Pictures From Today

Ahh. The simplicity of black and white pictures. So refreshing!

"I Choose Early Bedtime, Mama"

Now that Samuel is 4, he doesn't require a nap every single day. So, on the days he resists, I tell him he can choose between early bedtime or a nap. Yesterday, he claimed he wasn't tired, that he would just grab his Bible and rest on the chair. He chose early bedtime. But I knew that every time he grabs his Bible to rest, he falls asleep. Sad that the Bible always puts him to sleep - I really need to make that book come alive for him =).

I am grateful that he's still a kid that naps most days.

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Put. It. Away.

Seriously!? This wedding dress is made of peacock feathers. I'm speechless!

Wedding season is starting up, and this peacock wedding dress made its debut last month at the Wedding Culture Expo in China’s Jiangsu province. Made of 2009 peacock tail feathers and 60 Hetian jades, the dress costs about $1.4 million. While it certainly is an interesting departure from the usual whites, off-whites, and ecrus, we always thought that peacocks were considered narcissistic creatures. Wouldn’t wedding guests leave with a negative opinion of a bride who wore such an ostentatious (and expensive) dress?

Living Room: Completed

Ok, I won't be winning any photography awards for the pictures posted here, but I just wanted to take some snapshots of our living room that is completed. I won't even delve into decorating until the kids are off at college and can't ruin things with spilled milk, pee, spit-up or other bodily fluids. Come to think of it, we probably won't have money to decorate then because we will be paying for college. Oh well. I am very much enjoying the bare, clean uncluttered walls. Here's what the walls/room was before (picture taken in December):

Here's the room now.

And the wood paneling still exists in other portions of the house, but I am so glad I don't have to stare at it in the living room! It made it a very dark room.

Do you like that Samuel is watching a movie before 7 a.m.? When you have a kid up at 6 a.m. (and I've been up since 4:30 with Juliet), you lower your standards a bit to have a peaceful cup of coffee.

How Fun Is This?!

I just stumbled upon this new magazine online and I'm very tempted to order it (because I have lots of time to read magazines =)). Trendy sewing is right up my alley, though.

Smiles, For Mama Anyway

I finally caught Juliet's really big smile on camera - she is such a Mama's girl right now. Here's what I get from her: And here's what she gives Colin:

I don't think his voice is quite female enough for her liking.

More Garden Time

The boys have almost the entire heirloom garden in now and my little boys love helping them. The fence around the garden is now complete. I can almost taste the homemade tomato sauce. Mmm!!

I gave Samuel my camera for a moment (eek!) and this is the picture he took. This must be what his perspective of me is.

Miss Audrey Elizabeth Ackerman

I can't believe how long it's taken me to post the pictures of Miss Audrey!! I met her last week and she is just a chubby angel!! Look at Jen looking like a supermodel the day after she delivered:

Rick and Audrey.

She's a perfect mix of her brother and sister.

Congrats, Jen and Rick!! Remember to put me on the meal delivering schedule...

Meatloaf. It's What's For Dinner.

She acted interested in our dinner, so we thought we might try meatloaf for a first meal. After all, she's almost 4 months old (adjusted). How dare she turn her nose up at my cooking! Just kidding. We really needed a spot to put Juliet while we placed Jude in his new booster seat at the table and she seemed pretty comfortable at the high chair: Speaking of meat loaf - it's never really been one of my favorite dishes. I mean who really likes to muck around in chopped meat, mixing it up with various condiments, etc.? Not me. Until I met Barefoot Contessa's cookbook. I have added her to my list of platonic crushes. Ok, it's really only her and Amy Butler, but who's counting. I tried her Turkey Meatloaf recipe and it's great. No, it's wonderful. Also? Her Banana Crunch Muffins. To die for. Here's what mine turned out like:

I just don't want you to think that ALL my cooking turns out terrible. There are those off times that it tastes and looks good.

Here's the cookbook everyone should own - the recipes are tried hundreds, if not thousands, of times. The ingredients are simple and accessible. She has catered all these recipes and you can tell. Costco is carrying it right now - don't pass it up!

Juliet

Because I like posting random photos of my little sweet girl. Couldn't you just pinch those cheeks?

Library Time!

We made a trip to the Lake Oswego Library story time on Tuesday - sans Jude. It always makes trips easier when I don't have a two year old in tow - oh, did I really type that?
Samuel had a great time with his friend Ellie and I can't wait to do it again. Afterward, we went to Lake Oswego Police Dept. to see Grandam Jan and Samuel even scored pizza and cookies. Juliet was just chillin' in her car seat.

Michelle read to Ellie and as Samuel listened in.

And he took 4 books home, which he spent "reading" during his quiet time.

He was tired before story time even began...

A Bad Recipe Gone...Well, Worse.

And the day started out so lovely - the sun was out, dinner was in the crockpot by 11 a.m. and I had actually showered already. Then around 2 in the afternoon, the house started to smell like feet. My brother thought we forgot to take out the trash. Here's what it looked like by 6 p.m.: Yuk. Don't ever make the recipe from page 49 of the Healthy Crockery Cookery . Perhaps other recipes in this cookbook are wonderful, but the Chicken, cabbage and apple bake is not one of them. Jude's exact words were "This is yucky."

My bad.

Monday Morning Ramblings

Last week I made time to sew my mom an apron she REALLY wanted - she loves aprons and wears them all the time, only removing them when she leaves the house. So, I took some of my coveted Amy Butler fabric and spent a few hours crafting her Mother's Day gift. I realized that Mother's Day is so much richer when you really focus on making someone else happy - I knew my mom would have many hours of use from that gift and it didn't hurt that I LOVE to sew and look at that pretty fabric.

We headed to Rainier for the latter half of yesterday to celebrate Mother's Day with Barb and on the hour long car ride there and back, it was so great to just talk to my husband with little distraction. The kids were sleeping and even though we were just talking about minivans vs. SUVs (ugh - what a decision!), I realized how much I miss adult conversation! He's a fun guy to hang around and that was a great Mother's Day gift in and of itself.

We also discussed how off balance my life feels right now - my social life is lacking because I am trying first and foremost to be a great mother and wife. And with a nursing newborn, it seems that there is little time for anything else! I think, though, that the balance will come later. When perhaps she is a bit older and not so attached to me - then I can go have coffee with a friend or out to a movie and feel like I did my primary job well in those early months. I did manage to get a pedicure on Saturday - the salon is close and it was great for a bit to be by myself and read "Wuthering Heights", but by the end, I missed my family. I was ready for them again. It really doesn't take much of a break to make me feel like a new woman - and I got pretty, sparkly, red toes!

The Kids

My kids haven't napped since Thursday. Today is Monday and I'm alone with them - this may be an interesting day. The good news? It's 8 a.m. and two of the three are already down for their morning naps - oh the beauty of early risers. I thought I would post a few pics of what the kids have been up to the last few days.
Uncle Goat came to take Jude and Samuel to OMSI - they had a wonderful time not only at OMSI, but wrestling with Uncle Goat as well. Juliet spent some quality time with him - mostly crying due to exhaustion, but he holds her anyway, unphased. I really can appreciate people that don't mind her screaming. Do you like her old man pants pulled WAY high?

Jude playing with Papa - we call him Chucky - remember that scary doll? Jude and Chucky have many personality similarities =). And they look alike.

I heard some slurping coming from the pink room upstairs and this is what I found - when she's hungry and too sleepy to wake up, she resorts to her thumb. I appreciate that. She had a few nights last week of sleeping 7 until 5 - I thought I was entering a "normal" life again. Not so much. Every night since she has been eating every three hours again. I guess you might call this the eating phase of her growth spurt. Can I attach a holster to my belt that holds a coffee cup? Mama is tired!

And this is what Colin's beautiful fireplace holds all the time now - toys. For some reason these kids love stacking all of their play vehicles all over. I just leave them there most of the time now - why clean them up when they will just be out again? I'm saying that to myself a lot lately.

The Children's Museum

I braved a trip to The Children's Museum last week - I was hesitant because I have only been leaving the house with all three kids when absolutely necessary. I can't believe how hard it is to 1) Get the kids ready before noon; 2) Get myself ready at all; 3) Load them in the car; 4) Manage them while they are out; 5) Get them back home in one piece; and 6) Do it all while they are fed, rested and not sick. At any rate, it was a good trip. Michelle helped Ellie do her face painting. What a sweet moment!

I let Samuel do whatever he wanted - and that stuff did not wash off easily!! But he loved it and that's all that matters.

Ruby loves to be affectionate. Jude wasn't sure.

Bored.

For some reason, this was Samuel's favorite part of the whole trip - this Dollar Dog character. Weird. What is a Dollar Dog even?

I hope to frequent the Zoo and the Children's Museum when the weather gets nicer. It would be nice to see friends again - I feel like such a recluse. Will life every resume back to normal?

Garage Floor

Well, Colin finally got a floor for his garage. A bunch of his coworkers and our friend Jason came over to help. What a great work crew!! Once the concrete started pouring, they had to work fast. I guess the concrete companies only give them 15 minutes per yard to smooth the concrete. They had to work fast.

One of the guys took a moment to roll up Samuel's jeans - you can tell all these guys have kids.

The concrete guy asked if the kids would like to sit in the big truck. Jude wasn't sure.

Samuel loved it and even got to honk the horn!

They are starting the smoothing process.

Jude was yawning pretty much the whole time.

Samuel and Jude even got to do some smoothing.

Want To Gain Weight? Try Cream Cheese.

As you probably have collected by now, we are trying to put weight on Jude. He is a picky eater that refuses my good home-cooked food quite frequently. So, I am reduced to slathering my food in butter, oil and gasp, ketchup. This morning, after taking down lots of scrambled eggs and toast, I offered apples with a side of cream cheese. Being the inventive kid that he is, he began eating it by the spoonful. I'd say he consumed a fair amount of calories during this meal. I did eventually stop him, because I didn't want him to have a stomachache.

I think some snot is mixed in with this bite. Mmmmm. Tasty.

Here's Jude yesterday - I was sitting very close to him after he'd been crying. This is how he comforts himself - sucking his thumb and rubbing his blanket into his nose.

Or sucking his thumb and touching the blanket.

Puzzles. Aren't They Wonderful?

I'll be honest - I really don't love waking up to rain knowing that I'm alone with the kids for 24 hours and I can't see anyone because they still have colds. So, I decided today was a good puzzle day. Really, I'm the one that ends up putting it together - Jude steps all over it and scurries off with various pieces while Samuel asks a million questions about pirates, while interjecting every now and again a compliment about how well I am putting the puzzle together. As you can see, we did finish it. Samuel had the satisfaction of putting the last piece in. We did have a good conversation about how pirates are bad, make bad choices and get whisked off to jail for stealing and pillaging. This is all before my first cup of coffee.

I allowed the boys to take one picture on my camera - this is what Jude took.

This is what I took - I didn't Photoshop out his flaws because I like to remember Jude just as he is - rashes and all.

Jude did play with toys while he wasn't stepping all over the puzzle. I put Coffey Anderson (specifically "Umbrella") on my iPod for the boys to listen to. He has a great acoustic worship album on iTunes. For all my Christian bloggers, I would highly recommend it. When that album was over, I turned on the Twilight soundtrack. Just to mix it up a bit.

And Samuel took this picture of me. How much do I love converting pictures to black and white? It's a very real, very raw picture of me. As a matter of fact, when I stumbled downstairs this morning, making an obvious beeline for the coffee, Colin looked at me and said "Wow. How did you sleep last night?" Ouch.

And now we burned up three hours and can really begin our day.