

I have been slacking on my blogging lately- with good reason. :)

My long-lost husband returned home from overseas early this month and we've been busy spending all of his time off with him- he was able to take over a month off!
Here is some of what we've been up to:

* celebrating homecomings and families
* welcoming father and husband, brother and son

* rollercoaster riding (for Roger and the kids at Nickelodeon Universe)

* making snow forts and tunnels on the few days that it hasn't been too cold or too blizzard-y to be outside!

* feeling blessed by our Father for the gifts he has given

2008-12-05T14:33:00.002-06:00

Sights, sounds and the excitement of the season....
* the squeals of delight upon seeing the tree all set up
* having a mantle to hang our stockings on
* the anticipation of seeing my husband for the first time in 6 months!
* looking out the window early in the morning to see the dusting of powder snow
* singing along to Baby, It's Cold Outside- my favorite!
* starting the cookie making process with many sticky fingers offering to "help"
* a cozy fire in the fireplace

* the many, many questions- including, "Why did Jesus come as a baby?"

* the reminder of the delight, wonder and innocence of childhood

I hope that you all have as much to look forward to this season as I do!

2008-12-03T08:56:00.001-06:00

My family (minus my husband) this Thanksgiving.

2008-11-16T19:20:00.004-06:00

My evening was filled with a fun game of Go Fish....

Cate won almost every game, much to Joel's disappointment (and a little anger). She wasn't a very gracious winner and would laugh an evil laugh everytime she got another match. Oh, they make me giggle.

2008-11-10T07:33:00.003-06:00

Saturday we found ourselves at the zoo with some very good friends, despite the wind and cold. Most of the zoo is indoors, so we were still able to see plenty of exhibits and finished just as they were locking the gates.
The jellyfish exhibit....

Joel's favorite- the shark tunnel. We were there at feeding time, which was very exciting to watch....

Starfish...

Inside the Butterfly and Insect Pavilion....

The gorilla exhibit was, of course, the favorite. There was a 5 year old female named Bambio that was putting on a show for us. She would bang on the glass and pound her chest, swing around and clap to us- as if to urge us to do the same. Cate bonded quite well with her as the Bambio was around her age, the same weight and only slightly larger. She could have watched the gorilla all day. Me too.

2008-11-08T21:52:00.003-06:00

Finally a picture of the work my sister and I did in the master bedroom. Of course this doesn't do it justice. It is perfect!

2008-11-07T10:34:00.001-06:00

Cate and Joel making snow castles this morning- our first snow of the year.

2008-11-07T10:19:00.003-06:00

My four-year-old boy learned to ride his bike yesterday. He was excited to show off his new skill.

2008-11-03T09:50:00.000-06:00

My son this morning...

2008-11-02T16:39:00.002-06:00

My day today has been filled with such treasures as,

"Can Daddy lift a table with his pinky?"

"Why don't ALL houses have plungers, Mommy?"

and...

"If at first you don't susseed, try, try again."

Children are one of the many reminders God has given us to laugh.

2008-11-01T19:48:00.002-05:00

I have been blessed with the most beautiful children in the world. No other words are needed. :)

2008-10-27T11:43:00.007-05:00

I realize that I am quite unfaithful to this blogging commitment....but I suppose better late than never! :)

Last Saturday Cate, Joel and I went to visit their Grandma and Grandpa Howard. We spent the day at a nearby pumkpin patch called Pistol Pete's.

There were graveyards, bonfires, corn mazes, haunted houses and the favorite activity...panning for (fool's) gold. The kids both found a few pieces of the gold as well as some other rocks that they thought were shiny and pretty.

Cate searching through the rocks for priceless treasures...

Joel trying out the hay pile for perfect jump-ability...

And ooohhh, the corn maze. It was a good hour of winding around through a huge field with Joel leading us most of the way with, "I'm not getting us lost, Mom."

We made it through safely.

2008-10-20T15:39:00.002-05:00

I decided it was time to take a break from all the indoor work and spend part of the afternoon out of doors raking leaves. The kids are young enough that they don't think it's work- after all they DID get to jump in the enormous pile! We haven't finished, but we ran out of bags.

I am sure many more leaves will fall before winter hits, giving us plenty more to do, but for now....back to painting!

2008-10-20T10:07:00.002-05:00

My ever talented and artistic sister, Betsy was here to visit for a few days last week. It was so fun and I always get a free interior design consultation out of it! We were able to get quite a few things done and here are some of the results (more coming later).

I've had this buffet for three years now. I bought it with the intentions of painting it red. Isn't it pretty now that it's finally done?

2008-10-12T18:43:00.002-05:00

We spent the afternoon at a nearby apple orchard/ pumpkin patch the other day. We love this apple orchard. They have several varieties of delicious apples (Cortlands being my current favorite). And we were able to ride out and pick our own, which Cate and Joel thoroughly enjoyed.
They enjoyed seeing some of the aspects of harvesting apples. Joel found this machine to be quite fascinating.
And there were many delectable treats available. Last year we had gotten some caramel apple crisp mix that was absolutely delicious! This year we bought some of their homemade caramel and 10 pounds of apples that I plan to make into breads, applesauce and, of course, apple crisp. These apples are perfect munching as well. While there I learned that the apples we buy in grocery stores have been pumped full of so many chemicals and such that the ones they sell as fresh could be as many as five years old. I found that to be quite disturbing- not to mention disgusting.

2008-10-09T15:23:00.000-05:00

Two of the cutest kids I can find around here...

2008-10-07T19:15:00.002-05:00

These things will hopefully be the makings of a pink/princess clown costume for Cate. I had been asking both of my kids to be a clown for years, but they always want something far more "exciting". This year I was able to convince Cate to be a "clown princess". Yay! All so I could make a fabulous costume- after all how can you mess up a clown costume? Piece of cake! I must confess that I am no seamstress. I started this process yesterday with the pants- thinking to get the easier part out of the way. And, of course, I thought to "wing it". I finished the pants and much to my amazement they looked quite like clown pants- until I tried them on Cate and realized that they are a quite a bit snug. I immediately called my mom (as I do in my moments of distress for she is a wealth of knowledge on all things domestic) who said it was no big deal and I could fix it easily (in theory at least).

I am waiting for talent to be bestowed upon me- any talent. Until then I will grit my teeth and persevere. This costume WILL get finished!

My comfy new slippers...

2008-10-06T16:32:00.001-05:00

...which I have twice forgotten I was wearing and ended up traipsing all around the town in them.

2008-10-04T19:47:00.000-05:00

2008-09-26T13:01:00.002-05:00

Yesterday my dad left for home. We spent the morning at the park before he had to leave. We went for a short walk and played for quite awhile.
the troll under the bridge....
my dad having a splendid time, I'm sure, chasing Cate and Joel around the playset...
making sure he still fits down the slide...
Joel tempting the hungry troll with a few tasty toes...

Learning from the master...

2008-09-25T11:36:00.002-05:00

Cate and Joel have really enjoyed the extra grandpa time while my dad has been here. He's very patient with them- one of the things that I tend to fail miserably at as a parent. Grandpa brought along a violin and a mandelin, so the kids really had fun playing around and learning a few of the very basics.
Joel's arms weren't long enough to hold the violin correctly, but he still really enjoyed his "lesson".

2008-09-23T21:06:00.002-05:00

Today was a leisurely kind of day. My dad has been visiting and today we went to a nearby town to do some singing at a care center. After the first performance we went to a local ice cream shoppe for two sundaes, a banana split, and some fried ice cream.
We licked our plates clean, did a little sight seeing and then on to another care center performance. It was a fun learning experience for Cate and Joel and some positive socialization to boot!.....I can count this as school....right? :)

Happy Autumn!

2008-09-22T15:04:00.002-05:00

Thumbs up: Changing leaves, sweater weather, using the fireplace, hot cocoa, the crisp air during a morning walk, sharing in the harvest with gifts of cucumbers, tomatoes, squash and pumpkins, a tasty treat of candy corn mixed with peanuts, and another reminder that God is in control.

Thumbs down: Spiders that migrate indoors at the first sign of cooler weather...actually that's the only thing there is!

2008-09-09T17:53:00.002-05:00

Joel taking over some of the "manly" jobs while Daddy is gone.

2008-09-07T12:34:00.002-05:00

The sheer pride expressed in the first, "I DID IT!" is so worth the frustration of watching as clumsy, little fingers try to tie shoes.

2008-08-23T18:07:00.002-05:00

Today was a deliciously perfect picnic kind of summer day. It was 75 and sunny with a slight breeze and there haven't been many of those lately. So Cate, Joel and I drove to the park with food and camera in hand.
....the crew....
....our fare....
....Joel having a fabulous time....
.....and the kids decided to do a little weeding of the park area while there....

2008-08-08T19:38:00.005-05:00

This Summer, it seems, has been all about Cate. But I suppose she is getting older and able to do more fun things. Joel, though, I can tell feels a little left out- as much as I try to do fun things for him as well.
Another thing that Cate had been asking about (for the past year) is getting her ears pierced. Roger and I have tried to dissuade her, though we don't necessarily have a problem with it, we thought maybe she was too young. I wanted to make sure she understood that it was going to hurt and we would have to make sure to clean them and all the things that come with wounding yourself. For a year these things have worked in discouraging her. This month she has been showing an even greater interest in it and has watched many videos of people getting it done, seeing their tears. She finally decided that it was worth the pain this week- this is quite something for my little girl as she is quite dramatic and cannot even walk for a week after she has skinned a knee. So after Roger and I discussed it at length, we decided that it would be alright, since we felt like she understood how ears were pierced, that it hurts quite a bit and that the after care would get old. So, today we went to the mall and she picked out the earrings she wanted and got them pierced.
The first picture is immediately following the experience- she is trying to smile, but it came out more as a grimace.

This is after they stopped hurting and she was so very excited to tell everyone about it.
I'm not sure how the video ended up on the bottom, but it is the actually piercing. I'm very proud of how well she did. She cried a little, but didn't wail- which is her customary "pain" cry.

Overall it seemed to have been a pleasant experience for her, but now I have to come to grips with how grown up my little girl looks!

2008-07-30T12:11:00.003-05:00

Cate has been asking to get her hair cut lately. She, like me, loves it short. So today we went in and had it done.
Before front
Before side
After front
After side

Now isn't that the cutest haircut you've ever seen? I have to say this is my favorite- even though it does make her look a few years older.

2008-07-30T11:55:00.002-05:00

Here are some very good finds from last week...

I went looking for shirts for my growing belly and found instead good deals on kids clothes! Cate has been growing out of her summer things, so I needed a few filler items- including legging shorts for under dresses (which she wears most days). This denim jacket for Joel for the Fall was $2.99. Everything together was just over $16. I was very excited to say the least!

2008-07-05T19:16:00.003-05:00

Cate and Joel have been asking Grandpa Roy to take them fishing for a few months and today they finally got their chance. The three of them went to the lake for awhile to try their hand. The kids had to bait their own hooks, hold their poles and reel in the line. They had some help casting, but for the most part did everything else by themselves.

The three fishermen.
Joel after the first fifteen minutes.
Cate caught two catfish and helped grandpa clean and fillet them.
And for the enjoyment of those who know me well....I fried them for her for supper, despite a great dislike of fish, being in my first trimester of pregnancy and the permanent smell of fried fish. I guess I must kind of like her.

2008-07-02T17:50:00.003-05:00

Cate and I spent this last weekend at Teddy Bear Camp for 1st and 2nd graders. She thoroughly enjoyed it though she was bit nervous around so many new people. The first day we were there it rained very heavily and made for some chilly and unhappy kids. Until the games began. There was a campfire that evening with songs, devotional and s'mores (delish!).

Cate atop her bunk looking for all the world like a seasoned camper.
They had many crafts for the campers to make. This one is a bag they painted footprints on. The theme for the weekend was "Walk His Way".
Cate made several new friends, but this one is Anna. She and Cate were inseperable for most of the two days we were there. Cate is excited to go back next year and see her again.

Though it was a little sad that she's old enough to go to camp (even with a parent), it was fun to see her in that environment that I so enjoyed when I was young.

My Joely Boy

2008-06-24T19:09:00.004-05:00

Such a ham for the camera,
the ultimate finder of dirt, but not stickiness. Protector of his sister, daddy's little buddy and mama's boy
(that's a good thing when you're four!)
My sweet little Joely boy.

Tag, you're it!

2008-06-17T10:02:00.004-05:00

A Attached or Single: married for 7 years
B Best Friend: Roger
C Cake or Pie: mmmm...Romeo and Juliet Cake. Actually I recently had Tres Leches cake and it is yummy!
D Day of Choice: Saturday- that's our family day
E Essential Item: if you really must know, undies.
F Flavor of Icecream: Ben and Jerry's Chubby Hubby
G Gummy Bears or Worms: I'm not a fan of either, but I love Sour Patch Kids!
H Hometown: Warroad, MN
I Indulgence: Dr Pepper
J January or July: July- because by then I can finally wear shorts without getting cold. Wimpy, I know.
K Kids: 2 and a bean. Cate, who's 6 and Joel, who's 4 and to be discovered.
L Last movie I saw at a theater: What Happens In Vegas
M Musician: at the moment Sondre Lerche
N Number of Siblings: 3 brothers, 5 sisters
O Oranges or Apples: a plate with Granny Smith apples, sharp cheddar cheese and peanut butter.
P Phobias or Fears: spiders
Q Quote:
R Reason to Smile: my husband, my children, my friends, my family, my God
S Season: Fall
T Tag: Angie, Martha, Katie G., and Jenny J.
U Unknown fact: It's probably not unknown, but I'm a bit of a hypochondriac
V Vegetarian or oppressor of Animals: Doesn't a nice juicy steak always sound good?
W Worst habit: I always wait until we are completely out of clothes before I do laundry. I hate putting it all away.
X Xray or Ultrasound: Ultrasound- unless I'd had 5 or more then I would probably rather have broken something.
Y Your favorite food: boneless hot wings, HuHot
Z Zodiac sign: Pisces, that means I'm fishy.

2008-06-02T17:25:00.004-05:00

A few weeks ago we started tearing everything out of Cate's room to redecorate. We got as far as pulling up the carpet and base trim before Roger's back went out. The poor guy couldn't move for two weeks! So now that he's gone, the kids and I are working on it little by little. Hopefully my sisters have a deep desire to help paint while they are here this week (well, do ya?). I have many, many curtains to sew and a rug to make, a bed to get and books to sort through, as well as painting the walls, floor and trim. These are some pictures that Cate and I painted. She wasn't very into hers as you can tell from the stick figures and I'm afraid that I didn't inherit any of my parents' artistic abilities. But I thought they would still make fun additions to Cate's colorful, artsy room.

Meet Cappuccino!

2008-04-23T07:24:00.003-05:00

He's a 9 week old chocolate lab. He's very cute and very naughty. We call him Cappy. We've had him for two nights and have endured as many mostly sleepless nights. He's very difficult to capture on film unless he's sleeping, so here are my amateur tries.

2008-04-08T10:01:00.002-05:00

It seems like some months are shorter than others. This month has been for us- even though we're barely into it. It started with a very fun trip to Omaha for Roger and me and some close friends of ours. We had a fabulous time. We did all the eating, playing and (much to Roger's chagrin) shopping a body could handle. Our favorite dining experience was a fondue place where they brought four courses: salad, cheese fondue, broth/oil fondue and then the best- chocolate fondue. We had one of the best coffees I've ever tasted (second only to my sister's White Chocolate Mochas) at Crane. It was a Silk and very smooth. If you are a coffee drinker then you must taste it. If you are not, I really am not sure how you manage to fit into society.

This weekend we are very excited to visit some of our friends in Des Moines. So my week is filled with the motherhood tasks of laundry and more laundry and cleaning and bathing and schooling. I suppose it's really not much different than other weeks.

2008-03-21T11:54:00.003-05:00

Joel's room
Cate's room

And this is the difference between my two children.

2008-03-13T17:30:00.002-05:00

Roger was recently promoted to 1st lieutenant and received his silver bars. He is deploying this Summer for awhile again. We told the kids that they needed to be brave for daddy while he was away protecting us from "bad guys". We'll miss him, but we're so proud of him and all he does for us.

2008-03-12T16:23:00.004-05:00

After many requests to see more pictures of my new house...here they are. This is our dining room and fireplace. The lovely green carpet (which is sadly still in good condition) is courtesy of the previous owners. We will someday put hardwood flooring in.
My cute little kitchen. I actually like the size, but we will someday put in more cabinets. I will be painting over the salmon color as soon as I decide what color I want to go with.
Here is the master bedroom. Aren't my closet doors pretty? I would like to put a wood floor in here as well.
These are the built-ins from the 70s. We are going to tear them out and put an arched doorway where the right side of it is- which will lead into the living room.

This is the living room and front door. One wall is a nice brick red color. The other ones are all what I think was supposed to be taupe, but it turned out a little pinkish. The steps lead to Cate's and Joel's bedrooms and a full bath.

So, there is a lot we would like to change, so if any of you have hidden talents you would like to share, come on over!

2008-03-07T10:30:00.003-06:00

It's official. We're all moved in and I have pictures on my fridge. We have most things unpacked and put away (as long as you don't go in the guest/sewing room!). The house was built in the 1970s so all the trim is very dark, but it has beautiful six paneled doors, and a wood burning fireplace. I'm very excited to start painting!

2008-03-07T10:15:00.002-06:00

One thing I really appreciate about my church is that we always do fun and inventive things together. Every month we have a family day when we play games and do activities to draw us closer together. This month we all went to an indoor water park and played for hours. My kids are waterbabies and had a grand time splashing around. Cate held the attention of our new minister, Matt, for several hours- who walked up the stairs to the water slides with her at least a thousand times.

2008-02-23T16:40:00.002-06:00

My daughter's keen fashion sense.

2008-02-22T23:51:00.006-06:00

My friend and I have been working for months to put together a Ladie's Spa Night at our church. We had grand plans of hiring a masseuse, having Mary Kay and Arbonne products available to try and buy. We thought of raffles to earn money for our "baby" women's ministry and door prizes to get the ladies excited. And while the masseuse part didn't happen, the rest did as well as a delicious chocolate fountain surrounded by all the delectable, dippable treats imaginable, foot spas and homemade sugar scrub, chair massagers, warm rice packs and cozy white socks to slip our rejuvenated feet into. It was fabulous. Too bad none of you came. I would say you were missed, but I would be lying, as I could only keep thoughts of oozing chocolate and a warm citrus wrap in my head. Delightful.

2008-02-21T13:40:00.002-06:00

Did any of you catch the lunar eclipse last night? I have never seen one before, so it was a beautiful new experience. I'm sure you've all seen pictures, but this is mine.

2008-02-21T13:29:00.003-06:00

In all of my almost seven years of marriage we have never bought any new dishes. We have had several sets given to us over the years, so have never had to. However, this week we got to the point where only six bowls could be found and for a family of four with no dishwasher, that is not enough. We have broken or lost the other six. I had to use every bit of my feminine wiles (and by feminine wiles I mean intellegence and yummy food) to convince my husband that we were in dire need. And here is what they look like!

2008-02-18T17:07:00.005-06:00

This year for school we have been using the Sonlight curriculum and have been enjoying it immensely. It mostly involves literature- being my father's daughter, I have a great love of books and stories, so this has been a perfect curriculum for us. I have decided to stay with it for a few more years at least. Cate loved the "science" part with The Berenstain Bear's Big Book of Science and Nature and learning about matter and energy. Joel's favorite is Eric Carle's Animals Animals- which a silly book of poems about animals. Next year our library will grow by leaps and bounds as the next set of books has 36 titles. I love this program!

2008-02-09T23:31:00.001-06:00

We are buying a house! Roger and I have been trying to agree on one for months and we finally did. Don't let the look fool you, it has over 3100 square feet of living space. It needs a few updates, but we're so excited to get started. Thankfully there is no wallpaper to tear down- mostly some painting and some rather dated pink carpeting in the bedrooms upstairs. We will have plenty of room for visitors (hint, hint).

2008-02-09T23:14:00.000-06:00

Here is my very naughty little boy vacuuming up the little pieces of Cate's pom-pom that he had a grand time cutting- and a grand time cleaning up as well (so it didn't really work to have that as part of his punishment).

2008-02-02T09:16:00.000-06:00

My daughter is prancing around the playroom this morning wearing my son's protective goggles, sounding quite like she's preaching a sermon. One could never guess where she would have learned such a skill. However, she is also calling me "squishy-poo" and I'm quite sure that has never been modeled for her.

2008-01-23T13:54:00.001-06:00

We took a mini family vacation this past couple of days to Sioux Falls and stayed at a hotel with an indoor water park. It was such a fun time! I have no family pictures to show you because I am terrible at remembering to capture such experiences until it's too late, but I was able to find a couple online so that you can have an idea. We spent most of our time at the pirate ship climbing up and around and sliding down, sometimes we would have to swim and walk very, very fast (you're not allowed to run) away from the shark (Roger). There was a 162 foot water slide there as well and both Cate and Joel went down it several times with Roger waiting at the bottom to catch them. Cate learned to float on her own and Joel decided he liked the hot tub the best- which suited me just fine. We also went to see the movie Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, which is quite a good movie actually. All in all it was a fun way to celebrate and spend time together and I'm so happy we were able to do it!

2008-01-11T12:43:00.000-06:00

So, Joel came up to me today and told me he was exhausted. Yes, his word. I'm sure he is after waking several times through the night, but it came as a surprise that he knew the word. He makes me giggle.

Cate and Joel were creating masterpieces last night. I plan on getting huge canvases for them soon, so they can provide the artwork for our family room. They have such colorful imaginations. There is always a new catastrophe to overcome- some flood waters rushing through the walls, a dinosaur coming to eat them, a leaky ship...their answer is always to put on their rainboots, grab a flashlight and charge! There are quieter games- mostly Joel gets stuck being the dad opposite Cate's bossy mom- she always seems to display my less finer moments. I think God does that to remind us of where we are and who we should become.

2008-01-08T13:32:00.000-06:00

This afternoon I am sipping on a hot cup of cappuccino with freshly grated cinnamon on top. It is yummy and refreshing. I just received this fun little gift from my secret sister. It was a new mug, cappuccino mix, cinnamon sticks and a very cute little grater. It was such a great gift idea- especially for addicts like myself.

Ideas, anyone?

2008-01-03T16:54:00.000-06:00

I'm so excited! My new furniture was delivered today! It is so beautiful, but it makes me realize just how small this house we're renting is. If any of you have an idea for a better way to arrange, let me know...

Christmas Wreckage

2008-01-02T17:25:00.000-06:00

So, we've been busy. We've had Christmas and Christmas and Christmas and then finally New Year's celebrations. We've been to Cherokee, IA; Storm Lake, IA; Rochester, MN. We played Texas Hold 'Em, Hand and Foot, 80's Trivial Pursuit and Etc. - and Roger got in one "quick" game of Risk. We ate ham, turkey, parmesan chicken, spinach dip, pickels with corned beef, the yummiest chocolate cake and pesto pizza, while sipping on a cup full of wassail. It was such a wonderfully fun time to spend with family and friends.

2007-12-12T10:15:00.000-06:00

We had our first heavy snow not too long ago...it always causes quite the panic here. People stock up on groceries, drive 2 miles an hour, and everything is cancelled (school, work, sports, life...). The adults groan and look outside at the driveway that needs to be shoveled. When Cate looked outside and discovered the snow, she said, "Mom, the snow is sprinkle-y!". Kids always notice the beautiful little things that we sometimes forget to look at. They want to experience everything they can see (except for the green peppers in their casserole). While the rest of the world is preparing for disaster, children are commenting on caterpillers, pinecones, snakes and snow that sparkles like diamonds.

2007-12-09T14:22:00.001-06:00

2007-12-09T14:06:00.000-06:00

I was going through some pictures today and I found these ones of my babies. They are so cute. It makes me miss the baby talk and giggly times of 2 years old.

2007-12-05T16:12:00.001-06:00

I thought you all should know what a silly little boy I have. He makes me laugh with the "knock, knock" jokes he makes up. He makes my hair gray with his questions- "What's after nap? What's after breakfast? What's after school? What's after lunch? What's after nap? What's after snack?" (oh my word). He'll change his clothes in the middle of the afternoon when he sees what his daddy is wearing so that he can be just like him. He's cuddly and sweet and independant. He'll pick out his clothes in the morning, come out to show me and then say, "Mom, do I look cool?" and of course, with his camoflage-from-head-to-toe look, he really does. (For my sisters...say something about a certain someone that we all know and you'll be in serious trouble.) He'll want to be a big boy and watch a movie that's a little bit scary and then hide under the "magic blanket" when he knows something is going to happen- and tell his sister, "I'll protect you, Cate!" while under said blanket. He loves balls, snakes, danger and blocks, but will still once in awhile ask if he can have some lipgloss, please.

2007-12-01T16:12:00.000-06:00

We braved the wet, slushy roads for a birthday party this afternoon. Cate's friend, Halee, had a dress-up party, complete with makeup, jewelry and a fashion show. Cate was in her element, dressed in a lacy blue number with her red satin shoes and boa. They all walked carefully down the paper runway to accept their prizes for "Biggest Smile", "Best Makeup" and "Best Walk". And then on to decorate headbands and have a piece of chocolate cake. It was a girly, giggly, beautiful kind of party that every little princess shouldn't be without. And all the boys wrestled in the basement.

2007-11-30T19:13:00.001-06:00

As all normal American families did (or at least the ones in my city), we spent last evening at Buffalo Wild Wings up to our elbows in barbeque sauce and wings, our eyes plastered to the big screen. It was the big Packers/Cowboys game. Even our children could feel the excitement and were yelling up at the screen, "Go Pack! Go Pack!" and Cate would cheer when she saw that one of the guys in green had the ball. She was only half watching though- she had brought along markers and paper and was keeping herself quite happily entertained with her pictures, stopping every once in awhile to look at the TV or ask me how to spell something. Joel was quite content to sit there and eat for three hours. Of course we all know the Packers lost, but it was a fun time anyway. And I'm sure we'll be back there in a couple of weeks despite the 45 minute wait and the deafening noise.

2007-11-26T16:08:00.000-06:00

We just recently took our dreaded (by the parents) annual trip to Chuck E. Cheese. Thankfully the pizza is tasty and there are "shoot 'em up" games for the husbands. Actually, it always ends up being fun and we get such awesome prizes as eyeball rings, tootsie rolls and friendship bracelets. There's no better way to spend $50 and a half hour of your time.

2007-11-26T15:29:00.000-06:00

Christmas is my favorite season. I love all the decorations, the smell of cinnamon, the sound of Bing singing "Have yourself a merry little Christmas...", the taste of eggnog and setting up the tree- which we've had done for over a week. Christmas means I can do some guilt-free shopping (my favorite pastime), and wrap gifts. My children will behave under the assumption (or maybe threat) that Santa Claus doesn't visit naughty little children. They make me giggle with their requests for a refrigerator, a car, and a baby sibling. Such things that they will not get. Happy holiday season to you all!