Dear Hub

Okay, Keeper of My Heart. Here are The Rules Of The Day:

1. Your daughter has been throwing up. Therefore, you must bring home dinner. as One-Who-Usually-Cooks lost her appetite. by 9AM.

2. Your OTHER daughter refuses to sleep. Therefore, you must bring home chocolate...or jewelry. as anything sweet (or shiny) will undoubtedly brighten a day where Nap Mutiny has occurred.

3. Your OTHER daughter turns 6 tomorrow. Therefore, you must go by Target and get predetermined present. as I am being held hostage by aforementioned vomit and insomnia.

4. Your OTHER daughter is 3yrs. Enough said. Therefore, it'd be advised that you also throw in a bookshelf or two in order to help with the overall peace and order of the home since you know me: Organization soothes the savage beast.

No worries, Costco has some. I called to check.

5. Your OTHER daughter is a God-send. and the only reason I am coherent enough to sit up and type out this little ditty.

Okay, so maybe this reads more like a shopping list than house rules, but *shrug* a rose by any other name, right?

Repeat after me "You have an amazingly adorable family."

See that hat? Clearly, it has magical powers.

You see, normally when we venture out to town, my family gets a lot of looks.

Now, before you go and assume that I'm all paranoid, interpreting every little glance and casual stare as critical judgement on me and the size of my family...allow me to clarify. I'm not.

There now, didn't that two-word confession adequately clear up any paranoia question on your part? :)

Because when I say we get a lot of looks, I mean we get a LOT of looks... accompanied by whispers...accompanied by frowns.

Which, I gotta tell you, always baffles me to no end because it's not like I'm not SMILING right at them!? And it's not like my children are running around like monkeys on crack. They're actually really well-behaved and respectful.

Still. Strangers everywhere look at us like we're unwed teenagers. with a propensity towards mass breeding. :D (though I'm loving that people think we look so young!)

YET

Last weekend, after a dress rehearsal for my two oldest daughters, we all went to town.


Charis and Selah both looked like they'd stepped off the pages of a magazine. (this is the best picture I could get in that freaky stage lighting.)

And let me tell you, miracles happened.

In a span of a couple of hours, we had T.O.N.S of people come up to us and say how they "loved" our children. We had people telling us how they loved watching my husband and me interact, how inspirational it was.

I was stopped in the bathroom and told "What a blessing to watch your family. Your children are so well behaved! I love watching how you and your husband interact with your children...." I can't even remember all that was said.

People passing our princess-packed shopping cart asked us if they could take some of the girls home with them.

I was stopped and told "I really respect you..." They went on to talk about how adorable our family was and how amazing we were as parents. I had to squelch the overwhelming desire to look behind me to see who they were talking to.

I overheard multiple groups of people talk about "What a sweet bunch of cuties" and "Look at that adorable family!" And holy cow!! Hold the phone! What's that look on your face? Are you actually SMILING at us? :)

Seriously, on and on it went. I felt like we were celebs in a small town flea market. I kid you not, it was that monumental of a reaction.

My conclusion? Apparently, ladies and gentlemen, it's ALLLL about accessories because nothing had changed other than the fact that Charis was donning a little beanie. That glorious, little Magical Hat found in a bin at the local GoodWill.

I'm fairly positive if we stuck it atop a snowman, Frosty would suddenly be standing before me yelling "Happy Birthday!"





Thankfully, I'm not easily swayed by the public's opinion of my family. I know people are stupid fickle. I mean look at how they treated Jesus. One day palm branches waving, the next angry fists, right?

But let me tell you, next time we travel to town on a donkey, I"ll so be packing The Magic Hat. One curled lip in our direction and out *pops* the hat with the hypnotic abilities.

...Can't you just see me, frantically fishing through my stuffed diaper bag in attempts to locate the small, white crocheted mass in order to dangle it in front of people's snarling faces as I chant:

"You will think my family is amazing. You will gush over how entirely adorable my troop of girls are. Repeat after me."

The image cracks ME up, if nothing else.

And a little FYI. Jet has since been informed that after the girls tire of The Hat, he will be taking his turn of wearing it.

So if you happen to see a grown man walking around town with a too-small beanie on his head, be nice to him. It's obviously been a rough day.

Snow snow snow

This winter has been one for the record books.



Snowfall... after blizzard... after snowfall... after yet another blizzard. We're talking a crazy amount of snow.


The kids in our school district haven't gone in two weeks this last go round of snow. TWO WEEKS!! And that's with the snow crews working around the clock to clear the roads!

Yet another reason why I love homeschooling. No matter what the weather, we'll still be done with school in early May.

Though I sincerely feel for the teachers and kids (and parents!) of the public school systems. My dad (a public school teacher) said he'll be in school until July 40th. :)

So for that reason, I know there are puh-lenty of people who are not lovin' this whole back-to-back blizzard thing we got going on.

But when I told my girls that there were people who actually didn't like snow, they were incredulous. They all sucked wind and then asked a collective question, "There are??! WHY?"

Oh yeah, they are sooo my children. Because in this house we LOVE snow. Blizzards, white-outs, being snowed in and all.

We love watching it fall...

watching The Man shovel it...


watching the sisters play in it...


playing in it ourselves...

Again.
and again.


and again.

But since you can only play in it so long when you don't have SNOW gloves (every time we've tried to find some, the stores have been sold out. *groan*), we've had to find other things to do during those long stretches where "Homebound" is the word of the day week.

During the day (when little ones are napping), we've face painted.


played with that god-awful stuff known as moonsand...


Okay, so the Littles don't share my negative opinion of the beach-in-a-bag mess. They happen to LOVE it. Sooo they've played with it.



And one night, the girls and Jet made soft pretzels for dinner. :)

because what's the point of being snowed-in if you don't eat comfort food? ;)

This was the first time that Alana was allowed to help.


though it must be said that the chunk of dough that she's holding never made it to the oven.

I think it ended up on the floor. with all sorts of "stuff" stuck in it.

though she had a blast being one of the "big girls" for the evening...


If you've never made soft pretzels, you really should! They're amazing!


Not that I'VE ever done it. I just watch. take pictures. and sample the end product.


But give this group of girls a few more years and they'll be making them on their own.


They LOVE being in the kitchen.


And I love watching them work with Jet... They're so blessed to have a Daddy who's more than willing to interact with them like this!

Me? I usually just take pictures....


Until I start getting this look. ;)


The "Enough pictures already!" look.

But no worries, I had another duty outside of Photographer... toting around the newborn who currently doesn't like to be more than 2 inches away from me.


Speaking of..I'm off to see if I can coerce my hub into giving me a backrub. Though I'm thinking I should probably offer to give him one.

being that HE'S the one who's shoveled the 46+ inches of snow so far this season.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

*SNOW* I can't even begin to say how much I love the first snow of the season. and the second...and third...and fourth.

AHHH, love it. And I just can't say it enough.


I told Raegan yesterday that they were calling for snow. She got so excited... sucked wind, shouted "Cool!" and everything!

"Raegan, do you know what snow is?"

Raegan, all wide-eyed and excited, says nonchalantly: No. ;)

Yup. These last couple of winters have been really lacking in the whole Wintry Wonderland theme. Depressing.

So when the weathermen in our valley start predicting 1-3 inches, everyone's face*book statuses are dedicated to talking about their excitement. ;)

...and how their kids are all out playing in it.



Mine were no exception! So cute in their mis-matched snow outfits I threw together from the attic.

I was hoping to get more pictures, but Raegan informed me that she "was done".



I can't say as I blame her.

One on hand: Spending time outside running around in the snow with Cool, Strong Daddy and the sled he just bought them.

OR

One the other hand: Standing still inside for Dull, pregnant Mommy while she tells you to smile. yet again.

Hmm. Such a hard decision. ;)


Thankfully, the weathermen were wrong. We got 8 inches. And the girls loved every minute of it.

Former Director for Planned Parenthood. Now a Prolife advocate.

fetus at 12 weeks

My husband has a blog. One that he doesn't usually use. But he did today...and what he posted broke my heart. You can see it here.

WWF

I so should have gotten pictures of the "During", but I couldn't bring myself to get the camera. I was too busy enjoying and laughing at my girls and husband wrestling around on the floor.

ALL of the girls LOVE beating up on Daddy. And I do mean they have every intention of hurting him.

They love talking about how strong they are. How much stronger the "(insert my last name) Girl team" will be once Baby Girl is here. They love hitting him with whatever inanimate object they can find. jumping on top of him from the couch. putting him in a choke hold.

Ah, does my mother's heart good.

Even Alana (13 months) got in on it. running around the room GROWLING at everybody. and eventually throwing herself in the floor laughing. I SO should have videotaped it, dang it.

But alas, I was enjoying life and not documenting it. *wink*

But I DID manage to get the "After" shot, capturing the look of Victory on the girls' faces.

even though Daddy refused to admit defeat.

Daddy Time

...is something craved and loved in this house.

When Mommy goes away, it's a happy thing; the girls know a fun time will be had by all. When Daddy goes away, there are many tears. because as Charis says "nothing fun happens without Daddy."

But no worries. I've made my peace with it, being that he's the one they call for in the middle of the night. heh heh

The daddy-daughter dynamic that I see unfolding before my eyes is a sweet one. One that Jet and I both realize will have to evolve as the girls get older and start to crave affection is new and different ways from him.

But for now, it's all about being thrown around...



and snuggled...

This is the moment that they first started saying their sweet "More More More" chant. each trying to outdo the other one in who loves who more. ;)

and making funny faces because being with Daddy brings out your silly side.


This is also the time that Raegan started to say that her nickname will hence and forever more NOT be RaeRoo. But instead RaeRae because it's easier for Lani to say. So cute.

Usually when there is one little girl getting some attention, the others aren't far behind. because they can hear the alluring laughter from the other rooms and come running.

Enter stage left: The Big Sisters


Though they don't remain on the sidelines for long, entering in on this Daddy-feigned "No, Not Kisses! Anything but kisses!" ploy.

Reverse psychology still works when all the girls are under 7years. See Charis all puckered up and ready to lay a few on him?



I don't remember how this moment happened...where the other girls ran to...but Charis got a moment of snuggle time by herself.

I love that look of contentment on her face.


And then came Selah's turn for one-on-one tickle time.


All of our girls love to cuddle, but Selah is our Official Snuggle Bug.


These are the moments (and the pictures) that capture the sweet essence of Selah...


and that will inevitably bring tears to Jet's eyes later on in life as he looks back and remembers.
"Nibble me, but just pretend." Selah to Daddy.

I'm thinking Selah's time with Daddy got a little too long. Or maybe it was that I was taking too many pictures of someone other than my little photo-op girl. Raegan firmly placed herself directly in the view of the camera lens. :)

"Take a picture of ME, Mommy!"

And then the wild animals came back. They can only stand so much time away when there's fun to be had.


I always wonder when people say "Poor Daddy" when they hear we'll be a family of five girls. Like, for some reason, Jet not having sons will forever be a dire disappointment to him.

I don't get it. Our girls are learning sports. They wrestle. They rough house. AND they dress up in princess dresses and declare Jet to be The Prince of their heart.

"The first man a little girl falls in love with is her dad." Author Unknown

In my way of thinking, Jet has the best of both worlds. Sugar and Spice (-y) and all things nice. How can he not love that?

Sure, there's love. But then there's PAINT.

Paint covers a multitude of sin bare wood, dirty white siding, and years decades of lazy home owners.

This past week, Jet and I have been kicking it to it as far as the exterior of our house is concerned.

Honestly, I'm not sure what finally motivated us to fit one more thing in to our already busy schedule, but one evening we found ourselves on the back deck with paint cans and brushes in hand...


Oh, and not to forget the glorious beast of a machine that we loving refer to a The Pressure Washer. Though I have to say, I suddenly feel the urge to christen the sucker...with a real name. Rufus, maybe?

Now, I've talked about a man and his pressure washer before. It's an entertaining relationship, to be sure. But let me tell you, there's nothing like a woman and her pressure washer.

It's pure bliss. A moment of beautiful multi-tasking talent all wrapped up in power, speed and lightning fast destruction. Love it.



For what used to take people hours and hours to accomplish now only takes minutes. See? Proof positive:


Bare, exposed wood...not from the toil of my hand and a scraper, but rather from the ease of a button and a hose.

You really should try one! There's nothing quite like holding that sort of raw water-pressure-power in your hand.

*This is me trying to refrain from (again) professing my undying love for such unleashed power*

I so wish I had a picture of me armed with said beasty. But *reality check* this is MY life we're talking about and pictures of me don't usually exist. But just imagine Pregnant Woman armed with both determination to get 'er done AND a machine that willingly obliges.

Ah. :)

And so we've pressured washed. waited patiently for it to dry. and then proceeded with making our home exterior a beautiful thing to behold.




Yes, that's my man up on the roof. It's payback for this. (though I have to say, I'm a bit more gracious). *love you, babe*




When we first moved into this house four years ago, it was a WRECK. With a capital P.U.

It stank like cat pee. had cat poop in various places (yeah, such sweet little accommodating kitties lived here before us). and possessed enough hair balls... clinging to random places throughout the house... to make a dozen bald cats warm again. And those were just the- immediate-assaults-to-your-senses problem areas.

It was a disaster.

While the house held SOOO much potential, the obvious work it would take to even begin to slightly uncover its beauty was a bit overwhelming to me. being that we had just owned and lived in two other fixer uppers within the span of a few years.

I was tired, having had just moved across country to buy a house I was yet to see outside of email pictures (we were moving back to the county I grew up in).

But the deep exhaustion set in when we first saw the house before the closing date, where we were greeted with an overwhelming stench of cat urine. as well as movers who were suddenly refusing to move out.

We weren't aware Squatters were a part of the fixer-upper package deal. Oh Glory.

But four years later, I can honestly say I love my house. am soooo glad we bought it (though it took a lawyer to get the previous owners out). and am soooo relieved to know that in a matter of a few weeks it will no longer qualify under the "fixer upper status".

Can I just pause and have a moment of silence?


Jet's took off this past Friday and upcoming Monday so we can focus on exterior painting. I'm thinking that he won't know what to when he actually uses his vacation days for things OTHER than house projects and baby deliveries.

Bunny Trail: I'm SO ready for that phase of life to begin. The season where we actually come away from vacation time feeling relaxed. I shudder to imagine the crazy things we may do with bona fide FREE time off.

But for now, we happily scrap power wash and paint. checking massive projects off our list.

And a small FYI for those of you that are related to this preggie mommy:While I am painting, these are the sections that I've been given charge over:



The kind that require my feet to either stay firmly planted on the ground. or only a few feet up on a step ladder. Honestly, it'd be sheer torture for me to just stand by and idly watch. I love getting stuff done!

And I can, that is, as long as my girlies are content to either sleep. or play nicely.


Notice Lani is missing from this picture. She was playing nicely... by sleeping.

Hopefully the Finished Product Pictures will be up and running soon. AHHH!!!!