My life as a fairytale

Once upon a time there lived a handsome prince. He was handsome and charming...but he was lonely.

One day while working on his mode of transportation he saw a fair maiden and thought...

Hubba Hubba!

So he began to court her. He took her out on romantic dates and even sang to her.

The maiden thought he was just so charming, he always did just what she wished.

It didn't matter that he didn't have a lot of money.

He was poor. Poor and Perfect.

The Apple of Mom's Eye

Can I just tell you how completely in love I am with this small wonder?

He is the cutest little stinker with the sweetest little face.

He has those sweet baby cheeks that I can't stop kissing.

And the determination of...I don't know what-but think of something really determined and he has that kind of determination.

Oh and those sweet little baby hands...even when they are all red from being out in the cold, melt my heart.

I really wonder if I could possibly love this little monster any more than I do.
At least right now.
He did just have a nap.
He is in a good mood and is not demanding my attention by screaming.
Just demanding it with his cuteness.
Much more effective by the way.
The squeaky wheel in this house does not get the grease...just time outs.
Ha ha.
That is so not the case and this kid knows it.
He yells and we jump.
Bad bad parenting 101.

Daily Something September 21, 2011: Wonder Woman

Daily Something;
Today I felt like Wonder Woman. I'm not sure what got into me but I was able to get so much accomplished today.
I got the house all vacuumed, I organized closets, I took pictures of a project I did a couple days ago, I painted and put together a book shelf, I did my homework, I helped the kids with their homework, I organized Oliver's room, I cleaned the kitchen, I sold a bike, I made some Fall decorations and I sewed some pajamas for the kids.
On top of all of that I still fed the kids three meals, gave two of them baths, read stories, talked to my mom and sister on the phone, checked my email, looked at blogs and danced around with my kids.
I wasn't on speed or anything.
I wonder if someone spiked my chocolate milk at breakfast?

Daily Something September 20, 2011; Moves Like Jagger

Daily Something;
Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5 came on the radio today while the kids and I were running errands today and has been stuck in all of our heads. All day long one of us is singing the chorus. Even little Porter is swinging his hips singing "I got the mooooooooves."
Bekah came in after playing with some of the kids in the neighborhood tonight and she said they were playing a game where they acted like a famous person and then the others would try to guess who it was.
Bekah said she impersonated Mick Jagger. She held up a microphone and pretended to sing and dance and the clue was the letter J...strangely enough none of the kids in the neighborhood guessed Mick Jagger.
They were guessing people like Justin Beiber, Justin Timberlake or the Jonas Brothers. Bekah has no idea who those people are and couldn't believe they didn't know who Jagger was.
She is a little sheltered from the tween throbs of the day...but at least she knows good music when she hears it, and knows that a kid with a name like Beiber could only wish he had the moves like Jagger.

Daily Something September 19, 2011 The Tote

Daily Something
We have been working on getting rid of things that don't matter and taking care of the things that do. That said, our garage is still very full of totes and boxes of 'stuff.' One such tote Chad has been toting around since before we were married. Full of miscellaneous things of his dads, from his childhood, from his mission, from who knows where else. A lot of it was sentimental and things we will want to either display or put away in a nice place...not in a tote in the garage. He finally went through it and got rid of all of the stuff that wasn't important any longer or that was just plain silly. I know it's not a big story, or maybe even something that is interesting. But to us, it's a pretty big deal. That tote has been following us around for 10 years and now it's empty. Everything in its right place. It feels good. Simplifying doesn't need to take years, it only took him maybe a half an hour to go through it. Yet it still took 10 years to get to it. Procrastinating is never worth it.

Daily Something September 18; The Princess Bride

Daily Something
We bought the Princess Bride on DVD last night so that we could watch it with our kids tonight after church. I can't believe we didn't buy it sooner. We had it on video, but who watches those anymore? My kids absolutely loved it just like we knew they would.
Has there ever been a movie to ever touch the sheer genius of this one? Well we also like Stardust, but it's not as much of a family movie as this one is. The Princess Bride is simply the perfect movie except for the few cuss words and stinkin Fred Savage taking the Lord's name in vain of course. What's that all about?
I digress.
I love the Princess Bride.
Chad loves the Princess Bride.
And now my kids love the Prince Bride.
We also love popcorn with m&m's in it.

Daily Something September 17; Story Boards

Daily Something
I am working on my children's book.
Actively working on it.
I have storyboards lined up on my bedroom wall, the writing is done...I think.
The illustrations, well at least I have an idea of the direction I want to go.
It's a lot of work, but I am excited.
My goal is to have it all done and sent to the publishers before November so that it will be ready for the holidays.
This is something that I have always wanted to do, and the idea for this book has been in my head almost the whole time we've been married.
Chad actually came up with the first line, and then I ran with it.
I have tweaked the text over and over throughout the years, and I think I am finally pleased with it.
Fingers crossed that I actually meet my deadline.
Yay!

Daily Something September 16: Pack Mule

Daily Something;
I don't really have much to say about the pack mule that carries my children to bed each night.
Except that my kids are pretty darn lucky to have him.
He's the best dad in the world.
He's the best husband in the universe.
He is a hard worker, he has the prettiest eyes, he is giving, kind, charitable, sweet, funny, handsome, strong, genuine, happy, calm, patient, loving, helpful...
Oh, would you look at that.
Turns out there's a lot to say about this pack mule.

Daily Something September 15 Sink Baths

Daily Something
Today Chad got his grades back from his first term on extern-4.0! He has comped on 11 scans out of the 23 necessary to graduate and is doing awesome! Just wanted to throw that in there.
My story is about how we gave Oliver a sink bath tonight after dinner. He was so messy we didn't dare bring him up the stairs. As Chad was manipulating his hair into rooster tails and mohawks, it occurred to me that this little guy will be one next week. His time of being thrown in the sink to take a bath is rapidly coming to an end. As my last baby this makes me sad. He is getting so big but still he enjoys these little moments so immensely. It makes me want to slow down and enjoy these little moments more too. Instead of just trying to get him clean so that we can move on to the next thing, I need to spend more time splashing in the water and smelling his sweet baby scent after he is out...because before long that scent turns into something not so sweet...as evidenced by my two older boys.

Daily Something September 14: Delicious Mistakes

Daily Something
Sometimes the best things in life come when we mess up...an unplanned pregnancy for example...or in my case these cookie bars.
I wanted the whole family to get together and bake something delicious as a group. I thought it would be a fun and bonding experience.
It didn't work out that way and it ended up just being me and Porter trying to follow a simple cookie recipe from the web on my nook. The screen kept going dark and I would have to turn it on again, or Porter would change the page-so I had a hard time following the recipe, I added too much salt and had to take some out and then I totally messed up the peanut butter and added nearly 2 cups of peanut butter rather than 6 tablespoons. I thought for sure they had been ruined. I decided to make them into cookie bars since it was like brownie batter instead of a cookie dough. I had some left over and made some cookies too. They both turned out equally delicious. I am sure they are even better than the originals, because these are so darn scrumptious, there is no way that the other way could be better. Here is my new and improved recipe, (at least in my family's eyes and tummies).


White Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Bars.
(adapted from howsweeteats.com)
makes 1 large pan of cookie bars with enough left over for a dozen cookies...perfect to bring to a party and still have some left for you at home! :)

• 2 1/2 cups bread flour (I'm sure any all-purpose flour would do, but I had bread flour...and yum)
• 2 cups of Quaker old fashioned oats (or store brand whatever you have)
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 2 sticks of butter
• 1 1/2 cups of creamy peanut butter
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 1 cup of sugar
• 2 eggs + 2 egg yolks at room temp
• 4 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups white chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 325. Spray a 9x13 glass pan with cooking spray. Put peanut butter and butter into a bowl and melt at 30 second intervals until all creamy and melted. Leave on counter to cool.

Meanwhile mix flour, oats, baking soda & salt in a bowl and set aside.

You don't want the peanut butter, butter mixture to be hot, but mine wasn't completely cooled either...I was working with a 3 year old here. So when I couldn't wait any longer I added the sugars and stirred until combined.  Then I added the vanilla, egg and egg yolk and stirred that all in (no mixer required-these things are gooey). Then I just dumped in all the dry ingredients and mixed that in real good. Finally, stir in chocolate chips.

Put a thin layer (a little less than an inch) of the dough in the pan and spread evenly.
Cook for 20-25 minutes or until edges are golden.
Or you can scoop them with your cookie scoop and bake them as cookies for 10-12 minutes.

Delicious Mistake.

Daily Something September 13: Naughty

Daily Something
I am upstairs helping Bekah and Christopher do their schoolwork. Oliver is taking his morning nap and the house is unusually quiet. Porter is nowhere to be heard. He went downstairs pouting about a half hour previous after I told him he couldn't have crayons anymore (he had colored on the TV the night before).
I sent Topher down to look for him and make sure he was alright. Topher came back a few minutes later saying he couldn't find him anywhere. Bekah and I jumped up to go look, and just as we got to the stairs, Porter came walking up.
I asked the mysteriously missing child where he had been and he replied "I don't know." I asked him what he meant. He said, "I can't remember where I was mom." Hmmmm. Either he got knocked out and developed amnesia...OR he was up to something naughty. I was leaning towards the latter. I couldn't get him to answer me though, so I went downstairs expecting the worst.
The kitchen was fine, no food out, nothing spilled. The bathrooms were clean, no water on the floors or counters. In fact everything seemed to be in order.
I really couldn't figure it out. What had he been doing, quietly I might add, for 30 minutes?
A little later I was in my room; and there on the side of the bed where no one could see, all of Bekah's hundreds of Littlest Pet Shop toys were spread all over the floor. Playing with toys in my room is a no no, playing with Bekah's toys without asking is a no no.
Porter looked as surprised as Bekah was to see all the toys there on the floor. He had no idea how they had gotten there.
Naughty.
Later tonight we are on our way home from Costco and he announces; "I don't want to listen to Jesus."
My husband who is much more calm in these kinds of situations luckily took the bait.
Chad; "Why not, don't you want to be good?"
Porter; "No."
Chad; "You want to be naughty? Because Jesus teaches us to be nice and good."
Porter; "Yeah, I just want to be naughty."
Chad; "Okay. But naughty boys don't get privileges. Naughty boys don't get treats, or toys. Naughty boys get punished and have to stay in their beds."
Porter thinks about this for a minute and then says, "Okay. I'll listen to Jesus then."
Naughty.
Just a few moments ago Porter comes in while I am writing this story and hands me a couple pieces of paper with some drawings on them and then walks out.
On his way up the stairs I hear it.
Twice.
I run up and see two fresh lines of pencil up the hall walls.
He heard me running.
The pencil gets thrown at me.
Naughty.

Daily Something September 12: Phone Call

Daily Something
We are all outside; Chad is cleaning the garage and I am spray painting my latest furniture makeover. Bekah and Porter are coloring on the porch while still wearing their bike helmets. Christopher is begging for yet another treat while Oliver sits in his stroller eating treats of his own. It is hot. Extremely hot for a mid September afternoon, but we are enjoying this extra little bit of summer that mother nature is treating us to.
Chad's phone rings. He looks at the caller ID and his face lights up and he says, "Hey there!" before he even answers. The way his eyes sparkle and the grin that spreads across his face tells me it must be Publishers Clearing House or at the very least Santa Claus.
I was way off.
It's Ryeleigh.
Ryeleigh his 12 year old daughter, whom he has desperately tried to get a hold of for months. They keep missing one another's calls. He didn't have anything particular he needed to tell her. I think he just needed to hear her voice. He needed to hear that she missed him and loved him even a little bit as much as he misses and loves her. He needed to hear that she still needs her daddy.
He listened proudly as she listed off her present achievements, intently as she told her story of the most recent dog escapade and nervously when he asked if she would want to spend time with him over Thanksgiving week.
I don't think even Santa Claus could have given him a better present than her saying that she would love to.
That little blue eyed girl that had him so very tightly wound around his little finger when I met them 10 years ago...hasn't unwound that string one bit.

Turn Around Bright Eyes...

My little Oliver is walking.

It's true.

It's sad.

It's cute.

But mostly it's hard to get him to look at me while I am trying to take a photo.
There we go, 1 second to see why mom is telling me no no for getting into the bookshelf...again. I do have other kids besides Oliver I promise. Someday I might let you know what they are up to too! :)

60 Seconds with the Oli Bug

While sorting through some school stuff in the boys room today and doing a rotation of toys I was taking pictures for my other blog.

My little Oliver decided he wanted my camera.

The following 6 pictures are a result of the immediate 60 seconds after he saw me with the camera.

"Oooh I want that thing mom!"
"You say no to me all the time...it stops me in my tracks...but just for a minute.""I will have it now!"
"Seriously...look at me...how could you not just hand it over? Look into my eyes, I am completely and wholly adorable."
"Not going to give it to me huh? Oh well I give up!"
"Psyche!"

This kid is a fast little stinker, but my camera got out safe and sound...barely! :)

I smell TROUBLE

She's getting older...and prettier...and sassier...

Gulp.

Because He's Totally Awesome...

...He goes out in the morning with a giant astro pop while still wearing his jammies and can totally pull it off.

We don't like Big Buns

One of the things both Bekah and I look forward to every year is the ballet recital mandatory dancers bun.

There are only smiles and laughs as I gently pull her long hair up into the little swirl and tenderly place pins holding it into place.

Or NOT.

Mostly just crying of big crocodile tears, wailing and gnashing of teeth, slapping and biting...maybe exaggerating a bit...but nonetheless...

Bekah HATES getting her hair pulled back into a bun, and I am not a fan of seeing my little girl cry.

So every year the last day of recital we cut her hair off, it's celebratory.

She has the summer with the hair off her neck, no chance of a ponytail or any other abomination pulling the little hairs at the back of her head.

Then come ballet in the fall, it's just starting to get long enough again to pull back, and by recital time it's full on ready for her favorite bun.

This years cut while especially short, frames her adorable little freckled nose face quite nicely. :)

Tiny Dancer

Last recital here in Klamath Falls!

I have to admit, I am a little bit...a lot a bit in love with having a little ballerina for a daughter. It's kind of a dream come true. Chad can have his little wrestlers, soccer players, football players, little sluggers, dirt bike enthusiasts whatever...I gave him plenty of boys to live vicariously through...just let me have my tiny dancer...

Welcome to the Crawl Ball

Easter Best

Is there anything sweeter...

...than a baby sleeping on your shoulder?

I can't think of one.single.thing.

This little guy has us smitten.

Gaga.

Crazy in love.

We would do anything to make him smile.

He knows this, and demands attention at all hours of the day.

We give it, even when the dishes have been piling up for days, the garage is a mess, there are pictures to edit, a neglected family blog, exercise to do, laundry to be put away, and meals to prepare.

Sometimes we wish we could do those other things that need our attention, but getting smiles and slobbery kisses from him is just too big a temptation to pass up 99% of the time.

So yes, our house is messy, and there are things left undone.

But he is our last...and we are soaking it up.

Hi Dad!

We are in Portland right now while dad is home studying for finals.
We miss you honey! Good luck on your test tomorrow! :)

(I was taking some maternity pics and while the mom to be was changing I threw my kids together for this pic. I just realized that this is the only picture I have of all 4 of my kids together! WHAT?!?! This must be remedied!)

Graffiti Thug

This is one of those "Keeping it Real" posts.

You are going to see things-that are not pretty, not clean, and NOT CUTE!

They were made by a cute little guy, so it counts.

My 2 year old is a Graffiti Thug.

As an artist, I can appreciate the talent of some good graffiti on the side of a building.

As a photographer, I really appreciate some well placed graffiti on an abandoned train car.

As a mother, I do not, under any circumstance, no matter how well done, do I appreciate graffiti on my walls.

My kids are well aware of this.

But like I said, my 2 year old is a thug.

He has no respect for the law.

He laughs in the face of danger.

He gets a thrill out of the fear of being caught.

It's a real adrenaline rush for him, I tell ya.

Well for the last month or so, I have yelled and screamed, talked gently face to face with him, given time-outs, spanked hands, threw away the majority of markers in the house...all to no avail.

Usually I make him clean it up, but lately I've just let it sit on the wall-

One because he LIKES to clean it up and...

Two because once it is clean, he looks at it like a blank canvas.

Today he really had a hay day when he found not one, but two markers.

He really out did himself-his gang leader is probably really proud.

I'm sure my little boy is about to be promoted to head thug.

I went around with my camera today and just snapped a few of the places you will find this kid's tags...

So I'm pretty sure every wall in our house has some sort of art work on it at this point...

Which is why I think he decided to start on the appliances today.

Luckily this was dry erase marker...it came off really easily...he was not happy with me for cleaning it off so quickly.

He threw a bit of a fit.

What else can you expect from a thug?

It looks like this Saturday the whole family gets to get in on a community service project of cleaning up the graffiti that this little thug has adorned our walls with.

He sure is a cute little thug.

He felt left out...

Since my little Oli-bug was asleep in the car the other day and didn't get any pics up, he was a little sad...okay so that is a lie!

Oliver sad?

Only when his mom isn't holding him or isn't within reaching distance!

Look at this kid! He is a happy go lucky, adorable, fun to kiss on little monkey man and I just love him to absolute pieces!

Wouldn't you?

A Day with the Boys at the Ranch

We went to feed the horses today, and while we were there I took Bekah's 7 year old pictures.

Well I couldn't leave my handsome guys out! Oliver was asleep in the car...
Love this little Valentine!
Those dimples on this little stink pot are his saving grace!
Only looking at me this time because I promised him candy...
Topher and his beautiful eyes...wow, takes my breath away. Every. Time.

Love these cute little pills.