Bott family

One Day Like This

2009-02-03T09:52:00.003-05:00

I tried to embed this video but you can only view it on youtube. Check it out, you'll be humming the tune all day =)

I've been getting a little down lately. Its understandable...Tim's out studying a lot, I'm home with 4 kids ALL day, its winter. When I feel myself slipping into self pity I don't do a good job of loving the people around me. Meaning my kids.

In September we heard an amazing message by Rob Bell. I'm reminded of it often. They played that video at the end and both serve as a great reality check for me. I hope you listen...its so encouraging. You can find it here.

An update on life

2009-01-19T12:06:00.003-05:00

I've been slacking on my blog again. I had one of those days last week. (Well, a few of them in a row) and I wanted to blog about it, but I just didn't have the energy.

Tim's latest class has been a doozy. He is gone a few nights a week studying. If he isn't studying, he's working late. He has a lot of deadlines coming up in the next few weeks so we won't be seeing him as much as we'd like. Don't think I'm complaining...but it isn't easy for any of us.

Last week Josh had "one of those days" 3 days in a row. Tuesday morning he wanted to sit on Jesse's seat while Jesse was eating. The scuffle ended with Jesse's full bowl of cereal dumped everywhere. At lunch the same thing happened and Jesse's full cup of water and plate full of food landed on the floor. I figured dinner would have another mess and wasn't disappointed. Josh grabbed Yael's full cup of water and dumped it all over himself. He wasn't too happy about being doused in water...I doubt he's learned his lesson though.

Its a good thing he's really cute...

No washer again

2009-01-12T20:22:00.003-05:00

Once again I can not use my washing machine. Saturday I started hearing a horrible noise. I had no idea what it was until I took my bra out of the dryer. (sorry to any men who may be reading this) One side was completely limp. Some how the underwire came out and lodged itself between the drums in my machine.

What are the odds? Do such absurd things happen to other people? Please tell me yes.

I could post every day about Josh...

2009-01-08T15:44:00.002-05:00

Seriously. The boy is amazing. He's always doing something to make me shudder, cry, laugh or pull out my hair (I prefer all the gray ones he's given me). Here is an example of a day with Josh...

He loves climbing up on our blue chair. Before I grabbed my camera he had been standing on the top and jumping down. I was sorry I missed that kodak moment.

He loves to vacuum. Its one thing I can let him do that isn't going to end in disaster. For now anyway.

He's had a rash on his bum for 6 months so we decided it was time to pull out the potty. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Once he finally went in the potty he had it down. Now he will do everything all by himself without telling me. I try to pay attention...I never know what's going to happen when he gets an idea in his head.

I decided that it was time to start getting to bed early and waking up in time to get in a good workout. One morning I heard him as I was finishing doing yoga. I decided he'd be ok for 10 more minutes. I was so wrong...

Crud

2009-01-07T16:16:00.001-05:00

Well, I was going to regail you with all our holiday shenanigans, but blogger isn't loading pictures for me. >: (

I'll keep trying. But now I have to rescue the kids from Josh.

December 10th?!

2009-01-07T15:19:00.002-05:00

That was the last time I posted? What's wrong with me ;0) Its not like nothing's been happening. In fact, the holidays were plenty busy and now that school is in full swing again it doesn't even seem like there was a break.

Rather than have a never ending post full of pictures I'll post a few pictures at a time.

I love homeschooling!!

2008-12-10T08:03:00.002-05:00

Even though it can be hard to juggle 2 in school, a baby and an unpredictable toddler, I still love homeschooling. We have days when its difficult to get much accomplished (like yesterday) but the pro's totally outweigh the con's.

Yesterday in history we learned about ancient China and their early form of writing called pictograms. Yael practiced making some of her own. We agreed that the cat is actually a scaredy cat = )

Jesse has learned the alphabet and now is learning how to decode words. He was doing so good with the words I gave him, I decided to do a whole sentence. To make sure he understood what it said I had him draw a picture. Its a simple thing, but teaching my son how to read makes my heart want to burst with pride and joy.

And then there's this... "What do you mean I can't go outside?"

Words fail me entirely.

Its too early!

2008-12-08T08:14:00.003-05:00

I'm just not ready to face the day. My alarm (Tucker) went off at 3 and every hour after than until I finally gave in at 7. Now I have a doozy of a headache. Rather than focus on how lousy I feel I'll show you some nice pics.

Yael had a cold last week...Tuck loves her anyway = )

Here he is sitting up! He loves to sit on the floor and play. If I put the boppy behind him it catches the occasional unbalanced wobble so I can leave the room for a while and get something done.

Our enormous Christmas tree is up. It is huge! I've bought about 700 more lights this year and still think it needs more. The ornaments are a little lonely too = )

Ever since we moved I've wanted to put a tree in front of the window. Since we got my parents old furniture I finally had the chance. I sit in the blue chair every night with quiet Christmas music playing and watch the snow fall. December is quickly becoming a favorite month of the year...

Tis' the Season

2008-12-02T15:43:00.003-05:00

Hi there, remember me? = ) I've been taking a cyber vacation. With traveling and Thanksgiving the easiest thing to give up was blogging. I'm back and have some pictures to share.

We got a heavy snow Sunday and Monday. I don't know how December came so fast, but the snow makes it feel very Christmasy. I woke up before the kids yesterday so I took my camera out for some nice snowy shots.

Everything looks so beautiful under a fresh blanket of snow. I will get tired of the clean up, but each time it snows the kids and I enjoy its beauty.

With the Christmas season in full swing its time to put up our tree! The plan is to look for the perfect spruce tonight...pics will come shortly = )

First tooth!

2008-11-19T16:49:00.002-05:00

Tuck has been unusually grumpy lately and I found out why when he started chomping on my finger a few minutes ago. That little boy cut his first tooth today! He's still his normal pleasant self until it time to sleep. Napping and bed time haven't been so great this week...translation: I'm even more tired than usual.

He's such an eager beaver when its time to eat. He loves sitting at the table with everyone for meals and chases cheerio bits around the tray. He tends to lunge at me when I have a spoon full of food for him...
Does anyone have a tiny baby that I can hold? Mine seem to have disappeared.

You might have a two year old if...

2008-11-11T16:08:00.002-05:00

Need I say more?

6 months already?!

2008-11-07T20:47:00.005-05:00

Tucker Rainne...can it really be 6 months since our lives changed so drastically? Those dark brown eyes and happy grin melt my heart like butta... He's so quiet and always watching, but it doesn't take much to get a big smile from this kid.

Happy 6 months Tuck = )

Trick or Treat!

2008-11-03T09:26:00.002-05:00

Friday nights trick or treating was wonderful. The weather was mild and it was still pretty light when we started. It was like the kids dressed up to take our evening walk and collected candy along the way.

We invited friends over and had plenty of time to chat. Even Tim came with us and seemed to enjoy himself.

Lego Art

2008-10-28T11:09:00.002-04:00

I LOVE legos! It may be the single greatest toy created. My kids will disappear for hours to play with their uncle's hand-me-down legos. These are a few of Jesse's creations. He really wanted me to take some pictures of them...as I type he is downstairs searching for his "pirate captain" to create something new.

I loved playing with legos when I was a kid too, though I never had any. I had to wait until we saw our cousins and play with theirs. Once when we were visiting someone combined both of their individual sets into one (a big no-no!). Since I had been playing with them everyone assumed I had done the dastardly deed. What started as "Did you combine the legos?" turned into the third degree. Okay, so I'm exaggerating a bit ;0) When you're marched into a room and asked over and over again if you did it and then told you can't play with them anymore, its pretty obvious that nobody believes you. That was a doubly crushing blow...no matter how hard I claimed innocence nobody believed me, AND I couldn't play with the legos the rest of our time there. The one thing that has haunted me is this: WHO mixed the legos and let me take the blame for it? Anyone care to fess up? = )

P.S. I'm not bitter about this...I'm laughing as I type it. I wouldn't want someone to think I was mad = )

Firsts

2008-10-23T21:48:00.006-04:00

There's a first time for everything and Tucker had two big firsts today. We've been waiting for him to roll over on his own and this afternoon he finally did it! Tonight was also his first time to try solid food. I'd had enough early morning breakfast calls.

I love watching babies hit all those firsts but I've been more than happy to wait this time. Now that he rolls, crawling won't be too far behind and before you know it he's sprinting around the house with his siblings. Wah! I want another baby! ;0) I'm mostly kidding about that.

You might have a 2 year old if...

2008-10-20T10:19:00.002-04:00

You walked into a bedroom this morning and were handed a poopy diaper and found a crib smeared with poop.

Its going to be a long day.

Reading is Fun!

2008-10-16T08:42:00.003-04:00

I love that Yael can read. She's an incredible reader...definitely advanced for her age. Josh really wanted that book read to him during school yesterday so I had Yael read to him while I worked with Jesse. Does it get any better than this?!

See any familiar faces?

2008-10-12T21:25:00.003-04:00

Stuff Mart

2008-10-11T21:32:00.003-04:00

We have too much stuff. I can have the house all picked up in the morning, but once Josh gets up this is what happens...

Its time to destash and get out the clutter so I can think again. If you want to learn more about our journey to simple living, check out my soap blog...

Since we're getting rid of stuff we'll be getting creative for Christmas. It doesn't make much sense to get rid of stuff and then stock up again at the holidays. I think we've figured out something that will work for now.

I just flew in from the Big Apple...

2008-10-07T16:18:00.003-04:00

and boy are my arms tired!

Ok bad joke, but the Big Apple part is true. When I mentioned my Great Aunt Loretta's 90th birthday party a few months ago Tim insisted that I buy a ticket and join my family for the fun. As terrified as I am of flying I couldn't pass up the chance to visit New York City and my aunt's home on Long Island. My grandfather's sisters Vi and Loretta have lived there together for as long as I've been alive and this was my first chance to visit.

We spent Saturday afternoon at their church for a wonderful birthday celebration. You can't tell from the picture, but Auntie is directing the crowd as we sing Happy Birthday...

From left to right: Mandi (my cousin), Aunt Vi, Aunt Loretta (usually called Auntie) my sister Wendy and myself w/ Tucker.
We were all afraid that Auntie's recent strokes had affected her, but aside from some short term memory loss she is doing great. Though a little more stooped than the last time I saw her Auntie is healthy and as goofy as always.

We took some of her family pictures along for others to see. The smallest wedding picture on the bottom is my grandparents. I LOVE vintage pictures, especially when they are of my own family. When I find old pictures at estate sales it makes me a little sad to think that someones heritage is lost to them. Having old prints is a link to the past and a reminder of times gone by.

We had so much fun and there is much more for me to tell. I'll be posting on my soap blog too, so feel free to stop by and see some of the other shenanigans = )

You might have a 2 year old if...

2008-09-28T21:48:00.002-04:00

you walk into the room and find this:

Sorry Wendy, I owe you!!

Yael shots

2008-09-28T00:24:00.002-04:00

Jesse shots

2008-09-28T00:16:00.000-04:00

Josh shots

2008-09-28T00:08:00.001-04:00

Tucker shots

2008-09-27T23:43:00.002-04:00

When you're walking in the way

2008-09-24T10:03:00.002-04:00

I love teaching my kids. Its a little crazy some days, but there are always things that make me giggle or touch my heart.

Yesterday the kids found a brown caterpillar. For school Yael had learned a poem about a brown caterpillar. She decided to follow the poem and find a "shady leaf or stalk" for her new friend. Much to her disappointment she dropped him while trying to put him in the perfect spot.

This was cause for much concern and she asked me if God would be with the caterpillar. I told her yes and that God had taught him how to find his home and would take care of him. We read part of Matthew 6 and talked about how God takes care of the things He created and loves. She told me it would be pretty funny if birds had to sew...visions of a bird sitting at my sewing machine cracked us up = )

I love the questions Yael and Jesse are asking right now. We've had such great teaching moments lately. The faith of a child is so refreshing and such a joy.

My Stash

2008-09-19T22:41:00.002-04:00

Amy wanted to know how many diapers you need to feel like you aren't doing laundry every day. Its a little too detailed for the comments section so I thought I'd post it for those who are interested.

Currently my stash is:
24 infant sized prefolds
12 "premium" size prefolds (they fit Josh)
18 flats...look like a prefold but don't have the thickness
18 BumGenius 3.0 one size pocket diapers w/ inserts
2 Breezy Babies fitted bamboo diapers for Tucker
2 Beezy Babies fitted bamboo diapers for Josh

I also have various covers including, but not limited to: Bummis Super Whisper Wraps, Dappi Nylon Pants, and Proraps...and don't forget pins and snappis.

Except for the premium sized prefolds and bamboo diapers, all of my diapers can be used on both boys. Because I have cloth "trainers" instead of pull-ups, I use the premium prefolds as inserts in the trainers. So, except for Tucker's bamboo fitteds, all my diapers can be used by more than one of the kids. I find that sometimes I can go 5 days w/o washing them but I try not to get that far. Opening that diaper bag will singe my eyebrows off. The odor is beyond rank.

I thought in the beginning that I would only use one style of diaper. Now that I've been doing this a while I realize that its not practical for us. I like having a variety because different things work at different times. Sometimes its nice to throw on an old school prefold because I know that Josh is going to be getting messy. When he had diarhea it was the best option. They are relatively inexpensive so I don't worry about messing them up.

For things like dads, nurseries and babysitters, the bumgenius are great because they're so much like a disposable. As long as I have them stuffed they're foolproof. They are also great for nights. Josh wet through everything at night before we started using the b.g.

There are lots of other brands similar to bumgenius that aren't nearly as expensive and can be found used on cloth diapering forums like Diaper Swappers. Thirsties are VERY popular...I've heard of celebrities who use them even though there are much more expensive/posh diapers out there.

If you have ANY questions about cloth diapering I'm hardly an expert. I'm just a newbie and often visit Autumn Beck's blog All About Cloth Diapers. If you ever have any questions, she's the one to ask. There are also forums on diaperswappers with a wealth of information. Autumn has recently posted about cloth diapering on a budget and regularly reviews diapers to help you find what might work best for you.

I hope that helps. Cloth diapering was a big step, but its been a great change. I wish I'd have known of all the resources out there because I'd have done this from the beginning. Now, with 2 in diapers and 1 using pull-ups we are saving $100 a month. What can you do with an extra $1,200 p/year?

Giveaway on Soapaholics Anonymous

2008-09-18T08:40:00.006-04:00

This is a bamboo diaper...I posted it just for you Andrew = )

I'm having a "Green Giveaway" on my soap blog this week.. If you're interested in cloth diapering, or know someone who is, feel free to stop by and enter for a chance to win my new favorite cloth diaper. A brand new, never used version of my favorite cloth diaper that is = )

NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-09-16T07:54:00.004-04:00

Every now and then there will be a Pioneer Woman giveaway that I really want to win so I'll have Tim enter too. Yesterday she was having a photoshop giveaway on her photography site and Tim and I both entered. Tim's comment got in a few minutes before the contest was over so I didn't think there was much chance of his winning, but you never know.

HE STINKING WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So now that we have our nice new camera we will also have photoshop cs3 to spiff up our pictures. I shouldn't say "we"...like PW says, "I use the term 'we' very loosely". Tim rarely picks up the camera, so this is more of a thanks-for-letting-me-come-to-California-to-hang-with-my-bff-for-a-week gift. I accept...especially since photoshop is more expensive than his plane ticket. = ) The only problem: its 4 a.m. in CA so I can't call him for another 5 hours to burst at the seams!

5 years old!

2008-09-14T22:00:00.005-04:00

Another one of my babies has hit the 5 year mark. Jesse was excited to spend his birthday at Grandma Engwert's house. Its always fun to party with the cousins!

Extreme Makeover has been in Toledo and about a mile or so from my parents. This morning my mom, the kids and I headed over to check things out. We weren't able to see much of the house, but it's a once in a lifetime experience. I'll have to post pictures from my camera when we get back home.

Why was I so worried about this?

2008-09-05T15:18:00.002-04:00

Homeschooling isn't for everyone.

There I said it. Sometimes when I tell people I home school they become instantly defensive. As if I just told them they are crazy for doing anything else. No folks, just because I don't send my kids to public school doesn't mean I'm secretly judging you.

I also find homeschooling to be incredibly rewarding and fun. Even if I am mind numbingly busy. I'd be that way even if my kids were in public school.

I was pretty worried about teaching 2 kids at once this year. Silly...I had no reason to be stressed. The past few days have been easy going and enjoyable. Due partly to the excellent curriculum we found.

When I read The Well Trained Mind I figured I would start using some of their curriculum. They've done all the leg work and have years of experience. As I perused my collection of home school materials I realized that Tim's habit of buying me (what seemed like) random home school books had paid off. I already had the books I needed for Jesse and Yael's language lessons. I wish I would have realized this a long time ago.

The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading is fantastic. Again, I wish I would have realized what it was last year. Jesse could be reading all ready. I'll start using this for Josh as soon as possible.
This is Yael's Language curriculum for the year. Also surprisingly simple to use.

So there you have it. Though I may seem crazy for homeschooling w/4 kids, most of the work has already been done for me. All I have to do is open the book and read. And provide lots of hugs, kisses and loving support...the books don't do that = )

First day of school!!!

2008-09-03T15:55:00.007-04:00

Yesterday I was putting together detailed lesson schedules and had an aha moment. With Tim heading to CA next week and the rest of us going to Ohio, we won't have a full week of school until the last full week of September. Yikes...I had a panic attack and then decided that we would just start today and try to get 2 weeks of work crammed into 3.

I set my alarm for 6:30 but didn't need it because Tucker was so excited for school to start he was already up. It was a great start to the morning which included...1/2 hr. walk, 1/2 hr. yoga, clean kitchen, pick up house, spot clean bathroom, run dishwasher, run 1 load laundry, make lots of oatmeal, bath, diaper changes, babies dressed and fed. All before 10 am! And I thought I was missing out by not sending them to school. Apparently 1st day productivity isn't limited to mom's whose kids leave home. Maybe I can do it 2 days in a row = )

Creativity

2008-08-31T21:15:00.003-04:00

One of my favorite things about having kids is watching them be creative. Sure, their creativity can often translate into LOTS of work for me, but not very often.

The best is when they have pieces of odds and ends and can turn it into anything...like a pirate hunt for hidden treasure.

A few days ago it was a circus act. Yael is was the featured acrobat in the center ring.

And JD, oblivious to everything else had turned an empty old bubble container into a rocket ship. I just love the way kids minds work = )

**Brought to you by long afternoons playing outside and as little tv/computer time as possible**

Sweetness

2008-08-27T15:14:00.002-04:00

As much work as they are, my kids all have moments of extreme sweetness. This is the best kind of sweetness because it doesn't rot your teeth or make you fat.

I was dreading the day her tooth would be loose enough to pull. Late one night she came running out of her room, tooth in hand and a mouth full of blood. She'd been resting her chin on the bed and slipped, knocking that tooth right out! She has the cutest little lisp now. So sweet...

This melts my heart like butter. These two have a special connection already. I don't think I'll have the oldest/youngest sibling rivalry with them.

Life with an independant 2 year old

2008-08-27T15:01:00.002-04:00

I feel like I've been spinning my wheels lately. Some days I can't seem to get anything done. It doesn't help that Josh's independence usually means more work for me. I know this is a good thing...as he gets older he'll want to do things himself instead of expecting me to do it. For now its a little overwhelming.

This morning he wanted more cheerios. Then he topped it off with the rest of his milk.

He bumped what was going to be blueberry peach jam while grabbing the gallon of milk before nap time.
Worse than everything put together is that he now knows how to open the front door by himself. Time to visit Lowe's for a chain I think.

Slipping away

2008-08-18T15:38:00.004-04:00

Well, summer is coming to an end but I'm still holding on for dear life. Translation: I haven't felt like being tied to my computer. Thus the lack of blogging.

Friday the kids and I went to Meijer Gardens with some friends. It was a nice sunny day and we did a lot of walking. By the time we got home everyone was exhausted and ready for a nap.

Here are a few pictures which turned out pretty good. Have I mentioned how much I love our new camera? ;0)

Last week

2008-08-12T16:01:00.002-04:00

After eating birthday cake last week Josh had a crazy night. He went to sleep ok, but woke up around 4 a.m. for an hour. I went in when I first heard him, but everything was ok aside from him jumping off the walls. I peaked in after I woke up in the morning and this is what I found...

If you can't quite tell, those are bare buns you see. At some point he took his diaper off and got both legs into one of leg of his pj pants. I'm still not sure how he managed that. We had a good laugh over it though = )

Sleeping

2008-08-11T07:54:00.002-04:00

Well, it looks as if my nights getting up with a new baby are over = ( Its weird to be sad about, but that has always been a special bonding time with my babies. I can't complain about getting a full 8 hours rest though. Saturday Tucker didn't get up until 8:30 in the morning!!! Now, if I can be disciplined enough to get in bed earlier I could wake up early and get something done.

Here are a few random shots of him...

Tim loves to pose for the camera
I have fully expected one of my kids to be a thumb sucker. I sucked my thumb until the summer before I went to 6th grade. The only thing that could stop me was the thought of going to camp the next week and having my friends see me suck my thumb. Peer pressure can be a good thing sometimes = ) So, having a thumb sucker would be a bit of a relief...no getting up at night to grope around the floor looking for a pacifier.

Tuck is determined to get that thumb in his mouth. He is constantly sucking on his hand (like right now) and keeps getting closer. He even spits out the pacie so he can suck his hand. Well, my other baby is screaming in his crib and ready to go for the day. I'll try to post some random shots later...

2!

2008-08-07T22:25:00.003-04:00

It was Josh's big day today (and happy birthday to Andrew Postema too!). We've been in the terrible two's for a year, but now we're official = )

After dinner we enjoyed some cake. We sang to him and Tim tried to teach him how to blow out the candles. That is a picture of him singing back to Tim...I wish I'd had a dvr handy. It was tooo cute.

He didn't need any help figuring out what to do with the cake. He'd already climbed on the counter a few times to dip his finger in. Oh yea, forgot to mention...he knows how to climb onto the counters now. Nothing is safe anymore!
He only had one gift to open, but he enjoyed it...
It was full of clothes, but unlike many kids he didn't mind at all. He was pretty excited. I love this next picture. Jesse was helping him see if it would fit. I love the look Josh is giving him = )
This whole episode melted my heart like butter. I love my kids = )

Its late

2008-08-06T23:21:00.004-04:00

but its been a while since I posted pictures, so here are a few from this past week.

Yael sure loves her baby brother. She's a great "babysitter" when I need one = )

She always knows how to make Tuck smile. They seem to have a special connection.
In the morning when I need to go back to sleep I bring Tuck in bed with me. He likes to stare at me and smile while we both settle back into sleep. This morning he was looking so angelic I had to take a bunch of pictures.
Tomorrow (Thursday) is Josh's big day. I'll try to get back on with shots from the past 2 years.

Did he have to?

2008-08-03T21:05:00.002-04:00

This afternoon I was explaining to my friend Erica that Josh is lots of work. His sweet little face a impish smile can throw anyone off. Its smoke and mirrors folks. Trouble follows him everywhere.

Its not so much that he's bad, he just does things that end up being trouble/extra work for me in the long run.

After I got done explaining that to her I went to get him from his nap. He had been awake for a while and I got a nice surprise when I opened the door. There he was with his diaper off, poop in the corner of the bed and on everything else, plus pee in the bed and on the floor. I think he'd taken his diaper off before he even fell asleep.

Did he have to try so hard to prove my point? Seriously, pooping in the bed!!

Another friend and I were talking last Sunday. There are some situations that are so absurd and crazy that all we can do is laugh. This was one of those times = )

The tooth that would not be pulled

2008-07-31T12:48:00.002-04:00

How disgusting is that!!! Yael was not interested in pulling out her tooth. That crazy tooth was dangling for days, and oh the histrionics that arose when I tried to make her pull it.

Yesterday I'd had enough. She wasn't eating and wouldn't talk so she could hold that thing in. Mind you, she was terrified that it would be incredibly painful to pull. After trying to make her pull it I changed tactics. I had her sit and twist the tooth for a good 1/2 hour. She wasn't happy about it, but at least she wasn't screaming bloody murder. Then for lunch I made her toast and told her she had to take bites rather than pick it into pieces. 3 bites later she realized that crazy tooth was out...and she never felt a thing = )

Ahh, much better!

Relaxing

2008-07-27T18:32:00.003-04:00

For our anniversary Tim and I went out to dinner and then to our favorite park. At dinner there were 2 ladies with unhappy children sitting right behind me and at one point literally screaming in my ear. Hey wait a sec....I left the kids at home so I wouldn't have to hear that! ;-)

The park was much better...hardly a person in sight and a nice walk. Until we had to dodge the goose grease and scrape it off the stroller tires. Yuck. I had the chance to play around with the camera some more. Taking nice pictures is kind of addictive =) Its been lots of fun to try and figure out what works and what doesn't.

Head rest

2008-07-27T18:12:00.002-04:00

My parents came to visit on Thursday. Of course, as soon as my dad sat down, out came the books = ) Josh has to get in on the action too, so he picked his favorite spot...

Grandpa's head was very handy...

Cutie

2008-07-26T22:04:00.001-04:00

Here's the babe...getting bigger every day.

I want to go to bed...

2008-07-25T23:08:00.001-04:00

but there's this cute little guy next to my who is happy as can be and has no desire to sleep right now.

60 fingers and 60 toes

2008-07-25T22:30:00.002-04:00

10 years ago I could never have imagined my life as it is today. A sweet baby by my side (who doesn't want to go to sleep). A little girl whose tooth is barely hanging on and flops when she talks, but cries when you even look at her because she thinks your going to try to pull it. A little boy whose attention to detail will serve him well (most of the time). And a toddler who will accomplish great things someday because he has the balls to do the crazy stuff.

10 years has seen a lot of ups and downs. Big changes and little changes... More fingers and toes, 10 at a time.

Hopefully there are a lot more 10's to come.

I mean years, not fingers and toes =)

Playing with my new toy

2008-07-23T21:48:00.004-04:00

Well, not really toy.... OUR NEW CAMERA IS HERE!!!! Its not brand new. For the price of a brand new point & shoot we bought a 3 year old Canon Digital Rebel. I'm in love. I may never make soap again. Just kidding. I may be a little squinty from looking through the viewfinder from now on though.

I've learned that the reason I took crappy pictures before had something to do with the camera. I managed to take these photos today. All but 1 of these are SOOC (straight out of the camera). I did a little saturation touch up on Tuck, but hardly enough to tell the difference.

You can't tell in this picture, but Yael looks like a hillbilly because one of her front teeth is hanging by a thread. She's afraid to pull it so it might be there a few more days. I told her to be careful not to swallow it in her sleep = ) I'm cruel.

This guy was the most fun...

Oh, I'm good...this wasn't easy to catch.

Visits

2008-07-22T19:42:00.002-04:00

Aunt Ellen was on her way through town today, so she stopped by to say hi. As soon as anyone walks in the door my kids surround them with books and sit with rapt attention. I DO read to them, but you'd never know = )

Josh's birthday

2008-07-19T11:41:00.003-04:00

Can you believe that kid is going to be 2 already?! Its time to start thinking about birthday presents.

I'm starting to feel like we're outgrowing our house. With so much baby and kid stuff around there isn't room to keep it all. I'm trying to find good quality toys that won't be easily destroyed by hurricane Josh. I'm also interested in requesting someone on etsy to make some bamboo diapers. They won't be cheap, so if you're not sure what to get, that would be helpful and useful for years to come.

Here are a few things I found on Etsy:

Grandpa John has one that would be a hit with everyone.

Timeless Puzzles has name puzzles that can be personalized (obviously = )

Cookie Dough has some cute pull toys.

If none of those trips your trigger bamboo flats are high on my list of things to get...along with clothes. He just keeps growing! Size 2 is best (not 24 months)

Why do I love this so much?

2008-07-17T22:21:00.003-04:00

Why does Josh wearing my shoes make me laugh so hard? He does it every day and I still laugh until I cry.

The green slipper is the cherry on top.

Get a Clue

2008-07-16T21:40:00.003-04:00

Tim bought Clue Jr. for the kids a few days ago. Its the best game ever! We've had fun playing it together and they ask to play it by themselves every day.

I've been worried about homeschooling with the little ones around, but I'm not so uptight about it anymore. Jesse wanted help learning how to write letters all day and Yael wanted to do math. I'm officially starting Jesse on his phonics tomorrow...its the only way I'll get any peace = )

Pimp My Ride

2008-07-15T15:13:00.002-04:00

My ride:

Pimped:
Not exactly glamorous, but this is my new set of wheelz. In an effort to decrease our energy consumption, we're relying on good old man power. We're fortunate enough to be VERY close to Tim's work so one car is a reasonable option. Now that its nice he's able to ride his bike, which is even better.

Not only is work close, but the post office is right around the corner. I've been riding there at night with one or two of the kids to send orders using the 24-7 kiosk. Last night I was brave enough to ride to my favorite market with Yael and Josh. It didn't take as long as I thought, but Yael kept telling me to go faster = ) 70 lbs. of kids in tow is a doozy on the knees!

I love having a bike, but I'm pretty sure I look like Elmira Gultch just before she turns into the Wicked Witch of the West. At least my kids aren't old enough to be embarrassed by me. That will come soon enough = )

Last night when I couldn't sleep I was reading previous posts. Was I smookin' a dooby on some of those? It's pretty obvious at times that I'm suffering from a lack of sleep because they don't always make sense. And I thought I was doing a great job of previewing before I posted!

A variety

2008-07-13T18:24:00.002-04:00

Yael wanted me to take pictures of her in the dress from Katie and Joel's wedding. She and the boys had lots of fun spinning until they couldn't stand up anymore. I love watching my kids play together. It makes my heart swell with pride and joy.

The money shot.
Ness made a comment on my last post about the similarities between Great Grandma and Josh. I'll post some comparison pictures. Good call Ness, I never would have seen that myself. I can see who the death stare comes from now = )

Found em' Dad...

2008-07-11T23:51:00.002-04:00

My dad gave me these pictures of his Grandmother. He has some great stories of her...like going to her house on Saturdays while she made pasta and laid it on the dining room table. She sounds like she was a wonderful woman, but that look could peel the paint of a barn door. Is that right? I've been known to mix metaphors...
This is my favorite picture. I love the quilt and the union suit right next to it. I wonder what happened to that quilt.
My Great Grandparents came from the Ukraine when they were first married. There was political unrest and war was immanent. They got out in time, but other members of the family had to escape. Many of them eventually settled in Northwest Ohio.

Someday I'd love to travel to the Ukraine and see where they came from...learn more about their lives before coming to the states. I'd also love to make a replica of that apron with reproduction vintage fabric. I'm thinking I'd get to the Ukraine sooner.

Canoeing

2008-07-10T16:22:00.005-04:00

Here's my "picture" of the day...

I should be making dinner right now...

2008-07-09T17:16:00.002-04:00

But instead I'll post pictures of the first smiles I've managed to capture on film. Isn't he sweet! Ok, so I know mom's find their kids far more adorable than anyone else...anyone else besides grandma's that is. I think we know who these pictures are really for don't we = )

Again!

2008-07-08T11:32:00.003-04:00

Power outages are becoming popular around here. Last night around 9 a wire went down a few houses away. It was burning and shooting sparks all over the street. Crews came out right away, but they weren't able to finish things until this morning so it was another night and morning w/o power.

Here are a few more pics of our canoeing adventure. The kids are always asking to go but when the time finally comes they were scared stiff. Not sure why...but it wore off pretty fast =)

Open for business!

2008-07-07T10:12:00.002-04:00

I've been talking about doing this for months and today is the day! For those of you who are unfamiliar, Etsy is an online vendor for artists to sell their handmade artwork and crafts. After much preparation, my etsy shop Vintage Fresh Soap & Sundries is now open!

Here are some of the goodies you'll find:

Check back often, I will continue to add more! Oh, and tell all your friends = )

We're back!

2008-07-05T22:18:00.002-04:00

After a crazy weekend I thought I'd add a few shots from the weekend.

It was pretty cold on Thursday so the kids wanted to dress appropriately. I love it when they dress themselves.

This is why we had 4 kids = ) Tim has so much patience and loves to teach the kids how to do things like that. Maybe its a little self serving. If they didn't have their own brushes they'd be asking him all afternoon if they could paint to.

Shhhh, don't move...that rare specimine is a Curious Menace quietly sitting. Curious Menaces are rarely quiet and are difficult to photograph because they are always in motion.

Don't count your chickens...

2008-07-03T13:06:00.002-04:00

I had so much to do this weekend. Tim has off today and tomorrow and we both had a long list of things to get done. Mine included opening up my etsy shop FINALLY, and getting some cleaning done around the house.

Everything is put on hold since our power is out until Saturday night. Lightening struck a nearby utility pole and they haven't started to replace it yet. It looks like its going to take a while to get done.

The kids and I are at the library for a little while. We were going to head down to my parents, but with all the rain their sewer backed up to the bottom step of their basement. Gross. I'd rather be without power. I may be able to hit another spot with wifi, but I'm not planning on it. This will be a great chance to play some games and do some real relaxing. Happy 4th everyone!

Bet you thought I forgot, didn't you

2008-07-02T20:40:00.003-04:00

Its been a long day!!! I finally made a batch of base soap to send to Amanda for winning my pay it forward contest. Now I need to write directions and package up the rest of the contents of the kit. After seeing her base soap I took some I made 2 1/2 weeks ago and turned it into oatmeal, milk and honey soap that smells like chocolate. YUM! I may just eat these bars instead of clean with them = ) Oh, and I can't forget the fun, blue flower soaps I made with the silicone mold Connie bought me yesterday. Its been a very clean day = )

The kids are showing you the cool prize I won in the pay it forward contest. Amber sent me a whole bunch of goodies including the apron you see Yael wearing.

The apron isn't in this shot because I put it on and haven't taken it off yet = ) She put in some seeds, cookie cutters and a bunch of her soap. I love how rustic her soap is, and she tied it all up beautifully. She'll be opening an etsy shop soon too!

I've been working hard towards opening my own etsy shop. If you don't have any idea what that is stay tuned. I'm hoping that Friday will be my grand opening. There will be a special one day sale so you don't want to miss it!

Doesn't he look

2008-07-01T21:06:00.002-04:00

angelic...

and not so angelic?

Much better

2008-06-30T16:06:00.005-04:00

Now that we have Uncle Nate's camera I can get some nice shots. Here are a few from this morning...

Josh hates the blue swing he got for his birthday, but he'll let his sister swing him anytime.

Ha! Caught you red handed = )

Pic of the day...

2008-06-29T08:19:00.003-04:00

Jesse needed a hair cut so this is the one he got. He looks like a bad dude, but hates this do. In fact he's downstairs right now getting it shaved off. boohoo. I really liked this look...wish I could pull it off myself. Hey, maybe I can?!

Picture a day

2008-06-28T10:58:00.003-04:00

I like the idea of posting a picture a day. Since I've posted one for the past 3 days I'm thinking it can't be that hard. We'll see = )

Here's today's entry. Isn't that sweet!!! Uncle Nate is dropping off his camera today, so hopefully I can get some good pics in the next few days.

Today is strawberry day. I fully intended to pick my own berries, but when the time came I didn't have the energy. Instead, Jesse and I ran to the farmer's market and bought a bunch of goodies. The strawberries are organic (yeah) and everything else is fresh. I'm excited about trying the eggs. I'm considering getting a few hens so we don't have to buy anymore eggs. I have a friend in town who has a few so I'm going to bug her for details = )

Well, I'd better get to work. I have the goal of making 6 batches...not sure if I have enough strawberries at this point so I'll get as many as I can.

I must be crazy

2008-06-27T22:10:00.002-04:00

After Tuck's appt. this morning I decided to go to the grocery store since it was on the way home. If I wasn't crazy before I went in, I was when I walked out! I managed to lose my mind and one of Josh's shoes in the 1/2 hour trip.

I'm finding that I can't put things off anymore. If I fold the clothes in the evening I'd better just put them away because Josh will spread them all over the floor when he wakes up in the morning. Or, I'd better get everything washed and out of the sink or I'll be up to my eyeballs in dishes by 10 a.m. the next day. There is very little relaxing especially if I make soap. Its a great stress reliever, but its a busy night making up for the afternoon enjoyment.

Oh and to complicate things, my vacuum just broke. Better start doing some research. And actually, I'd better feed the baby and get to bed. Tomorrow is strawberry day!

Weeds

2008-06-27T14:33:00.003-04:00

Today was Tucker's 6 week check-up...even though he's 7 weeks. Here are the stats:

Weight at birth: 8 lbs. 9 oz. Today: 11 lbs. 5 oz.
Length at birth: 19 in. Today: 23 3/4 in. Holy cow, that's almost 5 inches in less than 2 months!!
He's in the 75th percentile across the board.

The doc was impressed as usual w/ growth. He said mom's milk must be full of cream...I told him I'm serving Ben and Jerry's.

Josh really loves his baby bro. If you look closely you can see the cars he tucked into the bouncy seat... You can also see Tuck's pacifier in Josh's mouth. At least he's sharing! = )

2008-06-26T22:41:00.003-04:00

Sheesh...we need to get a camera! Tucker is growing like a weed and all I have to document it is a silly phone. I'm going to have to borrow Uncle Nate's and get some real pictures. Until then here is a nice one with 3 of my studly men. Actually 4 if you count Jess in the background.

I love my guys!

Heart attack...wrapped in a coronary...served on a stroke

2008-06-24T13:45:00.002-04:00

Josh somehow found a quarter after lunch and of course stuck it in his mouth. As I was trying take it out he threw his head back...lodging said quarter in the back of his throat. He freaked out, I shoved my finger in the back of his throat and dislodged it. Earlier he had a penny in his mouth. Its when I think of what could have happened if it had been the penny that I have the heart attack...wrapped in a coronary...served on a stroke. I'm going to go pass out now.

Almost every neighborhood has one

2008-06-22T20:48:00.004-04:00

You know, that kid who likes to run outside and take all their clothes off. In our neighborhood that kid is Josh. I've been sending him out to swim in his diaper and can't tell you how many times I've had to put it back on. I eventually give up.

For some reason he thinks that because water comes out of his penis, it should go back in. Last night he sat with a bucket by the pool carefully trying over and over again to pour water back in. Sorry man, its not tiny because its dehydrated.

Contest at Soapaholics Anonymous!!

2008-06-17T17:24:00.002-04:00

If you don't know by now, I have a blog dedicated to soapmaking. I recently won a pay it forward contest so now its my turn to have a contest. Pop on over to Soapaholics Anonymous to enter! Then check out some of the cool soaps that are soon going to be available to purchase...details about that coming soon = )

Premature Balding

2008-06-17T14:17:00.001-04:00

It can strike at any age...

Oh my....

2008-06-13T09:50:00.003-04:00

When I got Josh out of bed this morning he handed my his pajama pants...and his dirty diaper.

At least wasn't full of poop.

Guess I'm getting up a lot earlier from now on. *sigh*

Calling the tooth fairy

2008-06-11T23:22:00.001-04:00

Its time to scurry around finding spare change to put in Yael's tooth fairy box tonight = ) And dont forget your fairy dust so she can see how you were able to fly.

The Well Trained Mind

2008-06-08T15:12:00.003-04:00

As most of you know, this past school year Tim and I decided to give homeschooling a try. Our first year was great! Yael is a champion reader which is due in large part to the curriculum I chose...Discover Intensive Phonics for Yourself was so good I learned things about phonics I never knew.

Its time for me to start planning this next year. Yael will be in first grade and Jesse will start kindergarten. I'm a little nervous about teaching both and having 2 other kids to deal with, but if I plan ahead and get organized, I'll be just fine.

My #1 project right now is to read this book:

I started reading it yesterday and already I love it. I could go into detail, but then I would just ramble on. = ) Basically it explains what classical education is and lays out an education plan from 1st through 12th grade. The best part about this book is that it isn't just written for homeschoolers. Anyone who wants to help their kids learn or supplement their education can read this. Homeschooling isn't for everyone, but anyone can help their kids develop an eagerness and love of learning. After all, parents are the strongest influence on their children.

I don't write much about homeschooling, and maybe I should...but if helping your kids learn is important, this book is a fantastic resource.

Antics

2008-06-07T11:36:00.001-04:00

This isn't the best picture because I took it with my phone...It was too funny to pass up though. Josh was doing lap after lap on those crazy things and kept getting faster. That is one crazy kid.

One month old!

2008-06-07T11:02:00.003-04:00

I finally took the time to get some pictures. Tucker is one month old today. Its hard to believe I've gone an entire month without much sleep = )

I don't know how I managed to get everyone looking at once. It took about 15 tries...

Isn't he sweet = )

Rapt attention

2008-06-04T10:05:00.003-04:00

Yael has found someone who will sit still and listen to her read for a nice long time. This was taken yesterday, but they are both sitting in the same place right now. The only difference is that he's awake = )

A great day

2008-06-01T18:07:00.003-04:00

Such a nice day today. This morning we decided to ask friends over for dinner after church. (Joe and Erica Martino for any of you BBC alum) They have 3 girls...the oldest is Yael's age. At one point I looked out the window and all 6 kids were happily playing in the backyard. Add perfect weather and good conversation and you have a recipe for a great Sunday afternoon.

Tucker is doing great. He's not the best nap taker (which could be directly related to his loud siblings), but he sleeps like a champ at night. I've been getting up around 2:30 and then 6:30/7ish. (Cue the Hallelujah Chorus) Once a night makes such a big difference! Yael and Josh were up twice a night for months...I feel like a different person with the extra sleep.

I carved out some time to make a nice batch of soap...You can check it out on my soap blog. I'm actually happy with how my swirl turned out. I'm such a perfectionist that doesn't happen very often = ) I've got some special things in the works, so stay tuned!

Thanks!

2008-05-30T15:25:00.003-04:00

Thanks to everyone who stopped by Joanna's Product blog to enter... None of my friends won, but check back often, she does regular giveaways.

On a different note...guess what Tucker has. A DIMPLE! I've always wanted my kids to have dimples and my dream came true. So far I'm seeing one on his right side and maybe one on his left. He should start smiling soon so we'll find out. I'll try to get some pictures.

Speaking of pictures, I think my camera is dead for good. Tim found a nice one to buy, so I can document our youngest son's growth for the grandmas = )

Don't know why I didn't mention this before

2008-05-29T10:15:00.003-04:00

One of my favorite blogs is having a special giveaway. Head over to Product Body Blog to let Joanna know what kinds of products you'd like for summer and a chance to win a $25 gift certificate.

I am in love with her products...especially the Crush On You scrub. In my quest to find all natural products, Product Body has been an amazing find. Much of what they offer is all natural or almost all natural. Product Body has been featured in many magazines, most recently in Real Simple (one of my favorites!).

At the very least, check out her blog...its funny and always a good read.

Ahhhh, quiet.

2008-05-28T21:18:00.002-04:00

Its a little after 9 pm and all the kids are in bed. The hum of the baby monitor and an occasion passing car are the only things I can hear. I never thought I could love silence like I do now...

So its been 3 weeks since we became a family of 6. For some reason that extra digit seems like a leap over a huge chasm. 5 didn't wasn't all that much, but 6?! It might as well be 600 ;-)

One of the girls Tim works with is expecting her 4th and wanted to know what its like going from 3 to 4... He told her its definitely a team effort. Its so true. I could easily get things done when there were just 3 kids. Giving everyone a bath or taking them to the store was no biggy. I haven't worked up the courage to do much of anything without Tim close by. I think some of that is due to my slow reaction times...running after Josh is still difficult.

Josh has two major alter-egos. One is like Dennis the Menace and the other is like Curious George. He was much more menace today than curious. It makes my head spin to see how fast he can completely disrupt everything that was in order. Sometimes he likes to help pick up, but today wasn't one of those days. Tim told me today that he used to think the Dennis the Menace cartoon was a little over the top...emphasis on USED TO.

Well, I thought I'd update you all on how things are going...I'll try to post regularly, but these days I'm either short on brain power, energy or both. Oh, and my camera is on the fritz again. I'm hoping it will correct itself like last time, but for now am using my phone and have to figure out how to transfer the pictures. I will get some posted soon though.

Characters Welcome

2008-05-23T11:58:00.001-04:00

I tried to change a few things in blogger and it erased my vidoe...so here it is again.

Characters Welcome

2008-05-19T15:36:00.002-04:00

Have you see the USA network's advertising...they say "Characters Welcome". Here is our character.

Playing with the web cam

2008-05-19T15:15:00.002-04:00

Since I'm trying to stay off my feet as much as possible (ha) I've been trying to get some things done on the computer. With 4 kids around that doesn't always happen either. This morning I decided to get some shots with the webcam...Josh's single most favorite,um, toy. He figured out how to turn on the webcam on the desktop downstairs and sometimes I'll find him playing around watching himself on the computer. He had lots of fun today.

First we took some pictures of the three of us.

Then I tried snapping shots as he played. These are as fast as I could take them. You'll notice how fast his demeanor can change = )

I finally turned on the video and recorded some of these shenanigans. I'll post later...

So when do I get to eat?

2008-05-16T15:27:00.002-04:00

I don't think it will take long to lose this extra baby weight...its crazy just trying to get something to eat around here = )

Coming out of the fog...

2008-05-13T11:16:00.003-04:00

6 days old. Its amazing to add another member of the family. Almost instantly you wonder how you could have lived without this beautiful little bundle. Everyone is drawn together and enjoying life even though everything has changed so drastically.

Tucker is a great baby. He is sleeping really well at night which helps my brain function. Yael and Josh got up a few times every night for months...Jesse was a once a nighter and it looks as if Tucker is too. Its amazing how much of a difference it makes! I can think clearly even if I don't move so well.

This 4th c-section is kicking my butt! The doctor told me its a good thing we decided to make this the last. I had my tubes tied while in surgery and have not regretted that for an instant!!!! My body hurts and even standing is a chore. I've been doing a lot of sitting and even sleeping. I'm really taking advantage of having my mom here so once she leaves I can be a little more mobile. I'm not rushing things this time around.

Tucker has the longest baby feet I have ever seen...so cute!

Yael has been a huge help and is always giving Tuck lots of love.

Tired and Confused

2008-05-08T18:14:00.005-04:00

Here are a few more pics of Tucker...most of them are with Tim's phone, but I tried to snap a few myself. I still can't move around very well, so I took them while he was laying next to me in bed.

Here is Tucker looking like Jesse:

Here is Tucker looking like Josh:

Here is Yael looking like the big sister. I think she will also be "the boss" and "mother hen" ;-)

Jesse didn't want to smile but Dad and Gram persisted and this is what he came up with. He really does think his brother is cool.

Check out these long fingers! Not to be confused with his toes which look very similar...

I'm really having trouble wrapping my head around the fact that I have 4 kids. Tuck looks so much like his brothers and I keep calling the poor baby Josh. = P I'm sure all the drugs and exhaustion aren't helping either = ) I'm sure that once I get home and have them all around and can get a little more sleep it might start to make sense.

Tucker Rainne

2008-05-07T17:45:00.002-04:00

Here he is!!!! All 8 lbs. and 9 oz. of him. He's only 20 inches long so he's kind of stocky looking with plenty of rolls = )

I'm totally stoned on pain meds. etc. so I won't make much sense if I try to make conversation. I'll get back with more details later....

I'm not the only one nesting around here...

2008-05-03T16:45:00.002-04:00

Notice anything interesting about this picture?

How about a closer look...

Tim found mama duck this morning when he was pulling weeds. She hasn't moved all day. It looks as if she is sitting on a nest, so maybe we'll have more babies around here than we thought.

Nap time...

2008-05-03T16:41:00.004-04:00

I left home this afternoon before Josh went down for a nap. I totally forgot that his sheets were in the laundry.

So, Tim put him down for a nap and decided to try putting him in the bed...you can see for yourself how that turned out. Apparently he was tired enough to sleep anywhere = )

What will Josh NOT eat?

2008-04-28T11:37:00.002-04:00

The kids are at the table playing playdough. Josh has eaten quite a bit...I might be a little more concerned if I hadn't seen him pulling hair out of the drain last night during his bath and trying to eat that. Or trying to get the dead bugs out of the windows to eat. Yuck.

Contractions

2008-04-26T20:36:00.003-04:00

I've been having lots of contractions lately. This is a new thing for me...I've never really had such intense, consistent contractions before. Any number of things can set them off. Laying in bed, taking a walk, bending over, nothing at all.... There is one sure-fire way to get me contracting though: going to Target. As soon as I get out of the car and start walking towards that door, BOOM, mega contractions. If I thought it would do any good I would live at Target for the next week...

A few pictures...

2008-04-26T19:19:00.002-04:00

This one cracks me up...Yael mid sentence and Jesse with who knows what going through his mind =) You'll notice Yael's bruise where she and Jess collided.

Here's another good one. What can I say...so many things come to mind. If you look at Josh's cheek on the left you'll see the bruise and cut from when he climbed out of his crib and did a face plant. The people at church are going to think we're beating our kids =)

Baby Update

2008-04-23T09:34:00.002-04:00

I got a letter in mail yesterday from the hospital we will be going to. I was originally scheduled for 2 pm on Wednesday the 7th. The doctor had another section scheduled at noon so I was going after. My letter stated that my surgery was at noon though. Hmmm, better make sure the doc isn't doublebooked! Once I get to that hospital I'm not leaving without a baby in my arms!

Apparently the noon section was cancelled so mine was moved. Nice of the doctor's office to let me in on the secret! Its a good thing the hospital sent the letter or I would have been totally in the dark.

The best part is that I won't have to wait quite as long that day. Tim's just happy he can sleep in = )

My little nature lover

2008-04-16T17:58:00.002-04:00

This whole family loves the outdoors. Jesse is already asking when we can go camping. Josh doesn't just love the outdoors, he's going to be a fanatic like his dad = ) Nothing makes him happier than being outside....or watching out the window at the very least.

We really need to move somewhere warm!

Ahhhh

2008-04-14T15:10:00.002-04:00

Spring is finally on its way. Its 50 outside, my front door is open and the kids are enjoying playing outside. I was sitting on the porch for a while but now I'm walking like a peg leg'd sailor...arrh ; ) The fresh air is wonderfully refreshing after our long winter and I'm looking forward to our summers adventures. Meaning 3 young kids and a new baby to care for = )

We're trying some cool new things this summer too... We've decided to split a farm share of Fat Blossom Farm with our neighbors. Its 20 weeks at roughly $14 p/week for organic, fresh picked, local produce. I'm also getting a canning bonus pack so we'll be really busy for a few weeks. I'm excited to try this. When we lived in Israel we ate local, fresh fruits and veggies ALL the time. I was the healthiest I've ever been and think eating like that makes a big difference.

On the diapering front I've been trying the old fashioned way for a few days. I got tired of washing my 6 all-in-ones every 2 days and decided to bite the bullet and order 6 more. In the mean time I read this post about using flats. Girls, its the way our mothers used to do it and its really not so bad... I realized after reading about them that I've had tons of flats since Yael was born. I've just been using them as spit rags. Since I didn't feel like washing diapers yesterday I ran to the store and bought some pins and vinyl covers for a grand total of $3 and change. I even bought a pack of Gerber organic cotton flats that I've been using today. As much as I love the bumgenius, its nice not to worry about poop stains on pricey dipes!

I think I'll be running to the post office to return my expensive bumgenius 1/2 dozen. Not that I don't love them...Josh needs something like that for night time and going to the nursery etc. But, for running around during the summer I can buy prefolds, nylon covers, and snappis without spending a fortune and eventually pass them along to the baby. I'm determined not to spend a fortune on cloth diapers since I'm doing this to save money and want to be able to tell my frugal or not so wealthy friends that it is a big savings = )

I guess I've blabbed enough for today = ) I misplaced my camera...temporarily of course! Once I find it I'll try to snap some pics for the grandma's....Happy spring everybody!

What do you get

2008-04-10T13:51:00.002-04:00

with a low grade fever...
no appetite....
nasty diapers...
and a cranky toddler?

MOLARS!

Pink

2008-04-10T13:38:00.006-04:00

This past weekend we took a last minute trip to Ohio. While I was there my grandmother gave me something she's been working on. Isn't it beautiful!!! My Nana is a fantastic knitter...I wish I had the patience and talent to knit! Maybe someday...

I asked her to make a pink sweater even though I don't know what the baby is, so I could have something pink. I didn't get a lot of girly stuff with Yael because I wasn't sure what I'd have after her. Turns out it was a smart move because we've gotten lots of wear out of the gender neutral clothes. Everyone is tired of buying boy clothes so if this baby is a girl there's going to be a pink explosion at our house = )