blink breathe smile blink

I decided to homeschool Ellie.

There are LOADS of reasons for it.

so

Today we had "our" first real test at this homeschooling business.

I was a complete failure.

The scene.

I set Penny down on the couch.

I go and get the little table and stools.

I get it all set up and Penny begins to squawk.

I call Ellie and Lucy.

They are bouncing with anticipation.

I photocopy Ellie's assignment so that Lucy can do it too.

I bring it out.

Penny is wailing.

I set down the papers and go to grab pencils.

Penny is very very loud and red.

I pick her up.

I am bouncing her on my hip and giving Ellie and Lucy their pencils.

I sit down beside Ellie.

I start to explain the work sheet.

"Ellie, can you find question number one?"

Ellie points to it.

"Good. It says, "Print your name". Print your name in this box."

"I can't"

"Why"

"I don't know how."

"Ellie, you do it ALL the time. Of course you can do it. How do you spell your name?"

" E   L   L  I  E."

"Perfect. Now just write it down in the box."

Ellie starts writing.

While in the mean time Lucy has been scribbling and chattering non-stop and Penny is squirming and fussing on my lap.

Then Penny lets 'er go.

I stand up. Knowing there is poop EVERYWHERE.

I glance at the girls.

I KNOW I need to take the pencils before I leave.

"Ellie and Lucy, give me your pencils."

Lucy: "Why, Mom?"

"I don't want you to write all over everything."

Lucy: "Me won't Mom."

"Lucy, give me your pencil."

Lucy: "No."

I begin to count to three indicating a time out.

I feel poop seeping.

I am loosing patience.

I grab the pencil and put them up.

I take Penny and go and change her diaper.

She has poop from her neck to her ankles.

I hear the stool being dragged to get the pencils.

"Lucy, leave them alone."

Ellie: "MOM, Lucy isn't leaving them alone."

"LUCY LEAVE THEM ALONE"

Ellie: "Lucy isn't leaving them alone still".

Penny is screaming.

There is poop everywhere.

I duck out from the change table.

Run down the hall.

Grab the pencils and run back to the change table.

I finish changing Penny.

I drop the poopy laundry on to the floor.

I put Penny in her crib.

She is wailing again.

Lucy is now pulling on my pants and saying over and over and OVER again, "Mom, me have my pencil pleeeease."

I grab the laundry and start washing it out in the sink.

Ellie is still in her chair.

Waiting.

I finally get back to the table.

I realize I forgot Penny.

I go to get her.

I get back to the table and give Ellie and Lucy back their pencils.

Lucy colors all over Ellie's paper.

I take Lucy's pencil.

I send her to her room with her now asking, "Why?" a million times.

About 30 minutes after initially putting the assignment down, Ellie finally gets to finish question one.

Only 7 more questions to go.

Life, not the corn variety.

This year Dusty and I bought our own trailer and we have it parked in a seasonal spot on a lake. It's really lovely and completely enjoyable. I just got back from 15 days straight. It was awesome. I love that there is no TV (well there is but it is reserved for rainy days) and that we play bingo and cards and have campfires and make smores and go to the beach and for quad rides. We've already almost hit 2 big turtles on the road. They are laying eggs now cause the weather has been so cool here. Its crazy they look like rocks. It was great but I think I already mentioned that.
So I got home last night and I am only home for a day and a half so the pressure was on to get some stuff done around here. One of these things I have been putting off for a long while but it is time and there is no way around it. One of my dearest friends (when I say it like that I feel like Anne of Green Gables) just had her first baby girl. She has three adorable little boys so this girl has been a long time coming. I am completely excited for her. Girls rock. Girls clothes rock. Clothes..... sigh. I have been procrastinating packing up all the newborn clothes. It's so sad. I wasn't nearly as sad with the other two but I am fairly certain that Penny will most likely be the last little baby in our family. I have tried to put away her clothes a few times but I haven't been able to do it. I am absolutely heartbroken that all the beautiful little clothes that people gave her or I bought are already too small. It happened way too fast. BUT I am going to visit this very dear friend and it makes me feel a little better to know that 1) all of my little clothes will be worn by another special little girl and that 2) I'll be able to get them back if I want them.... (that's why she is so dear... she gets my crazy...).
So I managed to get them all folded and packed away into a pretty little bag.
I am so excited to see Miss Lily (that's the baby). She was born at 7lbs 2 oz and Penny was born at 7 lbs. I am so excited for their first of many visits and I am looking forward to putting them together and oogling about how little lily is and how big penny has gotten. I'm even more excited to ship my two girls out to play with her boys so I can sit and have a long visit and to be able to talk about all the things women get to talk about.

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.