So Suh me . . .

Jeff and I had a great football weekend. We went to a Husker bar and watch the Huskers eek out a rather unsatisfying win and then rounded out the weekend by watching Suh and the Detroit Lions have a harsh loss dealt to them by an old man who can throw a football really well with the Vikings.

But just to shake things up a bit, we did this all in Minnesota.

Yep! That's right! A husker bar in Minneapolis! I have to admit, its actually a lot cooler than a Husker bar in Nebraska, because you don't have to stake out a table three hours before kickoff and you can actually get a drink served to you in under 5 minutes without having to flash the bartender.

Not that I've EVER done that!

And then we attended the Lions/Vikings game here . . .

It was AWESOME! except for the pesky fact that the team I was cheering for lost. Its rather humbling to be surrounded by thousands of people who are NOT cheering for your team. Quite the change for a Nebraskan.

Jeff's cousin took the chance to rub it in.


I look forward to next year when the Lions have their actual quarterback. It is soooo on Primo! And that's about all I have for today . . . I tried to take pictures of Alaina and Kayla playing in the yard, but my camera hates me, so they just turned out blurry. What a shame because we had a little picnic and played "guess what Kayla's pointing and babbling about this time?" Alaina does a pretty good job of narrating in between Kayla cooing and chatting.

What's new?

I'll tell you what's new. After battling with our old computer for months on end, we finally went to Best Buy and got a new computer. Maybe I'll feel move compelled to blog with our shiny new computer.

Next up on my list of wants and desires is a nice camera that I can take stellar pictures with like Mindee or Pioneer Woman, but since I'm really hard on cameras, that day probably won't come for a while.

But since I have taken a few pictures, I'll share what I have, rotten or not. Here's my small landscaping project. As you can see I took advantage of the torrential downpour that interrupted my project and took a picture of my progress. There will be about 20 pastel tulips and 40-50 crocuses here come spring next year if all my work pays off. And that tacky looking downspout coming out of the siding? That's the former homeowners great idea for a dryer vent.

I guess I've been setting a good example, because the girls latest hobby is cleaning. They each get a towel, a spray bottle, and permission to hose down any surface that is glass or shiny plastic. Next on the list of fun things to do is go to the library. I spend most of the trip chasing Kayla around and trying to prevent her from eating crayons, but Alaina has a lot of fun picking out 4 books. She gets to pick out four books and then mommy picks out a few more for her to read.

That rule came about because I have to admit that there are some really weird children's books out there, and I want to make sure that I have a few good selections to read her as well. Here's my little lovelies rocking together is Uncle Scott's rocking chair. I had to run and get my camera, and I wish Alaina would have given me a smile, but Kayla would only sit still for one picture.

I just couldn't resist taking the photo of the girls because it reminded me of this picture that Mimi took of my brothers. Big brother offered to rock little brother to sleep when Mimi was took pregnant to do the job herself. (Did I tell that right Mimi?) We also had friends over for the great Husker victory last weekend. Alaina was ecstatic that her friend 'Phie' was able to come over and stayed for 2 hours past the football game while her parents went to the Husker volleyball game.

I had a small taste of what life was like for Mimi as I bathed and got four kids, ages 6 months to 4 years, ready for bed that night. Baby K went first, then Phie's brother. And while I was putting him down, Phie apparently got sick of waiting for me to get her bath ready, so she shed her clothes and got into the tub and played with the bath toys until Alaina told Daddy that he needed to fill the tub for them.

A good time was had by all.

Yay! Look I posted!

Yesterday I got the bring idea to take the afternoon off to finish up a little planting around the house. Jeff and I have slowly started to tackle landscaping around the house and it is looking pretty barren around the house.

Of course the day that I decide to work in the dirt is the day that the heavens decide to open up and rain on and off all afternoon. I gave up after getting 200 bulbs in the ground with 40 to go. Actually I gave up because I didn't know what to do with the last 40, but since I bought them, they are going in somewhere.

Saturday, Mimi and papa came up and we took Papa to the football game. Its always a good day when the Huskers win in Nebraska. And when I say 'we' I mean Mimi and I stayed with my girls while everyone else went to the game. We had a great time at the Children's Museum.

Maybe I can post some pics tomorrow. . . .

I'm too tired from getting up and attempting to kick my sister's butt at the gym this morning.

Confession time again

Dear blog-gods,

it has been over a month since my last post so I beg forgiveness and offer the following update to appease you . . .

Life still refuses to settle into a steady rhythm at our house as well all struggle to march to a different drum but the beats are at least starting to sync up a little. Alaina is getting more and more into her role of big sister everyday, instructing Kayla on how to best please big sister and enjoying it immensely when she gets the desired results.
Kayla is practically running around now and I've slowly caught on to the fact that childproofing was not a factor when Alaina was a baby which is why I'm struggling with door latches and keeping the carpet cleaner than the table.
But lets get a few pics out now for the photo starved . . .
2 Weekends ago, we headed up to the zoo. We arrived and departed in good time, spending 3 hours pushing and pulling one stroller and one wagon, because we learned on out last trip that a wagon is too close together for the girls, and one stroller guarantees a hurting back from carrying one of them around for an hour. At least I wizened up and ordered a canopy for the wagon.
Since we arrive within 1/2 hour of the zoo opening, we have a pretty easygoing trip for the most part. Alaina enjoyed the penguins and Kayla hollered for all she was worth at the gorillas that were getting a morning treat of apples and oranges.

And while that wasn't much of an update, my camera has decided to run out of batteries, so I'll just give up and post a short update.

Wishful thinking is hazardous to my health.

Be careful what you wish for . . .

I wished for a reason at work to have to travel to Cincinnati to visit our sister office and see all of the people that I only get to see once every 6 months to 2 years.
Results: I ended up attending a week long class in Cincinnati, which is a bit longer that I would have liked to be away, but it was nice to see everyone.

Then I wished for a day off around the 4th of July.
Results: I ended up working 50 hours the week of the 4th

Then I wished for a restful holiday weekend and was hoping to get a lot done on my day off on Monday.
Results: The girls each had the stomach flu over the weekend.

And finally, I wished that I could get completely caught up at work from the two previous stressful weeks and take yesterday off for myself.
Results: I ended up with the stomach flu and had to use two days work of paid time off to stay home and gaze longingly at food.

But now I'm back on track.

Hopefully.

The time has come for a reaffirmation to happiness on my part. So I'm tackling the things that I can change quickly first.

Check list:

1. Get a haircut.
2. Go to a tanning booth just enough to get rid of my 'vampire chic' pale skin.
3. Go to the clinique counter and try some new colors.
4. Start working out.
5. Plan meals more efficiently for the girls and myself
6. Tidy up in the evenings.
7. Steal my sister's clothes.

And I already got my haircut, so its time to get rid of my deathly palor. Because while it may be cool when you sparkle in the sun (Have you seen Twilight?), pale skin is not cool when it causes you to be asked if you are tired/feeling sick every day.

A picture is worth a thousand words

It has been a while since my last confession blog entry and I keep telling myself that I'm going to get better, but I'm pretty sure I'm lying. Living with my sister in the house is getting easier, but living with Jeff on a different shift is not. I miss having family time in the evenings, but Jeff misses it even more. We're pretty much to the point that I'm not allowed to even say the words "I miss you," because he can't stand it.

But on to happier things . . . .

Kayla turned one on Friday. Like her sister, she's going to be walking on her own soon, but not quite yet. She dearly loves chasing the cats around the house and testing their patience as well as her sister's.

Recently she has discovered the sheer joy of climbing in and out of her sister's rocking chair and the ability to put on and take off necklaces.

Today I just stared in disbelief as I watch her plug and unplug the bathtub. I had no idea she actually paid attention to what I was doing.

Life is good for this little one.




Big sister is really enjoying being four. She has the memory of an elephant which makes me glad that I've never promised her a pony. She's one smart little cookie.

She doesn't listen to me one bit unless she likes the answer, so I've already lined up Sissy to be her go-to for grown up talk. Of course that is going to have to be for fashion and makeup advice too since I'm hopeless unless you want to talk sewing or costume talk. As me about seams and the fit of a garment, but ask Sissy about the color and style.

I suppose its too early to sign her up to be a future president or lawyer, but she has some mad negotiating skills that would do any politician proud, not to mention she is rather adept at side stepping questions. I've gotten pretty good at asking the "Right Questions" to get to the truth.

And still all I can do is marvel at how different they were in their first year.

Alaina was a rather contemplative child.

She was more than happy to sit and watch me wrap presents at Christmas time when she was little. I'd put a bow in front of her and she'd rub it between her fingers and toss it around for 30 - 40 minutes until she had in memorized. She'd explore every crevice of a new toy, flipping it over and over to check all of the screw holes and seams until she was satisfied that she knew exactly what could be down with it.

She was like Winnie-the-Pooh sitting there just thinking thoughts and pondering things. She loves new words and figuring out they fit into her speech. I call her a little parrot because she can repeat back just about anything you say to her perfectly.



But if Alaina is like Pooh, Kayla is Tigger.

She's a bouncing ball of energy.
She's not happy if she's static.
If you are sitting down, she's crawling all over you.
If you are standing up, she's trying to figure out the most interesting way to wrap herself around your ankles or climb your pant legs.

She can't stand 5 minutes in the baby saucer that her sister would cry to be put in. I never even childproofed my home with Alaina because she had no desire to get into any cupboard or go near outlets. I'm debating buying a Roomba automatic vacuum because Kayla has to stick EVERYTHING she finds in her mouth, where as Alaina cried when I tried to stick her fingers in the frosting on her first birthday cake.

And while I knew that my kids would be different, I didn't quite realize how different they could be.

So if I have another child, will I get a melancholy Eeyore, a wise Owl or a modest piglet?

And for the story of the day:

Alaina is rather adept at using the bathroom all by herself, but every now and again she gets distracted and we have to request that she speed up the process because she gotten distracted by trying to reach the bottom of the sink with her toes or trying to get on the toilet with her legs crossed. Her natural curiosity just won't let her do things the easy way.

And so I went to hustle her out of the bathroom this last week and found her sheepishly looking down and avoiding my eye.

Never a good sign with Alaina. Her unwillingness to provide answers leaves me no choice but to deduce that the wetness was supplied by a less than sanitary source . . .the toilet. Of course asking the obvious questions will get you nowhere with Alaina, so you have to circle around to the truth.

"Alaina, were you playing in the sink?"
No
"I didn't hear the tub. You didn't try to turn on the tub did you?"
No
"Did you dip you hair in the toilet."
(No answer, so I must be getting warmer.)
"Did you finish going to the bathroom?"
Yes
"Were you looking in the toilet?"
Yes
"Were you sitting on the toilet when you looked in?"
Yes
"Did you bend you head down?"
Yes
"Did your hair touch the water?"
(No answer)
"Alaina, did your hair tickle the water a little bit?"
Yes (That worked because it implied that something fun and not punishable occurred)
"What were you looking at?"
Myself in the water (aka - reflections)
"Well toilet water is yucky, so next time just let me know right away so we can wash the germs out of your hair."
Okay

I let it slide that her hair was rather dry for having took a toilet bath, so I subtly removed all the towels and put them in the dirty laundry. It wasn't worth the effort to try to get to admit which of the four towels hanging up she had used to try to dry her hair and hide the evidence.

Clever girl.