Single-Handedly

So i am going to be typing this post one-handed. it's true. it will not have any capitals...although it's just my personal opinion that they are over-rated. my first two children never cried... serious. i am lucky...er...WAS lucky. this kid cries and cries and cries.... it's kind crampin my style. this isn't actually what this post is about. it is about church... sorta... today was monumental. i took 3 children by myself to church. no biggie you say? and to that i say i was ON TIME. and that my friends is a very very VERY big deal. i should of treated my self to some cake..... BUT i can't................because i'm off to the lake.... and my beach bod needs all the help it can get AND chocolate is certainly not helpful.

here's some pictures of the lake so far this year. it was in may. i am super-dee-duperty excited to go because it's supposed to be stinkin hot..... oh summer how i long for you the 10 months of the year you are gone and i'm wading through snow up to my eyeballs...

the photos

this kid kills me...

she hauled the mexican around all afternoon....

 i may rename her paris.....

this is her "i'm going to take over the world face"

tee hee hee just kidding! i'm so sweet!

this is my sister bri.

she is the baby warmer.

its like an electric blanket

only

without the electric or the blanket...

this is cap'n Ellie one-eye

she's tellin me...

mom put the camera away. no one likes it when you walk around taking random pictures of people. they are terrified they'll end up on you're blog with some crazy expression. so go away.

her eye told me that.

pretty impressive eye.

i'm sure her husband with LOVE it!

ba ha ha haha... the eye knows.

but who could resist posting all the fun expressions?

i can't...

resist that is.

This is my father.

It was his birthday.

He ate turkey.

In an oilskin coat no less.

He's cool like that.

I like to think that's where I get it from......

I think he may deny that.

but this isn't his blog so he gets no say.

everyday

I was driving home the other night

and

I had an over-whelming sense of

GRATITUDE.

I am so lucky.

Zoo

We decided to let the Lucy pick what she wanted to do for her birthday. She could either have a big party or go on a small trip. It was an easy choice. She wanted to go to bass pro shop. So we packed up the girls and took a little trip.

THE ZOO

Grandma Woolf and Uncle Dillon came with us.

elephants

flamingos - Ellis fav!

Tigers

Rides!

Exhausted.

giraffes- one of lucys favorites

presents.

Then we stayed in a hotel. It was so fun. I wish I took a picture of the girls in their room. They had their own and it had bunks in it.... and then dusty and I got a king.... my  next purchase.... PLUS water slides.

After all that we headed to bass pro shop.

It was an awesome trip....

Hormones

Normally I would be going crazy right now.
My kids are completely and utterly off their schedules.
They are CRAZY.
and overtired
and over stimulated.
I am tired.
and busy
really busy.
but somehow in the midst of all this
I am so exceedingly happy it's madness.
I just can't stop smiling.
and I find myself saying bright and cheery things to people I encounter.
I can't help myself
I may need medication.

sunshine lollipops and artichoke dip

Penny is a whole month old. I don't know where it all went or what I've done. I certainly hadn't booked my 6 week appointment and I didn't book penny's 6 week check up. So today I decided that no more slacking. No more just lying around and cuddling with the baby. I actually NEED to make phone calls and dinner and cleaning and well life. I have had a 4 week sabbatical from life and it's time to get back on the pony.

It's been so pleasant.

You know what else is pleasant.

The weather. It's been lovely.

 I've been longing to go outside and sit on a beautiful patio and drink lemonade and listen to my kids laugh and squeal with running through the sprinkler.

Doesn't that sound wonderful?

Hopefully tomorrow we'll (mostly Dusty) will make some of that dream a reality. We bought a bunch of patio stones a while back and they are calling. I am so excited.

What else is new.... um...

well I had some ladies over yesterday and we chatted and visited. It was nice. and so was the dip we ate. I didn't take a picture. I should have. My camera and I are estranged. We need to mend our relationship. Another issue for another post.... anyways...

try this dip.

 It throws together so quickly and it's tasty.

Artichoke Dip

 ingredients

2 cans artichoke hearts

1 pkg of cream cheese

1 cup of mayonnaise

1 cup of Parmesan cheese

(and then what ever else you want to throw in)

I usually use

2 cloves of garlic minced

1/2 tsp of Cayenne pepper (or more if my kids aren't eating it)

a healthy amount of black pepper

1 tsp parsley

mix it all together and dump it in a baking dish.

Throw it in a 350 oven for 30 minutes until it's golden and bubbly and delish.

Eat it with pitas, flat breads, crackers, chips, toasted english muffins, cubed bread... the list can go on.

Thinking Bigger

Dusty is at work today.

My kitchen is a mess.

There is clutter stacked at over.

Penny woke up at 6am yelling and hasn't settled.

It is now 12pm.

I keep on "over doing it" and it is taking me forever to heal.

I really need to shower.

My kids need to nap.

We didn't get groceries so finding lunch and dinner will be challenging.

I was/am tired and needed a moment.

As frustrated as I am today,

I know that all these small complaints are exactly that

SMALL.

On days like today,

I need to remind myself

to think

BIGGER.

Rock Star

This kid kills me. She is always getting dressed up and putting on a concert from the top of our coffee table. I tried to upload a video but lost patience... will try again later. It is priceless. It will be one of those video clips that Canadian Idol or whatever tv program is on at the time will show saying that she wanted to be a star at 2 years old.

Penny's Pod

I knitted this pod- cocoon thing before she came.

I didn't know if I'd like it but I LOVE it.

It's so warm and cozy and cuddly and soft.

It was so easy to knit.

I didn't follow a pattern but I'm sure you can find one out there in Internet-land.

I just used straight needles and stitched up the back side.

I started with 7 stitches and just used a basic increase every other knit row.

I increased almost every other stitch.

I stopped at 55 stitches and made it 24 inches long. 

One week of Perfection

This week was so relaxing.

 I do realize that I just had a baby and that life should be busy and crazy

BUT

 it's so nice to be home.

It is so nice to sleep in my bed.

It was so nice to have more than two changes of clothes.

Dusty put a TV in our room.

 I'm not a huge fan of TVs in bedrooms BUT

 it is lovely.

 I cuddled with all 3 of my little girls yesterday and watch cartoons with them.

Dusty and I have been able to relax and watch some TV and cuddle with Penny.

The swelling has actually come out of my feet.

Right now my life is awesome.

I can't imagine being anywhere better.