Justin's Secret Life

The other day I called Justin.  Usually when I call him he says something like:

"Hello love."

or

"Hello lovebug."

and he says it in a cutesy voice because we are mushy like this.

Anyway, when I called him he answered me in his mushy voice but he said:

"Hello research."

Yup.  Research.  I knew it!

Best Buy

Currently, E abhors shopping.  As though I even go shopping that much.  Um, I don't like shopping either.  So, when we were told her we were going to Best Buy she threatened to leave the family forever.  Still, once we arrived the kids had a great time trying out headphones with Daddy.

Lately...

I completely forgot I had these awesome photos that Emily took of E and her Dad on Lake Cascade:

Obviously she is braver than me.  Yay for E!

This is the first time Justin had been water-skiing since a work trip when we were at Sports and Dance Camps (9 years ago!).  Apparently he was excited to get to meet me outside of the office, but very surprised to find out that I did not attend.  Ha!  Me and water-skiing??? Not so much.  

*****

This weekend GQ decided he wanted to try the whole "potty" thing.  So, off we went to purchase underwear.  Now, I have always said I think boy clothes are pretty lame-o compared to girl clothes, but let me tell you... boy underwear is much cuter than girl underwear.  We stocked up on Buzz Lightyear and Thomas the Train underwear and then waited, waited, waited for Monday. 

Then we began.

Then we stopped.

Says GQ:  "Mom, I want to be a baby like S.  I want my diaper back. I do not like going potty."

I considered forcing the issue since he is 3, but then I considered what forcing the issue would mean: yup, me cleaning up potties all over the house.  No, thank you! 

So, I folded up the cute underwear and put it away.  I am sure he will be potty-trained by the time he's 12.  Never fear!

*****

Since getting married, I have never lived anywhere longer than two years.  So, pretty much the idea that we are staying here is driving me insane.  I like so much to go through everything we own and try to THROW IT ALL AWAY.

This - by the way - drives Justin insane.

I told him that when we "really" move - after school - I am renting a dumpster to put outside our home so I can get rid of everything I want.

He said that is renting a Pod so he can put all of his stuff in it before I start.

(Like I wouldn't find the keys to the Pod.)

So, anyway, this summer I decided I would go through every room in my house and get rid of anything I possibly could.  Since swimming lessons are over, I began that this week.  I have currently de-garbaged the kitchen and the living room.  It is so nice.

Justin is concerned, and is hiding all his headphones. (Don't even ask how many that is.  And don't EVEN ask about the new pair he is saving up for.)

*****

I want a yard.

*****

Baby S has decided that whenever I lay him down and walk away I am doing a great injustice to the world.  Whenever he hollers, the image that comes to mind is from the A&E Pride and Prejudice when Darcy's lovely Aunt says something like:

"Is this to be borne? Are the shades of Pemberly to be thus polluted?????"

While the content is obviously different, the indignation is about the same.

Snuggling with Daddy

Look at them all matchy-matchy.  I made Justin look that way because they were supposed to both be profile.  Mostly it just made him look goofy.  I take full responsibility.

That Church thing is just exhausting.

Something to talk about

This photo is entitled:  "To Veto Dress Choices, Or Not To Veto."

Help us please!

Eating doughnuts with Daddy.  Although I must say this doughnut shop... the only one in Iowa... does not win any stars.  Tragically.  But you should have seen the faces of the other customers when E walked in.  (See above photo for a reminder.)

This photo is entitled:  "Look Mom, I am really pregnant."

And this is Justin's tortilla de patata (which I spelled wrong) that he has been craving for a year now, and finally made this past Sunday.

There was a less glarey picture (yes, that is a word) but Justin looked like his eyes were rolling into the back of his head on that one.

Mom & Dad & Mercury

After getting out of the car after a long ride today, I was a little grumpy and frustrated.  I said such useful things as:

"stop that"
"not in the kitchen"
"stop that"
"wait A minute"

and

"stop that"

I did not say them in the nicest tones.

Later, I felt bad and said to the children:

"I am sorry I was frustrated and grumpy.  Thank you for being patient with me."

Said M: "It's okay, Mom.  We do that so you can learn how to be patient."

*****

At dinner E was spelling our Family Home Evening treat to Justin:  "C - O - O - K - E - S."

Replied Justin:  "No, it is C - O - O - C - K - I - E - S."

I couldn't help but laugh.

*****

Currently we are all dying of mercury poisoning because a lightbulb exploded at our house.  What a dumb idea to put mercury in lightbulbs.

Just saying

A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes

And what is it that is making these two gentleman so happy????????



That's right.... football.  Justin switched our internet and used some money from a side job to buy himself a fancy computer screen, all so this could happen regularly at my house.

This Saturday a huge thunderstorm almost cheated him of it... but never fear.... football prevailed.

GQ is so happy he can hardly contain himself.  Little brainwashed fellow.

A Visit to the Dairy

When Justin finished his last final for his first year of PhD school (one year down, five to go) we decided to celebrate with ice cream.  Justin had heard about a good dairy across town... so off we went.  The kids really enjoyed the plastic petting zoo.

Afterwards I noticed the girls had become interested in the udder of the cow.  When I asked them what they were doing, E replied that she was "putting milk in the cow."

I think they've got that a little backwards.

Today

About two months ago one of the "strings" in the blinds in our bedroom broke. (I am sure I know all the correct vocabulary.) So, since the blinds didn't open anymore, we had been in the dark - other than artificial light - which stinks!

Yesterday I had a mini-fit and took my screwdriver to the thing. One of those moments where you may or may not cut a hole in the wall if that's what it takes to let a little sun in. But I'll have you know I even took it down correctly. (Luckily it did not require reading instructions, or that would have been a no-go.) Now I have sun again, and I am so happy.

*****

I got so sick this week I actually had to lay in bed one day. I am not sure what the children did, but they get a zillion stars for not breaking anything and for letting me sleep off a highly yucko fever.

I think, however, it is total luck they didn't break anything because since then they have dyed the kitchen table pink - with washable markers, how does that work? - and set up a water conveyor belt from the downstairs bathroom sink to the middle of the family room floor.

Yes, M was a major player in both of these projects.

*****

Next week is Spring Break. Justin and I thought of going to Nebraska and seeing the zoo they have there - it's supposed to be good. We also thought of going to St. Louis.

Then, we decided to stay home and take our kids to the Pet Store. I am 100 percent serious.

(By the way, they will just as fun of a time.)

*****

Due to GQ's excessive whining disorder, he has been regressed to a morning nap as well as an afternoon nap. It makes it harder to get him to sleep at night but at least he smiles during the day.

Since he has stopped whining, M has increased her output to keep our whining platform at a normal level. Isn't that thoughtful of her? Maybe she was always doing it and I just couldn't hear her before.

*****

E is downstairs making her own illustrated copy of the Book of Mormon while the other kids sleep. It starts with the story of the Creation, so either it's actually the Bible or she's got a hold of the 116 missing pages. That girl is cute.

Macy?

M has taken to calling herself "Macy."

I don't know of any Macys she actually knows, or where she came up with this name.

But Macy it is.

*****

On Monday "Macy" threw up in the car.

(This is the first time GQ had been in a forward facing carseat when this happened. You should have seen the faces he made as she threw up. Classic.)

She hasn't done this since we moved to Iowa, and we weren't going too far, but since "Macy" seems to do this semi-regularly, I cleaned her up and moved on.

She had mentioned in the store earlier that she wanted to throw up, and had even pretended to throw up in her hands several times, but you know, this is "Macy" we're talking about, so I ignored her and told her to stop being gross.

(Just so you know, "Macy" is the child that will teach your child all sorts of potty words when she goes to kindergarten. She loves bringing them up at the dinner table regularly.)

Speaking of dinner, that night "Macy" told me that: "She was going to throw up on my head." Giggle, Giggle. SHE DID LAUGH. Then, she threw up on her chair.

So, I said:

"Macy" we do not pretend to throw up.

And sent her off in disgrace.

Later that night, "Macy" again threw up in bed.


Oh, so I guess she was really sick????

I am such a good mom.

Although, in my defense, she did make it hard to figure out, you know.

We are all doing better now, and so far no one else is sick either.

*****

Tomorrow, Justin goes into get his eyes lasered.

We decided that since certain children of ours enjoy breaking certain titanium (and supposedly un-breakable) frames, it will actually be cheaper in the long run.

So, here's to sight.

Because I am the Queen of Halloween

Both Justin and I hate gutting pumpkins. Just ask anyone. I think I complained about touching the inside of a pumpkin my entire childhood.

Since we were married, I can only think of one pumpkin our family has carved - the ill-fated Kitty I mentioned in an earlier post.

Usually we just convince E that it doesn't really need to happen. Convoluted logic is not always her friend, but she does make use of it herself, you know.

Anyway, this year my mother sent us some Mr. Potato Head - Pumpkin Decorator kits - I think she knew the kids would never hear about Halloween unless she staged an intervention.

Both girls loved planning their pumpkins. E's was very organized.

M's???? Not so much.

The proud artists.

Posing in front of the house.

GQ was stuck in his high-chair the whole time, poor fella. So, he mixed his crackers with his water and made some really tasty soup. Boy, I bet you wish you could have some.

Thanks Grandma!

Daddy Daughter TV Date

Riding Bikes with Daddy!

Our family decided to invest in a bike trailer so that Elise and Meg can join Daddy on his bike outings. Okay, so Meg can't really ride along, but we used her birthday money to purchase the trailer... so don't tell her she's not allowed to ride until she's a year old. Ellie had a great time with the whole thing even though it was freezing when Dad finally got a chance to take her.




Here's a picture of Ellie and those of us who got left behind while they went on their ride. Look Meg... your very own bike trailer! We went inside where it was warmer.