One Good Egg

Seth came home Thursday night, just like it was any other evening. We sat down to eat before he dropped the bomb on me. In a rather offhand way he said, "I finished my dissertation. I'm defending it on Wednesday, February 25th 10am-12pm." Just like that. The 500+ page monstrosity that has made our children think daddy was born with a laptop attached to his body is finally done! Congratulations Seth! I love you!

Has anyone seen Nate?

The kids and I are on our own today as Seth is doing some Klondike-thingey where they go freeze outside all day. So I decided I would make pancakes because the kids love them. As the pancakes got close I yelled for everyone to come eat and everyone did...except Nate. I could hear him yell, but I was busy flipping, cutting and covering three plates of pancakes in syrup. I called for him again. Couldn't he just get himself to the table? We prayed. I got everyone drinks. Where is Nate? I finally got back to his room and realized he needed rescuing but did I rescue him? Not at first, I needed a picture. I've got my blog to think about, after all.

No new windows for me, thanks!

SPOILER!!! I'm going to complain through this whole post! If you don't want to read it, kindly scroll down to Fuzzy Feet!

When I got a note on my door a few weeks ago stating they would be replacing the windows in our apartment my first thought went something like this, "What idiot would replace windows in January?" Do we live in Southern California? No. Is it above freezing? No. As I write this it is 19 degrees.

I called & told them our windows were fine, I hadn't asked for new windows. They said they'd get back to me. I got a note on my door last week saying they'd put it off until February. Whatever.

Today when they came around our side of building 6, I got a bad feeling. I began imagining crazy scenarios like blockading one door with the piano and the other door with the armoire...after all I have three sick kids today and it's naptime-the sacred time of day that keeps mothers sane.

So I called the office and when I asked them why they were doing this in January, do you know what they said? The company that replaces the windows said it was fine to do it in January, each window would only need to be out for 30 or 40 minutes. Now those guys are geniuses; if I ran a window replacement company in the Arctic during a recession that is exactly what I would say. Finally the pack of retards that run this complex agreed I didn't have to get new windows but hung up acting put out and annoyed by my bad attitude. Did I miss something?

Fuzzy feet

In our continuing fight against the cold, everyone got slippers. I took one shot of Seth & the kids and it turned out great...usually I have to take 5 to get everyone smiling.

Just Dance

What do you do when it is zero outside? This week when it was cold, dark and icy
so we decided to dance.

Kaitlyn wanted to listen to sunshine in my pocket (a.k.a. pocketful of sunshine)

I love this one of Nate. He is such a white boy.

John Travolta would be proud.

let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

Kaitlyn couldn't wait to go outside and play in the snow. It took 5 minutes to get her ready; after spending 2 minutes outside she said, "I'm done, I want to go inside."

Nate didn't let the cold slow him down. After 2 hours outside he still screamed and kicked as I carried him inside.

Miss Independent. I was grateful that one child could get back up the hill without help.
I really like this picture...it shows what a cuddle-bug Kate is. Seth always looks good in photos.
Seth is pulling the sled up the hill and Nate is enjoying the ride...playing in the snow is tiring.

Kylie needed a break too. Under the snow, the ground was covered in a sheet of ice.

Totally funky science

Do you know as much science as a six year old? Do you know what you get if you mix red cabbage juice powder with water and baking soda? Blue.


Do you know what you get if you mix red cabbage juice powder with water and citric acid? Pink!


What if you then mix them together? Purple. Kylie loved feeling like a scientist-the fact that the experiment was pretty was icing on the cake. I liked it too.

Kaitlyn quotes of the day

First quote:
We were in the dairy section of the store when Kaitlyn noticed someone's lip gloss on the floor; I had seen it too and was trying to get by it before she noticed.

"Hey mom, can I have that lip gloss on the floor?" she asked.

"No Kate, it doesn't belong to us," I replied. At which point Kaitlyn crossed her arms, scowled at me and pursed her lips.

"You just won't let me steal Mom," she grumbled.

"Nope, you're not suppose to steal," I told her.

"Well, do you know why I want to steal? Because I lost my CTR ring and now I can't choose the right," she explained patiently. Is she cute or what?

Second quote:
As she finished her dinner she enthusiastically told me, "I finished all the garbage you gave me!"

Knock, knock...who's there?

For any of you who do not know, first grade is the year knock, knock jokes come into fashion. I giggled to myself happily when Kylie came home with her first joke. One day I ate lunch with her at school & about 5 kids were telling me jokes at the same time (the same joke, mind you). Katie & Nate have picked up on telling knock, knock jokes as well, their jokes go something like this:

"Knock, knock"
"Who's there?"
"Table"
"Table who?"
"Have you forgotten what you eat dinner on?"

Then they go back & forth with everything in the house, laughing at each one like it's the funniest thing they ever heard. I love it.

Snow days and budding artists

Artist number one--The weather is horrible today; freezing rain and hail so school was canceled. The cars are covered in a layer of ice so it was a "hunker-down," stay-at-home day. A great day to get out the art supplies.

Artist number two

Artist number three is proud of his painting. Unfortunately, he made a mess.

Why I have troubles supporting the arts at home.

One dollar combined with getting to feel like Cinderella equals child labor.

Nate

"I'm two"


Each night we have to unscrew Nathan's lightbulb and lock his door
to keep him out of his toys and contained.

Nathan resents this of course and often lingers by his door
to talk, blow raspberries at or shoot the occasional passerby.

The Holidays

Santa came!

We had a great Christmas, even though Kylie didn't get anything.

Except my meebas-she'd been putting the word out for months that she wanted one.

Heaven help us.

New Beginnings

I've been thinking about starting a blog for a while, but I'm lazy. I haven't finished the journal I had as a missionary yet. As New Year's is a time for resolutions I have decided to do it so all of you can see how cute the kids are and enjoy the funny things they say and do.