February 4th

Just a few thoughts from today...
1. Our entire family just spent an hour recording sound bites into a play microphone and listening to them in fast forward to sound like chipmunks and then rolling on the floor laughing.
2. Tanner stole a box of floss to suck on...Miiiint.
3. I babysat four two year old boys for the first time today and it went well.
4. I really really like to vacuum.
5. Jeff's homemade cherry wine is very good.
There you go.

NIcole

On facebook everyone has been doing urban dictionary entries for their name. I was curious but skeptical. As I have been reflecting on my past and my self for awhile now I was afraid I would find evidence to support my thoughts. I was expecting selfish, naiive, contrary, spineless, over confident, ugly toad. But I found this:
A Nicole is someone who is ominipotent. A Nicole is gorgeous, intelligent, mysterious, witty, hilarious, out-going, creative and seductive, yet she is also tough, street-smart, experienced, brave, enduring, and mainly a wonderful mother. Nothing and nobody can compare to a Nicole in any aspect. Mess with a Nicole, or her family, and you will regret ever being born.
I would personally like to thank whoever paid urban dictionary to write such things. Although I can still see how that definition could point to less than desirable traits, I appreciate the effort to cheer people, mainly myself (the selfish part).
Now I will look up my other family members.

Riiiight

Tanner never did say yes, he'd just nod his head. But now he says "Right." And he drawls it out in this little monotone. It is hilarious. I laugh every single time. So does everyone who hears it. Here is a little clip...

Caroling

My sweet sparkle princess is still in bed this Sunday morning. But she has been up for quite awhile. Singing. She has been singing every Christmas song she knows this morning in her sweet little voice and is trying to teach Annika all of them. It is one of the happiest ways to wake up ever. Their excitement for Christmas is so fun this year. I love that they love all of the processes and fun extras.
They have been waking up on weekends before me consistently this fall. They like to make me cereal and pour me juice and bring it to me to wake me up. They get very excited about this as well. And are quite proud of themselves, and for good reason. They hardly ever have any messes. Now we are trying to work on that they make breakfast for themselves and THEN me. :)

disappearing acts

See I already forgot. I had a better title. I had more interesting stuff. It's gone-O. Along with all of my chocolate, my book of phone numbers, the list I made of all the stuff I have to get done this week, my new black cardigan, my fave sunglasses, my fave screwdriver, the cord to the computer so I can upload photos, and my hopes of ever being on top of it all again. If only I had the chocolate.

Does this have anything to do with the fact that I am working more, planning more, and trying to do more every day? Does it mean I am trying to do too much? Maybe. But I don't know what I could cut out, because the reality is that I actually want to add more. As each one of us adds more activities, they all seem to drain on me. But time itself is pulling a disappearing act on me.

As are my babies. Where have they gone? I have these KIDS now. It hit me the other morning as they all put on their own shoes (even the Tan man!) and walked their little selves out to the van ahead of me to take Phebes to school. As I followed them, I truly saw them. Not a baby in the bunch. And yet they are. They always will be.

Tanner said, "Das mah mom," pointing at me the other day. First sentence. Made my heart melt. Phoebe cried that I went to work and she went to dance tonight. Annika has crawled in bed with me the last two nights. Yes, they are my babies. I guess as long as I can find that, who cares where my lists are.

But I still need to find the chocolate.

I can't remember my title

I thought of a really cool title today and a whole post. Then I forgot it. Hence why I don't blog as much anymore. My brain is slowly but surely disappearing. Oh well. Maybe someday I will find it.
RUCK!!!!! (truck in Tanner speak). He is obsessed. Really really really crazed. Anything with wheels or that is transportation really. He now also knows his body parts. And in true male fashion is fascinated with his own parts. He is also learning all of his animal sounds. But Daddy is still Mom (sometimes he is DAAAH, but for the most part it is mom).
Annika is an informer for the preschool. I know exactly who has been acting up. Hopefully this is not a tactic to gloss over her own behavior.
Phoebe was sick this weekend, but seems better. She didn't want to miss anymore of the exciting first grade world.
Jeff put out this weekend. 29 bottles of cherry wine, pear and shiraz in the carboys (so the house smells like a winery), and an amazing closet organizer for the girls. So I let him watch as much football as he wanted.
I have actually been scrapping. If I can ever find the hookup to the computer I will put photos of the fam and maybe even some of my fave pages of recent times.
Hope you are all enjoying the beautiful weather!

I've missed so much

I was just looking back through my blog entries and realized how fun it is to read them myself. I am not good at journaling in a notebook, but when I am on here, it seems more interesting. More worthwhile. I don't know why. So now I am totally upset with myself that I lapsed this summer. Maybe I will try to post a ton of photos about our crazy summer. But then again, I tended to take photos of silly things at home, but not one of big momentous occasions. As usual. Like what, well...
1. Yesterday we took the kids to downtown Chicago for the very first time. We went to the beach (which is the reason for no camera, I have ruined too many with sand). We took the train, the subway, and walked and walked. We all had a great time.
2. Ross' wedding. Good time. Not a pic.
3. All three visits to Iowa. Camera along. Almost no pics.
4. The Beach visit to Lockport. Some of our best friends made the trip from Cleveland. Forgot to take a pic.
Grrrr. Makes me mad at myself.
I can't remember others right now. I will later.
What else did we do...

• Tee ball--Phoebe did not like the bugs or heat. Annika loved it all. I did not like coaching.
• Swim lessons--the girls have turned into little fish. Go figure.
• many many trips to the Plymesser bed and breakfast, one for the girls only for a week
• lots of playdates for kids and parents
• four trips to the zoo
• one trip to Shedd Aquarium
• Jeff and I went to two Cubs/Twins games
• Jeff and I went to the Naperville rib fest
• drawing lessons every Thursday
• Jeff built a fence around the yard
• slip and slide, bike rides, walks, playgrounds, a splash park
• Mommy helped and girls attended VBS (somehow I got roped into being assistant director next year)

I know there is more. Man, no wonder we were tired.

Phoebe started first grade. She was more mad at me for forgetting to put a drink in her lunch than anything her first day.

Jeff is looking for a new job. We are praying for an interview and offer for a permanent job that is with a company he likes and for a slight raise in pay that is not 100% commission. He's had interviews, but none of the jobs have had all of the requirements.

Annika starts preschool this week. She is super excited.

Tanner is turning into a little brother in every sense. He is getting quite sneaky and silly. But still very very cute. Not a baby anymore.