Potty Mouth

Quinten (after tooting on the toilet and me chuckling): "Oh, that's how my bum talks." To his bum, "What's that bum? You want to poop?"

Weekend wrap up

Here a collection of pics from our birthday celebrations...


This is the first year Addison really got into opening her presents.



Addison loves the little outfits we gave her.


Addison woke up from her morning nap and allowed me to take this one quick picture of her in her new birthday outfit before she ripped out her pigtails and started visiting with her cousins on my side.


Addison actually blew out her own candles this year.


Later that afternoon, Grandpa Lee and Brenda showed up with birthday balloons...


...and the cutest WebKinz Jr. monkey who is affectionately called Sweet Pea.




The next day, we woke up and celebrated Craig's birthday before his mom and siblings showed up.

Craig is opening his basket-full-of-things-you-love from me and the kids.




Addison opened gifts while the boys tried to contain their own enthusiasm and just watch.


Craig inhales his summer sausage gift. (Cordelia looks like she'd like to devour it!)


Craig even got his own cupcake with candles on it to celebrate his 35th birthday.


I think Addison likes them!


These were the Cherry Cheesecake cupcakes. I'll post the recipe soon. They were delicious!!

Lazy summer days

So I realize that I'm posting almost a week after all the parties went down. I think I'm just recuperating, or being lazy, or maybe I've been doing 15 loads of laundry and hanging them all out because it absolutely gorgeous outside!! The kids have found the garden hose and are busily creating water worms in the lawn and then constructing dams of sand. It's all an elaborate fantasy world and I don't have the heart to stop them ("Your wasting water." "Sand stays in the sandbox." "You guys are a filthy mess!") because they are having so much fun.

35 reasons I love you...

Craig turned 35 yesterday and I wrote him a list of things I love about him:

1. When you laugh really hard, you start to cry.
2. You tell your funnies, then explain them to me.
3. You will try anything once.
4. You don't like beer (we just don't like the taste, this is not a reflection on those who do like beer – my mother-in-law took offence to this one).
5. Your trivia mind (I do mean trivia and not trivial!).
6. You love to learn.
7. You draw pictures on envelopes.
8. You don't complain about how much you work.
9. You have a great bum.
10. You love animals.
11. You cry when I cry.
12. You always try to make me happy.
13. You don't hog the covers.
14. If I don't know what something means, you'll explain it without me feeling stupid.
15. You're an exceptionally wonderful father.
16. You BBQ.
17. You introduce me to odd music.
18. You'll play Scrabble and Boggle with me.
19. You're patient.
20. You have kind, beautiful eyes.
21. You look amazing on a bike.
22. Spending time with the family is you're idea of a holiday.
23. You're arms wrap around me.
24. You can deal with barf but not boogers (I'm the opposite).
25. You've stayed with me through the rough patches.
26. Your gentle spirit.
27. And your spiritual faith.
28. You can laugh at yourself.
29. You support me.
30. You can tell me anything.
31. You make me laugh everyday.
32. You're my best friend.
33. You make me feel safe.
34. You gave me 3 beautiful children.
35. You chose me.

A letter for Addison...

For my dearest little girl,

I simply cannot believe that 2 years have passed since you first came into my life. From the smallest, bundle of joy to this sparkling, little firecracker, you have certainly kept me on my toes. You have a vocal range that can make my ears rings, and a smile and elfish laughter that make me proud to be your mommy. I love that you still smile when I come into the room and give me big hugs while squealing "Mommy!". I love that you giggle when I tickle your belly. I love that you love the puppies and the guinea pigs like crazy. I love that you can't get enough of "Tyler" and "King Pin" (that's Quinten in Addison language). I love that you ask every day while standing on the couch, staring out the window "Daddy come back?" because you can't wait for Daddy to get home from work. I love that you are fixated with the tag on your blanket and fall asleep so nicely when you cuddle the tag to your face.



You have the cutest little butt-wiggle run, a sweet I'm-shy-so-I'll-tuck-my-chin-to-my-chest-and-look-up-at-you-with-my-big-beautiful-eyes look, an adventurous spirit that rivals the boys, and a decent size crush on a certain Nickelodeon character Diego (even Dora is Diego to you).



Addison, you have made my family complete. In case I forget to tell you tomorrow, have a fantastic 2nd birthday. I love you so much and I can't wait to watch how much you grow, how my your vocabulary expands, the adventures you go on... I'm so lucky to be your mommy!

A weekend that went to the dogs...

Literally. I was dog-watching for friends (Carey and Chris were kind enough to watch our pooches while we were in Cuba, so we totally owed them) over mother's day weekend so I had 5 dogs in my house and 3 kids. Yikes! Addison LOVED the company. The pint size pooches were right up her alley. You can see Monty helping Addison with our guinea pigs. Lexi is the black pug, Monty is the fawn pug puppy, and Madix is the boxer puppy. They were so good and cuddly. Shay loved playing with them and chasing them around. She slept so well the next day!











After the weekend, I went to Aunt Arlene's to raid her perennials. On Tuesday, I dug out my new bed, Wednesday I added the compost and planted (I realize that I should have had this done last fall to really get the soil ready... oh, well). I can hardly wait until it starts blooming! I still have a couple more plants I'd like to get (a belated Mother's Day gift) and maybe some mulch but it looks so much better than it did previously! I can now see the retaining wall and the perennials in the upper bed are going to grow and fill in so nicely. The wind and rain have flattened the newbies a bit. I'll take a better picture once the plants spruce up again.



This weekend is all birthdays (Addison's 2nd on Saturday and Craig's 35th on Sunday). I'm writing my list and planning today so Friday won't be too crazy. We'll see...

1st time for everything

Last night Addison woke up around 10pm and couldn't breathe. She was barking like a seal so I did the croup remedies of a steamy room, which didn't work, so I tried the cool night air which calmed her down but did not help her breathe. Craig was teaching at the motorcycle course and hadn't come home yet so I called telehealth. I guess the attendent heard Addison's breathing because she put me on hold to get the ambulance started. That's right, Addison and I took a ride in an ambulance. Craig pulled up as I was on the phone with the paramedics, thankfully, so he stayed home with the boys. Basically at the hospital they gave Addison a strong, oral steroid to open her airways and within a 1/2 she was breathing better. The doctor did caution that if she woke up again and couldn't breathe that I was to call the ambulance again and not attempt to drive her in by myself. Amazing eh? And they were super quick at the hospital! We arrived at 10:45 and we were home sleeping by 1:00am.

We'll see what happens tonight...

If it makes me happy...

This is the first year are magnolia has really showcased its beauty. Usually, it blooms for a day, frost hits, and we are stuck with a horrible, brown, rotting mess of petals. This year we have been mercifully spared from this and the magnolia is flourishing! It also makes me happy watching the people walk our sidewalk, pause, look around to see if anyone is watching, then sneak across our lawn to stop and smell the blossoms. You'll notice a soft hazing on the picture courtesy of a small child's fingerprint. Sigh.



And other thing that is making me happy today is a hanging out a load of laundry and having all the socks match!! Yes, small things amuse small minds. Nevertheless, I take pleasure in this little thing.