I Heart This Picture.

Wow. Where Have I Been?

Taking care of the kiddos, that's where. I feel like they are growing up so fast - it makes me sad!! I am loving every one of my kids' ages right now - it is a bit overwhelming by myself at times, but they all have such distinct and different personalities. Here's what we have been up to: The boys love playing with flubber. We actually made this flubber and then they played with it for at least 45 minutes. I'd highly recommend doing this with your kids. Email me if you want the recipe - a very sweet friend of mine gave me hers and it has been such a great activity!

Two thumb suckers? Colin helped Juliet find her thumb and it kept her pacified for about one minute.

Here is Juliet in her new crib. In her own room!! I almost cried the first night we put her in her room. And then I took a big sigh of relief because I slept much better that night not hearing her every grunt and groan. She only wakes up once for a feeding per night now. What a big girl. She's growing up a bit too fast for me, but I can't be mad about all the smiles and coos I have been getting.

Jude took this gadget from an old coffee percolator and toted his apple around in it - pretty ingenious, don't you think? Can you tell he was sick with a cold? Check out those glassy eyes!

Sarah's friend Hitomi came to visit from Japan and showered the boys with Anpanman prizes. One of which was this very cool hat.

Here's Juliet on her changing table. No reason for this picture other than I love all the pink!!

Samuel received a letter from Portland Fire Station 6 (Colin's fire station down on the water). It was from Captain Casey. It included two fire badges and the boys couldn't have been happier!! Samuel LOVES getting mail. Don't we all?

Uncle Goat came to visit and made Samuel this cool mustache and mask out of construction stuff. I believe his name was Juan Pedro for the morning.

That's what I've been up to. Samuel and I purchased fabric to make cloth napkins and also finger paint. We like doing crafts lately - what else is there to do in all this rainy weather?

I am reading Twilight and really trying to get past the terrible prose. I keep hearing there is a wonderful love story if I can only get to Chapter 5. After I finish this series, I will have to read something really intellectual - perhaps some Charles Dickins.

This Pretty Much Sums Up My Weekend

So the boys are away this weekend and with Colin working yesterday, it was a girls' day for Juliet and me. Yay! I was wringing my hands with excitement. I went to Starbucks to read my Us Weekly (that's confession number one - I can't believe I read that garbage), eat lunch and drink a latte luxuriously. No one even poked their germy hands into Juliet's car seat! I then went to the library to pick up two audiobooks which I won't be listening to because the narrator's voice was all wrong for the story (confession number two: one book was John Grisham's "Bleachers" - who reads John Grisham anymore?). After that I made a compulsive trip to Barnes and Noble and purchased "A Joy in the Morning" by Betty Smith and "Scarlett" (the sequel to "Gone with the Wind"). The remaining time yesterday I actually spent scrapbooking (confession number three: I am a closet scrapbooker. I love it.) I have completed two layouts because I am determined to provide my kiddos with baby books and scrapbooks for them to see what a wonderful childhood they had. Here's what our kitchen table now looks like: And here is Juliet playing yesterday in her little baby gym. She's getting very strong, however Colin is sick with a cold now and unfortunately we will have to see just how strong she is. Hopefully this doesn't end with a trip to the hospital again.

Confession number four: I just hastily ran to Redbox to pick up a copy of "Twilight" just to see what all the fuss is about. I haven't read the books, but I do have a mild curiosity how this series has created such a cultural phenomenon.

Fifth and final confession: I listened to "Rock the Casbah" on my iPod while I put makeup on today.

That's all the confessions I have for now - feel free to share yours so I don't feel like such a geek.

Free Photoshop Actions - Even for Elements!!

So I have been searching in vain for an action in Photoshop Elements to create that "Seventies" look that the Photoshop CS4 users can do. In my search, I found this website that has quite a few free actions available for both Photoshop and Elements users alike. Check it out!

http://coffeeteaphotography.blogspot.com/

Samuel Pics

I found Samuel in the backyard doing this yesterday: Really? Pruning so young? Good. Because I'm terrible with plants.

Isn't he just looking like a little boy now?

Juliet Pics

Isn't she looking more like a real baby now? Not so preemie-ish.

This is how she feels about tummy time - she gets spittin' mad.

Jude Pictures

Since Jude never gets recognition of his own, I thought I would give him his own post. Here are some pics: The other morning Jude treated George like a stuffed animal. He threw his blanket over him, sucked his thumb and snuggled right in.

Samuel and Jude played outside in the unseasonably nice weather yesterday and Jude has entered the phase of making cheesy faces for pictures.

He loves his "two hammers!" as he would say.

Cheesy photo face.

Very cute.

Hmm. Not sure what this is about.

I'm A Geek. For Real - Part Deux

Guess what song I listened to while I applied my makeup this morning?

Three words:

It's. Hammer. Time.

Viruses are the Enemy

Well, I discovered last night that Jude has a temperature of over 100 degrees. Besides from a bit of a lessened appetite off and on, he is completely normal. However, I really worry about Juliet getting sick again and ending up in the hospital. Please pray that she is strong enough to fight this virus off as I am alone with all the kids today and can't really keep those two too far apart.

Highly Recommended Recipes

Ok, I always have to share recipes that are life changing. Can you tell I'm passionate about cooking? I found these breakfast bars in Good Housekeeping - yep, I skimmed it. Is that an old lady magazine or is it just me? Anyway, here's a picture of what they look like.And here is the recipe:

Ingredients
1/2 cup(s) vegetable oil
1/2 cup(s) honey
2 teaspoon(s) vanilla extract
1 large egg
2 cup(s) old-fashioned oats, uncooked
3/4 cup(s) all-purpose flour
1/2 cup(s) (packed) light brown sugar
1/2 cup(s) sliced almonds
1/2 cup(s) toasted wheat germ
1/2 cup(s) raisins
3/4 teaspoon(s) salt
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 13" by 9" metal baking pan with nonstick foil (if not using nonstick, lightly grease foil).
2. In 2-cup liquid measuring cup, stir oil, honey, vanilla, and egg until mixed. In large bowl, with fork, mix oats, flour, sugar, almonds, wheat germ, raisins, and salt until combined. With rubber spatula, stir honey mixture into oat mixture until blended; scrape into prepared pan. With wet hand, pat oat mixture evenly into pan.
3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until pale golden around edges. Cool completely in pan on wire rack, about 1 hour.
4. When cool, transfer using foil to cutting board. Cut lengthwise into 4 strips, then cut each strip crosswise into 6 pieces. Store in tightly sealed container at room temperature up to 2 weeks.

This next recipe is from the Pioneer Woman website- have I ever mentioned how amazing she is at pretty much everything? So, I'm not the biggest fan of pork, but this Spicy Shredded Pork is to die for and great for burritos and leftovers are good for all sorts of things, including soup. Here's a link to the recipe:

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/08/spicy-shredded-pork/

Jen's Shower

Jen had a suprise baby shower to celebrate the upcoming arrival of sweet Audrey on Saturday. It was so nice to be a part of blessing Jen for once, who is always blessing others in tremedous ways. She was completely surprised and I hear that is really hard to do!

Here is a group shot - what a great group of women!!

Three Things I Love About Today

Samuel.

Jude.

Juliet.

That I get to play ping pong with Samuel first thing in the morning.

That I get to help Jude refine his screwdriver skills on a cardboard box mid morning.

That I get to hold, nurse and comfort Juliet all night long.

Isn't being a mom so sweet?