Random Pictures

Here are the kids watching Abe in his swing for the first time:I think he looks like Jude as a baby.
Chubby sleeping baby!
So kissable.
He lasted about five minutes in this travel swing while I was attempting to do dishes.

Flubber and Rubber Chicken.

Since discovering that Jude needs constant activities in order to avoid getting into trouble, I've had the kids on a tight schedule. It's only been two days and I'm pretty tired come evening time, but it's worth it to have a lot more positive behavior from the kiddos. We did flubber time today - as in we made it and then I let the kids play with it until Jude got squirrly. The recipe for flubber is:

Mixture 1:
3/4 cup warm water
1 cup Elmer's glue
food coloring

Mixture 2:
2 tsp. Borax
1/2 cup warm water

Combine mixtures 1 and 2.
Samuel mixing up the flubber. The boys really wanted vivid colors.

Here's Jude taking his flubber time very seriously.

Jude and his odd faces.

And Juliet with the rubber chicken bottom in her mouth.

Kids.

I took some pictures during snack time yesterday. And instead of packing for our trip today, I edited them and added a Seventies action. I love making photos nice and faded - it really emits a different emotion, I think. These photos would have looked fabulous with rounded corners, but I don't know how to do those yet... (Samuel loves the "Family Fun" magazine. He always picks out a craft for us to do together. This month it will be paper birds. And I picked out the rainbow cupcakes for St. Patty's day.)

Value Village Finds

I hit the Value Village 50% off sale day yesterday. Sometimes I shop to forget my woes of dealing with disciplining Jude all day long. And since I'm not allowed to get these boots until our tax refund arrives, I will settle for thrifty shopping. I picked up this wonderful ride-on toy for Juliet, since she is now pushing things and walking at the same time. And the kids could not keep thier hands off my new typewriter, so I picked up one for them to play with. Sharing has actually gone pretty well considering there is one typewriter and three kids.

Moms is taking the kids and I out to New Seasons for lunch (our current favorite eat-in place) and not a moment too soon. I am exhausted and it's only 10 a.m.!!

Consistency.

What a whirlwind the last day has been! At about 8:20 last night while I was sneaking up to put on my pj's, I paused in the hallway and heard Juliet struggling to breathe in her bed. Think: asthma-like breathing where sucking in air sounds very difficult. Paired with a very hoarse cough/voice, I was freaked out. It came on suddenly and she was acting lethargic. Now, don't get me wrong - I am not a freak-out mom. Especially by my third baby, I usually take everything in stride. Breathing difficulty and Juliet, however, I don't mess around with. As I was holding what felt like my lifeless baby trying to gasp for breaths, I instinctively dialed 911 (that's a first for me). I calmly answered all the operator's questions, got off the phone, called Colin to come home immediately from work and began pacing around outside begging under my breath for the rescue crew to show up quickly. Minutes later, I heard the siren and met them halfway up my long driveway so they could help my sweet baby. As it turns out, she had croup and I declined the ambulance ride to the hospital, but did take the fireman's advice to go to the ER to get a breathing treatment. It took 2 1/2 hours to be seen (don't even get me started with how much I don't like Kaiser) and they advised me to elevate Juliet's bed and give her a cool mist humidifier in her room. At that point it's past midnight and after getting Juliet nursed, in bed and the humidifier going, it was closer to 1. I heard crying and barking coughs from her room all night, so I am running on fumes today. The good news is, unlike the other breathing issues Juliet has had in 2009, this one didn't end in a hospitalization and is not serious.

We are still in the trenches of the terrible two's with Jude and I am praying that will let up soon because I am feeling like I'm being given more than I can bear at times.

Here are some recent pics of the kids.
Samuel helping me make Barefoot Contessa's "Sunday Oatmeal" very early one morning: Juliet is standing for a few seconds on her own now. She also loves doing these cute little headstands:

Colin's mom had her dogs over her for a bit and Juliet was very interested in them:

The kids and I made Valentine's cookies and passed them out to some neighbors. Have I mentioned how much my kids love decorating cookies?!

Cute.

Samuel decorating his cookie Army green.

Jude having fun.

Carrot Cake

Yesterday I baked the carrot cake from the Mother's Bistro cookbook. Personally, I would not have included so much pineapple (it called for an entire 20 ounce can, drained) and Colin suggested I add raisins next time, but other than that, it was really good. Of course I took pictures. Samuel and Jude dipped their carrots in the cream cheese frosting remnants: Colin insisted on cutting into the cake and trying a piece even before our company arrived for dinner.

And here is how the inside turned out. Pretty good consistency which I can attribute to steaming and pureeing the carrots as part of the batter. Very moist.

Yes, that is a dinosaur plate. It's all that was clean.

Waterproof Puppet Theater

I'll be honest. It's been a tough week parenting-wise. I'm in complete burnout (or was, before I got out alone with my husband today), I've received some criticism that was not solicited, but when my kids have gotten craft time, somehow all feels right with the world. I admit that I've been holding onto this magazine since October when Samuel picked out this craft. We finally made time for it today when Grandma came over to help with the kiddos. Samuel had so much fun making these waterproof bath puppets! It's a quick and easy craft and they loved playing with these in the bath tonight. Samuel starts with a whole rubber glove.

They read the magazine for the directions.

Grandma B. starts cutting the fingers off. The baby is utterly fascinated.

Samuel tries it on before he colors the face on. And that's the last picture I took of the craft time because inevitably something else diverted my attention. But it was a worthwhile craft, I promise.

The Boys This Morning

Ok, so I watched "My Sister's Keeper" last night. That is officially the most depressing movie ever made and I think could have been on the Lifetime channel, but that's just my humble opinion. That being said, after it was over, I wanted to get every one of my kids out of bed and squeeze them. I didn't, because that would just be lunacy to wake a sleeping child (at least in my house), so I opted to spend extra special time with the kiddos today. When they stumbled into the bathroom this morning, I took my iPod out of my ears and gave them a listen. I was listening to Coffey, which they love as well.

Here's to a day where I get nothing checked off my to-do list, but fill up my kiddos love tank!

An Apron and Some Cute Kids

At last, I finished my Mom's Christmas gift - this apron. I love the material and have enough to make another one. Samuel took this picture - interesting angle! More often than not, I give all the kids a bath at once. Samuel can't wait for the baby to get out and Jude usually just is in his own world. And Juliet? Well, she terrorizes everyone and everything.

I just had to post this picture because I love the thunder thighs! And cankles.

They were fighting over the warm stream of water in this one. Sometimes raising kids is truly exhausting.

This morning after asking Jude if he was ready to apologize to Samuel for stealing a toy he said "No. I 'm going to stay in my time out forever." Hmm. I'm not sure where he gets that strong will from.

A couple of weeks ago during a crazy outing full of errands, I said to Samuel "Samuel. We have to go to one more Michael's just to pick up a magazine." And he asked "Mama? Does Michael's have a drive thru?"

For the baby book, Juliet now says "Papa" , does a bit of cruising and plays "peek-a-boo" when I change her diaper. She is 11 months adjusted and growing so fast!

Christmas 2009

Christmas was a whirlwind yesterday! We woke up at 5:45 (everybody - even the kids) to open presents before Colin headed off to work.
Here's Samuel with a light up Spiderman toothbrush.
As Samuel was opening Santa's gifts: "I got ....pajamas. And a toothbrush. Did Santa even get my wish list?"

Here are the boys watching their new movie.

Juliet stood up against the kitchen hutch and admired herself in the mirror. For the baby book: she now says "mama" and always pulls herself up to standing in her crib. So sweet!

Juliet got this ginormous Strawberry Shortcake doll. She really isn't into dolls yet.

Jude looks how I felt at 5:45 in the morning.

We stopped to say "hi" to Grandma Mary and wish her a Merry Christmas. I wish we could have stayed longer, but I had two more stops and super tired/crabby kids.

We stopped in West Linn to hastily open gifts at Grandpa Jeff and Grandma Jan's house - I didn't get pictures, but Samuel adored his scooter and protective gear. He even rode it around the fire station.

Then we were off to be with Colin at work for Christmas dinner. The boys loved "driving" the fire truck and boats.

Here's Jude driving the fire boat.

And the baby being way busy.

And Samuel drove the boat too.

Here's the fam ready to head down the ramp to the boats.

Jude driving the fire engine.

And the boys playing with their new legos.

And of course a picture of the apple pie.