crazy december day

Steve had the day off yesterday, so bright and early we dropped off the kids at school and hit the stores.

Winco, Target, Costco, home (to drop off groceries), Target (return maternity shirt that did not fit when I tried it on after cramming vegetables in fridge), Sportsman's Warehouse, Down East (still mad they didn't have a white long sleeve shirt in my ever expanding size), gas station (soda run...ok I admit and some cheddar ruffles to share) and then we hit the school for Carter and Colby's lunch.

After the kids' lunch we headed downtown where we parked behind Rudy's, the best cooking supply store in town, walked through checking out knives and egg poachers- and found ourselves at a Mexican restaurant.  Bonus.  Confession, I wasn't really hungry after the Ruffles...but I split a fajita with Steve anyway.  We ordered chicken- it came with steak.  We ate it without complaint.  It was a really tasty mistake.

Then we hit Fred Meyer to purchase a few neighbor gifts...I'm too tired to make candy this year, and then headed home.  It was already 2 pm.

I laid down for a much needed nap and Steve took Saylor to the school to pick up the boys.

3:30 rolled around, Steve left to get rails on the Odyssey (required for future ski trips), and I was alone to tackle homework and music practice.  Unfortunately because of my nap, I had a burst of energy and thought it was a good idea to chocolate dip candy while homework was going on.  Bad idea.

By 5:30, chocolate was everywhere, no dinner was planned, kids were upset with lack of attention I gave them and I was mad at every single one of them.  How many times can I tell three boys and a whiny 3 year old I can't fix their lives when I'm wrist deep in melted milk chocolate?

Steve rescued us by coming home at 6 and taking over.  Sandwiches and fruit for dinner, with home videos afterward to entertain the troops. (side note:  My boys were adorable when they were little-ADORABLE.  So glad we are having a boy.  Need to remember to take more video of our children.)  I put together vegetable soup for the teacher appreciation lunch that is this afternoon at Perrine.

Kids in bed by 8:30.  Me in bed by 9:30.

Favorite parts of my most insane day?

1. Spending almost all of it with Steve.
2. Caramel milk steamer from Starbucks in Target when I had a sugar low.  It was warm, sugary, and delicious.  (we won't discuss the calorie content)
3. Cinnamon bears...a whole bunch of them...happily being suffocated in a thick layer of milk chocolate waiting patiently in my pantry for me to give away (or eat myself).


Today???

Soup should be hot and delivered by 10am.
Winco again...forgot the lettuce.
Mad Scientist meeting at Perrine after school with CSI professors (so happy they are willing to help)
Feed missionaries at 6pm, hence why I need the lettuce
Wedding reception at 7pm.  Would a gift cart to Winco work?  Everyone needs food right?  (I really only want to go to one store today.)

painful

Sometimes we love each other so much in this family it hurts.

A lot.

Four kids

 Last night for a bedtime snack the kids had leftover frozen yogurt.

Chocolate and peppermint.

It was the quietest seven minutes of my day.

In the silence (other than the smacking and grunts of satisfaction) I had a small epiphany.

Um...where is the fifth kid going to fit on my counter?

Someone is going to have to move out. 

 (jk.  It honestly gives my pain in my soul that Andrew could leave for a mission in six short years.)

On the subject of frozen treats...

Found this present in my deep freeze this morning as I was putting away 40 lbs of ground beef. 

 (My kids eat a lot.)

Having boys is never dull.

If do feel a little bad for Obi-One.

I have a inkling that being frozen then thawed in water is not as painless as carbonite.

Colby summed up in a 1st grade poster

 Colby had a take home project due earlier this week.  Steve helped him finish it up, but I forgot to get a picture of the finished product.  "Luckily" I'm at the school everyday so I was able to slip into Colby's classroom during lunch and snag a few shots.

All about Colby!

It's a pretty endearing project.  Colby's insight to the world is hilarious.

All pictures and answers were 100% with no coaxing from his parents.

A few of his favorite things?

Pizza

Camping

Skiing.

(He wanted himself in all the shots.  Too bad I don't have a picture of him scarfing pizza.)

For further explanations please read below...

When I grow up I want to be:  A Police Officer (as apposed to a Lego person...just thought I'd clarify.)

Things I don't like:  Mosquitoes

 The Stats

(Yep...he's pretty small- yet mighty)

My favorite part of the poster that his teacher also thought was hilarious?

3 wishes:

That burping was a language.

That he had a dog.

That is was his birthday (all the time, I'm sure).

Colby later informed me that he was spoke three languages.

English (well of course he does)

Spanish (it doesn't count if you can only count to 9)

Burping (sad, but if burping WAS a language Colby would be fluent.)

I really adore this little six year old...even when he burps his spelling words during homework.

Totally different direction, but I snapped this shot of Saylor's hair the other day just because I couldn't believe how long it is getting.  Little Miss is growing so fast!

Proof?  

Got this picture back from my friend the other day as a teaser (Yes...we broke down and got family pictures taken.  Shameless, I know) and I can't believe how much she has changed in the last year.  I know she will look massive when this baby is born.  It breaks my heart that she is already three.

Happenings. (Some being more significant than others)

Happening #1:  Scouts

Something I pathetically forgot to mention was Carter earning his Wolf this week.

He actually earned it a few months ago, but due to scheduling with pack meetings, he didn't receive it until this month.

He was excited.  So excited even that he complained only minimally when I insisted he put on a belt with his uniform.

Here he is pinning his wolf pin on my jacket.

Such a cute kid.

(Too bad for him, his mother is a bad scounting mother and has absolutely nothing sewn on his uniform except for the sleeve numbers.  We won't even go into the fact they are in the wrong order.  I'm a scout failure...and I'm having another boy.  "sigh")

 Most of his pack.

What a crew.

Can you imagine this group as deacons in three years?  Crazy.

Happening #2:  Christmas Countdown

A miracle occurred at the Dixon house and I actually did a craft with my kids.  There was even scissors and glue involved.  Wonders never cease.

We didn't hack it last year, mostly because we knew Saylor would eat them all, but this year we completed the Walker traditional candy countdown to Christmas tree.

I grew up with these things and actually love them.

I love my mom even more for not killing me and my siblings in the process of making them.

12 year olds can be so meticulous when they want to be.

Now why can't they pick up their socks or backpacks off the living room floor?

Looks delicious doesn't it?

Saylor sure thinks so.

"Mom redeemed herself from the scout thing and is going to let me eat all this candy!"

"Hmmm...where do I put the next one.  Decisions Decisions."

"Oh man, I don't think I can take this.  Only one a day?  Really?

"No really mom, I can't take the torture.  Can I eat them all now?"

(Truly if I had a dollar for every time she asked if she could them all, I might have my car paid off.)

Happening #3:  Piano Recital

My regular camera battery was dead as can be, so my phone had to to.

(It didn't do very well.)

Carter was adorable as ever and played Jingle Bells better than I've ever heard it played.

He has also learned it on the guitar. 

Colby knows it on the violin and it's pretty comical seeing (hearing) him and Carter try and jam out together...in different keys no less.

Andrew played "Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer" and was a little disappointed about a few mistakes he thought he'd made.  I have heard this kid play his song flawlessly almost a hundred times at home.  Adrenaline is a nasty nasty drug at times.

I was proud of him...even if he thought he made mistakes that I didn't notice.

Happening #4:  New infusion site

For five years now Carter has always had an infusion set attached to his (ahem) rump.

Tonight, he and Steve wanted to try something new.  

The poor boy's hind end needs a pin cushion break.

They tried the back of his arm.  No complaints from this boy.  

Steve came up to me after the site was placed and reiterated to me how tough our son is.  I agree.  He's one of my heroes.

Happening #5:  (the most insignificant of the 5)  Short robe fashion disaster

No long explanation needed. 

Time for a longer robe.

In King Henry the 8th's time, I would have been revered as a goddess.

I had my first ultrasound this afternoon.  

For some reason I was a ball of nerves all morning...and when I'm nervous I bake and I eat.

I was a little heavier on the second one today.  Oatmeal cookie dough was my anxiety drug of choice.  Why bake it when it's so much easier to eat it without heating up the oven first?

In fact, I've been nervous this entire pregnancy.  This is #5 and I'm 35.  

I've eaten a lot in the past 21 weeks.

I've been so scared something would be wrong with this baby.

(Steve thinks I'm bordering on crazy town.)

After my ultrasound I was relieved to know everything about this little one looks great.

This baby is healthy, active, and has the correct number of heart chambers, kidneys, fingers and toes. 

Thank goodness!

And...

 this baby comes with something extra.

 He is a boy!

Definitely a boy.

No really...he is a boy.  

As my mom texted me, "Even crossed legs don't cover that boy up!"

But enough of his parts.

Here is his little Dixon profile.

I can't believe the ultrasounds now- they are so much better than even three years ago.

I think this man looks like Colby.

Skinny.

His arm and leg all squished up.

Crazy- these pictures-I tell you!

In the office, I must admit I was shocked we were having another boy.  In my heart of hearts I felt we were going to get a sister for Saylor.  I had secretly planned their matching dresses, coordinating Christmas presents, and girly rooms months ago.   Looks like Saylor will indeed be the princess forever in our house.  So so glad she isn't the youngest.  I hope this baby boy throws her for a loop.  She needs a little humbling. 

I must need some humbling too.  How dare I try to "plan" my future.

Looks like I will be a mother of one girl and four boys.

Bring on the bugs, dirt, craziness, and bodily noises.

But really...who wouldn't want another boy when they come out looking like this?  

Adorable!

inappropriate things to feed a lion

Walked in on this scene yesterday.

Saylor is feeding the baby Jesus to her stuffed lion.

We need to work on her people skills.