Wednesday, March 28, 2007

New Favorite Song

Last week some time I was watching VH1 while doing some situps on my balance ball thingie and saw a new video that I really liked. The song kind of stuck in my head and I thought that the video was really cute.

Then yesterday I was driving home from the store and I heard it on the radio and really determined that it is my new favorite song. The song is called "New Shoes" by Paolo Nutini and it is great.

It is just a good song with a great beat and it makes you feel happy. It is a song about how a guy puts on some new shoes and everything seems to go just right. I've had days like that when I had a new pair of fabulous shoes that I wore to work and the day went perfect. I have had my eye on a pair of cool boots for a couple of years now so I might just go out and buy them. I had restrained myself because I knew my feet would most likely change size after being pregnant, but no more!

And those boots might even be on sale since Spring has sprung. I can only hope.

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

New Tricks

Yesterday was a day of new tricks for the kids. At least the youngest kids in the house.

Alexis was taking a nap so I had some time to visit with Logan. You know, some good one on one time. I realized that I hadn't taken very many pictures of him lately (bad mother) so I thought I'd have a litttle photo shoot with him. I set him on a toy mat for some tummy time and what did he do? He flipped over! I figured it must be a fluke so I went ahead and put him back on his stomach and got the camera ready. Well, he really didn't want to be on his tummy so he just flipped over again! I figured that since I had the camera ready, I'd get it on digital - and I did. Then he just got mad so we had to sit on the couch and cuddle because he was so exhausted from all that flipping over.

Later on last night Alexis and I were playing in the kitchen and I said something about the dogs being let in the house and what did she do? She looked at me and did the dog sign! We weren't even working on that sign. She learned it from watching her "Signing Time" videos. I was so tickled that I had to get that on video too.

I'm a sucker for my kids.

Saturday, March 24, 2007

Patience Tester


I had bought this t-shirt at Target the other day (see earlier post) for Alexis and I do believe that it was a perfect choice for her.

I managed to take this picture of her today while I was sorting through Logan's clothes. I had to switch out the 0-3 month clothes for 3-6 month. Alexis kept taking all of the clothes out of the bins and putting them all over her bedroom. Then when I managed to fill it up and get the lid on, she was climbing all over it.


Look out world! Here comes trouble!!

Friday, March 23, 2007

Flip Flops

My mother has a small problem with flip flops. She can never have enough of them. When given an opportunity to go without shoes, my mother will always take it. When forced to wear shoes, flip flops are the first thing she will put on her feet.

Her flip flops can't be dull. She likes them with jewels, sequins, in bright colors and with some kind of flair. And to set off her flip flops, my mother's toes are always beautifully painted. Usually with little flowers and a jewel. When you put that together with my Mother's toe rings and anklets, she has nicely dressed up feet.

Alexis has taken after my mother in that she really prefers to be barefooted at all times. But at the same time, she loves shoes. Only she likes to carry shoes around rather than wear them. And of course, the prettier the shoe, the more she wants to carry it around.

Well, yesterday I received a small package in the mail from my mother to Alexis. It was a beautiful pair of light blue, jeweled flip flops in her size. (Good job with that Mom!) Alexis loved them and promptly started carrying them around the house. Katya and I tried to get her to keep them on her feet long enough to walk around, but it was a no go. I also pulled out a pair of gold jeweled flip flops that my Mom bought Alexis when she was first born (also her size, a 5) and stuck those on her feet. Those had a little strap that went around the heel so they stayed on her feet while she walked around. Alexis was liking the nice klomping sound when she walked around her bedroom. I make a little video of her wearing them and uploaded it to You Tube.

It is nice that places like Target (they have everything, note my earlier blog) have such cute flip flops in all sizes. I am sure that my Mother will continue to support Alexis' love of pretty shoes and I will enjoy seeing what she sends her. It won't be long before that will be her shoe of choice just like her Grandmother!

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Target

I went to Target yesterday with my sister in law, Debbie. I went not needing anything. The kids and I were merely going to get out of the house and visit with Debbie.

Yeah, right. Why is it you can never leave Target or COSTCO without finding at least 5 things that you need?

First it was the cereal aisle. There was a sale on family size boxes of Honey Bunches of Oats - $2 a box. Killer deal. Then I grabbed a gallon of milk, you always need more milk. Then there were these bags of new yummy rice thingies that Katya loves to have in her lunch and they were on sale. Then I did need a couple of short sleeved t-shirts for Alexis and found some overalls on the clearance rack while I was there. And in the same area was a cheap pack and play that I need for going to people's houses so I don't have to keep dismanteling the one that I have in the living room. Alexis will NOT take a nap unless she is in her crib or a pack and play and it can be frustrating when I am at someone's house visiting.

As we were crossing the back of the store looking for light bulbs for Debbie I saw a sand and water table that I had been talking to Bob about getting for the front porch AND it was $30 cheaper than the one I saw in my One Step Ahead catalog and appeared to be the exact same thing.

Oh yeah, I also got a new bucket and rubber gloves for cleaning the floor. My dog, Thor, chewed up my other bucket.

When we left I filled up the back of my truck with things that I had no intention of buying when I walked into the store. Yikes! That place is dangerous. No wonder I don't go very often and Katya wants to go all the time. They have too much good stuff.

Spring in Central Oregon

Snow flurries...rain...sunshine...wind...hail...cold...cloudy...warm...

That is what the Spring weather in Central Oregon is like. There is a saying here that I hear all the time; "If you don't like the weather here, wait five minutes". It is most definately a true statement.

Yesterday, we had a cold morning (15 degrees at 7am), then some lovely sunshine, then some rain showers, then sushine, then some wind, a nice warm afternoon (in the mid 50's), then some little snow puff balls that feel like styrofoam. Truely bizarre weather. But I must admit, I love it! Spring has always been my favorite season of the year and it is even more so here in Oregon. I always carry a jacket in the car, so I am pretty much prepared for anything Mother Nature decides to give us.

One of the sure fire signs that Spring has sprung is that the bulb flowers start popping up everywhere. Tulips, crocus, snapdragons... all of them. They are my absolute favorite flowers in the whole world. I have about 60 of them currently popping up all over my front lawn. I planted them when I first moved here (since the remodelling kept me out of the house most of the time) and this is the second spring they have bloomed. When they decide to come out of the ground, they go from little nub to a fairly large plant in a matter of a couple of weeks.

I mostly have tulips and daffodils all over my front lawn. I will only be able to enjoy the blooms for maybe a day or two before the deer come over for a snack. I didn't realize that tulips are like chocolate truffels to deer when I planted them in the front lawn. This summer I hope to be able to plant some tulips in the backyard where I know the deer won't go because of the dogs.

Quail love to live in my neighborhood. Soon the babies will be born and there will be dozens of little bitty quail running back and forth across my street. You have to drive really slowly because they like to dart right out in front of a moving car. They are cute, but not too bright. I found a small quail house in my backyard that needs a little repair that I plan on putting in my front yard. I also need to go and buy some dried corn for them. I would love to walk outside and see little baby quail hanging out in my front yard.

Unfortunately, spring also brings Bob his seasonal allergies. The Juniper trees are pollenating right now and those poor beings with allergies are suffering. Runny noses and watering eyes. We heard of a homeopathic remedy that we hope will work for him. Evidently, if you have about a teaspoon of locally pollenated honey it helps your body to build up a tolerance of the blooming vegetation so you don't suffer as much. I am trying to find some so I can buy it for Bob.

Well, I'm very impatiently waiting for the weather to warm up to 40 so I can go for my walk with the kids. It is now 9am and the temp is 25. The sky is a crystal clear blue and the sun is shining. I can't wait to go outside!

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Staying At Home

Hats off to all stay at home mothers!

This whole staying at home thing is much harder than I ever realized. I knew it was tough for the three months that I stayed home with a colicy Katya. That is why I went back to work and never looked back. I always wished that I could work part time though to spend more time with her and be the one that saw all the "firsts" in life instead of getting a report from her daycare. But I always valued and appreciated the time that I got to be selfish and focus on my job. I was really into my work, my workplace and the people that I associated with at work. I got a great deal of personal pride and satisfaction from working. When I was involved in a new project it was exciting and challenging and I loved it! It seemed like the more challenging the project, the more satisfaction I got out of finishing it. It didn't matter how many huge documents I had to read or how many documents that I had to write - my brain was working.

When you work outside of the home you have a lot of time for yourself. My commute to work (although stressful) was a time for waking up, driving through Starbucks if I wanted, listening to a book on tape or some music. When at work I was being challenged, my brain was always working and I was able to interact with a lot of fabulous people. I was able to go out to lunch, hit a bookstore, go to the local tea shop or the mall for my lunch hour or a much needed break.

Staying at home you get none of that. When you are sick, you don't get any sick days. You can't drop the kids off at daycare and go home and sleep all day. You have to power through it. It is amazingly stressful sometimes when you realize that you have little to no alone time. Taking a shower or having time to write an email or a blog is my bit of personal time. Getting my hair done is such a treat. It feels like I have gone to a spa for a while and I love the pampering. My sense of accomplishment comes from doing laundry, cooking dinner, cleaning the house or some household project that I try and fit in during naps. Now that the weather is good I am trying to go for a walk every day for exercise, getting the kids out of the house to play and hopefully to lose some weight.

My days are now full of diapers, crying babies, transporting Katya to and from sports events and friends houses, housework and paperwork. It isn't a bad trade off though. In exchange for all the crying and diaper changing I get smiles, laughs and can be the one to see all of the "firsts". Watching Alexis experience grass and pinecones for the first time yesterday was fun. Taking Logan out in the front pack and watching his eyes get really big when a breeze would hit his cheek was priceless. I also get to go to all of Katya's games and take Katya to her practices (although with two little ones, it is hard). I am also able to give her extra time at home to do her homework, relax, and be filled in on the turbulent times of a middle schooler. The time that I get to spend with Katya is getting shorter. Soon she will be off to college and forging her way through life.

When Logan starts Kindergarten I will go back to work again. Not full time, but definately part time. In the mean time, I am learning to love and appreciate the time that I am being given with my kids. It is tough financially and sometimes mentally - but it is a wonderful opportunity that I sometimes forget is a gift. I get to be the one to teach the alphabet to my kids, plant flowers to watch them grow, have time to read them books on the couch and cheer them on at their various sports or dance functions. I get to make cookies with all of them, be the one that saves the day by bringing something to the school they forgot (guess who this is referring to) and being home when they get off the bus. I will never again be able to be the corporate person that I was before and make the kind of money that I did. For that, part of me is very sad. But, I will get to think of another job that might be more fun that I can do when the kids are at school. We'll have to see what I come up with.

Monday, March 19, 2007

Teething

Teething. This word is equated with sleepless nights and grumpy kids. It is right on the money.



My adorable little Alexis is finally getting some teeth. Poor thing didn't even have the hopes of a tooth on her first birthday. In the past two months she finally got two on the bottom and two are starting to come in on the top. They are the slowest teeth to ever come in on a kid that I know of. The whole process of getting these teeth is horribly painful and time consuming. Imagine, two months to get two teeth in most of the way and two more starting to come in.



Needless to say, my normally happy little girl that is all smiles is getting quite grumpy. Depending on when we give her Motrin during the day, exactly eight hours later she is screaming. Time of night is no different. I would say that pretty much every night for the past two months she has woken up screaming or crying between 2 & 4 am. It is tough on everyone in the house.



I just hope that the rest of her teeth decide to come in a bit more quickly. Not only is it tough on Alexis, she is missing out on all kinds of fabulous foods because she can't chew stuff that is too crunchy. I'm guessing that by the time this little lady gets all of her teeth in, Logan will start getting his. I should buy stock in Infant Motrin.

Saturday, March 17, 2007

The Elusive First Smiles

Babies first smiles are just like little hidden gems that you slowly get to unearth as they get older. At first they are brief glimpses of smiles that have you wondering if it was maybe just some bubbly tummy. But then you notice that they smile or grin when you touch them or talk softly to them and tell them how wonderful they are.

Then one day you get lucky and they are grinning and smiling and cooing and you have your camera handy! Those first smile photos are always so cute! They are like a little glimpse into the future of what they will look like or what kind of personality they might have.

Logan has had brief little smiles since he was only a few days old. Up until recently I have been the only one to really get a smile from him. Then last week he smiled for Katya, then Bob's sister, Debbie. Yesterday we were visiting on the couch while Alexis was sleeping and he just kept talking to me and giving me the best little smiles. Luckily I had my camera in arms reach and I got to capture a few of those beautiful little grins.

I look forward to many more of his wonderful toothless smiles!

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Regional Spelling Bee



Spelling is one of those little things that most people are forgetting how to do. Think about it, we have a spell checker that auto corrects almost everything that we write. Auto correction is not only in our word processors, but our email software as well.

Katya is a very good speller. Spelling and handwriting are two things that I was always really persnickity about her learning to do well in elementary school. And consequently, she has beautiful handwriting now and is very good at spelling.

A few weeks ago Katya was asked by one of her school counselors to represent the 7th graders for her middle school in the regional spelling bee. Evidently, he had posted signs all over the school asking for people who would be interested in doing a spelling bee and received very little response. Katya was flattered and took it as a challenge to try and do a spelling bee. She has never participated in one before and it sounded like it might be fun to try. She only had two weeks or so to prepare for it though. The prize for the best speller was an all expense paid week long trip to Washington D.C. to attend the National Spelling Bee. Nice prize.

The spelling bee itself was Monday night and it was held at the high school by our house (it is a fabulous new school) and Katya was really nervous. She was speller number 78 so she had to sit in that chair on the stage for quite a while until it was her turn. I was amazed at the words that were chosen for this spelling bee. One kid would get a word like "penicillin" and then the next kid would get "stucco". One little girl, who was waiting for her turn to the microphone, got so nervous that she threw up all over the stage. My heart just broke for her.

Katya ended up making it through the first round. She was off by one letter in the second round, but she didn't know the word so she didn’t feel too bad about not getting it right. She stayed until the end of the bee with her good friend, Bailey, who had come to support her. There was one other kid from her school on the stage and she wanted to support them.

I am just so proud of her for trying something new, standing up in front of all those people and potentially getting the spelling wrong, and having the self assurance enough to not be totally upset when she did get it wrong. She even wore her bright yellow spelling bee t-shirt to school the next day (although with a vest over it to cover the spelling bee logo). She is proud that she is smart and I am so proud of her for that most of all.

We're Here

Well, I have enjoyed reading Mandee's blogs so much that I decided to create one of my own. Seeing how we live a fair distance from so many of my family and friends, it is probably a good idea.

I hope you all enjoy my random thoughts.