Maybe it's the Weather?

My girls are dropping like flies!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

R.I.P.

A small iPhone was the victim of an accidental drowning late last night.  Officials say the victim's mother was startled by a carbon monoxide alarm while in the bath.  Thinking she was about to black out from carbon monoxide poisoning, she jumped up, grabbed a towel and knocked the small electronic device into the bath tub.  The attractive mother of three and a half performed aggressive CPR for upwards of fifteen minutes before placing the device on electonic life-support.

"She killed her Christmas present"

 remarked one unsympathetic bystander early this morning when the small iPhone was pronounced dead after nearly twelve hours of increasing distress.

The device is survived by her brother, Samsung Impression, three older sisters, mother and father.

 When asked for a statement, the iPhone's father simply said that the decision not to purchase insurance for this particular device is one that will weigh heavily on his conscience for years to come.  Incidentally, the carbon monoxide alarm was due to low battery and not due to poisonous gas.

R.I.P

Katie's iPhone

12/18/2009 - 12/24/2009

Merry Christmas Y'all!

I'm trying so hard to be in the Spirit, ya know? 

I even got hot chocolate for the girls on our way out to play today...

Even though it was 72 degrees outside. 

My Cuties in 2007

My Cuties in 2009

Yeah, so, the smaller of the Cuties

weren't exactly in to recreating memorable poses this morning.

Look at my Natalie.

I could eat her with a spoon. 

GIRL MOM

*No sooner had I published this post, did I receive a rebuttle from the Boy Mom herself. So here she is with her first appearance as a guest blogger, Auntie Lem.

BOY MOM

I am a boy mom

I believe that hair should be disheveled

toenails should be dirty

Jeans should have tears and grass stains

I believe in Spray-n-wash and color safe bleach

I believe that Thomas the Train shoes go with EVERYTHING

Dress clothes are reserved for only the most sacred of occasions.

I believe in Hotwheels in my bath tub

Dinosaurs and Spiderman

Piddle on my toilet seat

I believe in walking at 16 months and first words after that...

I believe in Mamma's boys.

I believe my daughter better get used to it. I AM a boy mom.

The following is the original post:

I am a Girl Mom.

That's right.

A Girl Mom.

I believe that ears should be pierced.

Toenails should be red.

Jeans should have ruffles around the cuffs.

Icing should be pink.

I believe in hair bows.  The bigger, the better.

I believe in french braids.

Bows that match the soccer uniform.

Pink diaper bags.

Bubble bath.

Lavandar-scented everything.

Baby dolls and Barbies.

I believe in full sentences at 18 months and emotional outbursts at 6 years.

I believe in American Girl Magazine and Sweet and Sassy Salon.

I believe I need a niece to pass down 3 Princesses' worth of gear and accessories and so I say,
Thank you, little sister.  I can't wait to spoil my NIECE!

Dear Santa Part II,

I really didn't think we'd see you up close and personal this year. I really didn't!  But there you were - on your sleigh, laid back, chatting with the elves.  We had just arrived at the strip mall, the Cuties were rested and fresh, there was no line... it was as if you knew we were coming! 

It was really nice to have a few minutes to put some of our concerns to rest.  We didn't know your suit was flame retardent!  Of course, a man of your profession would surely think of that!  And chocolate chip cookies?!  That's so simple! 

I did forget one thing... Santa, please would you send a special gift this year to our mail carrier?  Mail carriers are often overlooked, I think, and our particular mail carrier must be a very special lady.  She intercepted a letter, written by a darling 6 year old girl and addressed simply to "Santa Claus.  North Pole."  with no postage or return address and not only did she hand deliver it to you, she also saw your response back to our mailbox.  She deserves a special gift indeed. 

Fondly and with great appreciation for your unscaryness this year,
The Momma

Dear Santa,

How's it going up North?  Are you almost ready to hit the sleigh?  You'll find Texas to be a most pleasant change to the cold you're accustomed to!

Well, we're about ready for you.  I'm really enjoying the cool evenings, my cups of tea, the fire in the fireplace and the twinkly lights all over everything.  The Cuties, as I'm sure you're aware, are very concerned about my use of the fireplace.  We turn it off every night, but please use caution before placing your finger beside your nose and winking and all that.  Nobody likes the smell of singed Santa. 

Let Prancer and the gang know that the carrots and "reindeer food" will be where it always is.  We're still trying to decide on which variety of cookie we will be leaving out for you.  We're assuming you do not care so much for oatmeal raisin as you didn't eat very many last year.  How do you feel about chocolate chip? 

Oh, please don't be concerned by our absence on your lap this year.  You may have received our letters.  You must understand by now, that many little children adore you from afar, but up close...  you can be a little overwhelming with your voluminous middle and snowy white beard! 

Well, rest up!  The big day is nearly here!  Blessings to you and the Mrs.  Drive safely!!

Baby Got Bling

Notice anything different?

How Many Days Left?!

After spending nearly 6 hours a day finishing up my 3rd term of midwifery school, I looked up at my three girls and said, "Oh!  Hi!  My name is Mommy, I live here too!" 

I am so blessed to have such wonderful and understanding children.  When I disapear for a few days to write another 20-something page research paper, you can bet Daddy is working just as hard... 

He's a blessing too.

I am so excited and determined to finish this program and have a job

that I know I will always love and that can grow with me.

I love it when my Natalie tells people,
"My Mom is studying to be a Midlife."

So anyway..

Since my last post I have:

Attended the Big 12 Championship at Cowboys Stadium.

Here are my thoughts -

1.  The place is huge.

2. It still gets cold in Texas.  Mostly when the infamous heat would be APPRECIATED.

3.  I really like that Suh kid. 

4. I will never abandon the marching band at half-time.

5.  A "Katie-friendly" announcer would say things like this:

"Yellow flag thrown down by the little man in black and white indicating a very important football rule has been broken.  This is not good for the red and white team.  The guys in white and orange will now kick the football at the goal-thingy and if it goes through, a lot of people are going to be really mad!"

6.  My boots were cute that nice.  See below:

Really, football (okay, any sport except U6 soccer) isn't really my "thing".

I was just really flattered that my husband invited me!

And it was fun.

Lots of fun.

Last, but certainly not least,

Baby Eva got cuter.

As if that was possible!

Just a Wednesday!

I loved Wednesday.

It started with snow. 

It didn't stick around for long, but it made my girls' week!

Then the routine...

Ali goes to school.

Mom makes a cup of coffee and sits down at the computer.

Eva starts to sniffle around in her crib.

Mia presents me with the breakfast menu.

The breakfast menu routine is the BEST way to start the day.

I love it.

Mia's restaurant is called,

"Mia's Cooking In Front Of You Restaurant"

In other words, it's a Japanese Steakhouse that serves breakfast.

My favorite item on the menu is #3:  Dinner

I order it pretty consistantly.

Sometimes I get creative and order eggs and bacon but that order is usually followed with

"We don't got no eggs."

After dinner breakfast, we loaded up, acquired one small cousin and hit the Children's Museum.

We had been once before with Ali

And it was great fun, just a little crowded.

It did not compare to the fun we had yesterday!

So much fun, one of us fell asleep in the car WHILE eating a cheeseburger.

And to end the day, we went to Grandma's house to celebrate Auntie's birthday!

 Pop Pop made us crab dip, salad, lasagna and chocolate cake -

And Grandma nibbled on the snow baby some more.

Accomplishment!

Auntie Leslie decribes Baby Evelyn's somewhat delayed development as "endearing". 

I couldn't agree more.

We are in no hurry to grow up, dear girl. 

Take your time.

Eight months old.

Just sitting up.

Squeeks of the Weeks

I'm a little backlogged with my Squeeks...

I'm amazed everyday by the things they say.  (I did not intend another rhyme just then.  Really.)

After a long bout of frustration and disapointment (ie, noisy little sisters, not getting to watch/do/go where she wants, being instructed by her "bossy" mother), Ali exclaims: 
"I... I.... I just feel like a piece of candy that has NO flavor!!"    Interpret as you wish...  

After spending the weekend watching football with her Dad, Ali saunters into the bathroom, leans against the door, takes a swig of Sprite and announces,
"Colorado's defense sucks."   Indeed. 

Mia is determined to join a soccer team this spring and shares her fantasies of goal-glory with me daily...
"When I play soccer, I be on the Apple's team." 
"Apples?  Okay, Mia."
"When I get too big for the Apple's, I play on the Banana's team.  I can wear Ali's old Bumblebee's uniform because Banana's are yellow and black too!"
"Sure are!"
"Then when I be too big for the Banana's, I be on the Pear's team."
"Mia, it sounds like your team should be called the Fruits!!" 

Gobble Till You Wobble

I am thankful for Texas Cuties,

warm and sweet,

cranberry jelly and turkey meat!

I am thankful for eggnog cake,

and Reddiwhip,

one small Moose-baby on my hip!

I am thankful for Grandma,

cousins and Uncle Tom,

Yes, my family is "da bomb".

Interview With a Modern First Grader

Mom:  Good morning, Ali.  May I interview you for my blog?
Ali:  Umm, sure.  What's an interview?  (pause)  What's your blog?
Mom:  An interview is where I ask you questions and you tell me your answers.  My blog is that website on the computer where I write stories about you and stuff. 
Ali:  Oh!  Sure!
Mom:  So - tell me, how did you get the name "Squeek"?
Ali:  Because I squeek and nobody else squeeks like me and I used to have squeeky buns.
Mom:  Squeeky buns?
Ali:  Yeah, you used to call me "Squeeker Buns".
Mom: And "Squeeker Bug". 
Ali:  Oh yeah. 
Mom:  Are you more like your Mom or your Dad?
Ali:  (lots of consideration) My Dad.  Because he likes donuts, I like donuts, he likes soccer, I like soccer, I have a temper and he gets mad a lot, he likes cars and I like cars, and we both like ranch dip.  On everything!
Mom:  What's the best thing about being the biggest sister?
Ali:  The best thing is like, I have 2 little cousins and one to be born and 2 sisters and I get to take care of them.  And I can pour my own milk.  And one more thing!  Like I can help build things maybe?  Like I can fix things.  Like if they cry. 
Mom:  Do you have any advice for Mia on how to be a good big sister?
Ali:  She needs to learn to swim without water wings and she has to have love in her heart.
Mom:  What's the most important t hing you have to teach Eva?
Ali:  How to walk.  And how to talk.  You can't do very much without talking!  And how to swim.
Mom:  Who do you think could swim the fastest, Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty? 
Ali:  I think Cinderella because she likes to do things and clean things and Sleeping Beauty likes fashion and naps.  And Cinderella gets dirty sometimes so she might not mind getting wet, but Sleeping Beauty no. 
Mom:  What's the best part of first grade?
Ali:  You get to meet new friends and make a best one.  My best friend is Claudia.  And Sophia. 
Mom:  Why Claudia?
Ali:  Because we're just alike.  We mostly like to goof around and we wish we were sisters.
Mom:  Hot lunch or cold?
Ali:  Hot lunch because it's easier.  And sometimes you get things like pizza or chicken patties that you can't bring in your lunch bag!
Mom:  Do first grade girls have boyfriends?
Ali:  EWWW!  (hesitates) No.  That's a bad question.  Why?  It's gross.  You should be a teenager to have a boyfriend. 
Mom:  Yeah.  Or you could be twenty.  That'd be okay with me.
Ali:  Yeah, because he might try to kiss you.  Claudia has a boyfriend.  One time outside she met a boy and they loved each other and they kissed each other a teacher saw!  And then they got in trouble and had to break up.  
Mom:  Well, what happens when you break up?  
Ali:  That means that you're not boyfriend and girlfriend anymore.  And you can't kiss and love each other anymore.  But you can still be friends! 
Mom:  Do you ever chase boys?
Ali:  Not really.  Me and Claudia stick together.  But the boys try to make us chase them and kiss them and get us in trouble but we ignore them. 
Mom:  Okay, one more question.... How did you get to be so cute and adorable and smart and delicious?
Ali:  (smiles) Umm, my mom!
Mom:  Good answer.  Thanks for the interview. 

Ali:  Welcome!

Going to the Lodge!

Joe has been coaching Ali's soccer team, the Bumblebees (formerly the Butterflies, formerly known as the Little Doras) for a couple years now.  The season wraps up with a chaotic pizza party with all the players, siblings and parents.  Being involved in soccer has been quite the blessing for us!  We love the family time, going to the games and the great friends we've made.  The team parents always present Joe with a much appreciated, albeit unneccessary, thank you gift at the pizza party.  This year it was a family pack of day passes to the waterpark at the Great Wolf Lodge! 

The girls were speechless when we asked them to grab their bathing suits and get and get in the car.  It was gray and rainy outside! 

Eva spent the day at Auntie Leslie's.  But we missed her when we saw the "Loose Moose Cottage" restaurant!

Ali could not get enough of the wave pool and the big slides!

 Mia preferred hanging out in the hot tub, which suited me just fine!

Big Sisters

Little Sister

Dozens of Cousins

This morning James came over to play.  Not because his Mommy was busy or because he needed a babysitter - just because he woke up in the morning and said, "Hmm... I go Misha's house?!"  ("Misha" is a family pet name primarily used by James for Mia).  I love that.  I love that my sister and I have been fortunate enough to raise our children together thus far.  I love that at preschool, James and Mia squabble like siblings.  I love that Ali will ask for "alone time" with Auntie.  And I love that occasionally all the kids can descend upon Grandma and Pop-Pop for an evening...

I am still close to my cousins.  Life has taken us many different directions, but I still feel connected.  Joe has similar connections to a fabulous extended family.  Care to reminisce? 

Our cousins have become confidantes, role models, Godparents and friends.  I pray my girls have similar relationships with their family as adults.

The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family. ~Thomas Jefferson