The family clothing closet

Can you tell which part of doing laundry I loathe? That's right...folding the clothes, and especially putting them away. Steve installed these shelves, which makes the folding part easier, but now the clothes just sit on the shelves until we need to wear them. But hey, they're clean!

I need to get past this mental block I have against putting clothes away...what is the chore that you dread the most?

Favorite Things Friday

My friend Tiffany started this "Favorite Things Friday" awhile ago on her blog, and now I'm joining the fun! A few of my favorite things...

1. Pregnancy. Aside from the first trimester, I love being pregnant!! I love watching my belly move, I love the excuse to nap, I love having our baby so close to me and dreaming about the little person this baby will grow to become, I love the anticipation of the baby's arrival and even giving birth, and I especially love feeling the gazillions of movements I feel every day. Sure, there are minor drawbacks (heartburn, and the fact that I already feel ENORMOUS), but the good far outweighs the bad. The hard part will be after the baby comes! In the meantime, I am really enjoying this pregnancy...and only 2 1/2 months left!

2. Steve's new work schedule. He is now (and through the end of 2009) on a 4-tens schedule, meaning we essentially have a 3-day weekend every single week (and even longer if he's on swing or graveyard). It seems like he's home so much more than he ever has been before, and I love having him around!

3. Cleaning kicks. Or is it nesting already? In any case, I have had the mad urge to declutter and clean this house up, which is a really good thing considering I have been on an anti-cleaning kick for a very long time. Like months. Cleaning is obviously not the most enjoyable task in the world, but it feels so good when it's done! There are several cleaning/organizing projects I'm actually looking forward to completing.

This 'n' that

Just some random stories/pictures to share (and for us to remember later on!)...

I've come to the realization that my kids are not the most stylin' kids on the block. As often as I am tempted, I am not one to buy full designer outfits for the kids. It's expensive, and kind of silly when you consider that they'll only be able to wear the outfit for 6 months or so. And yet, so many other kids are dressed like little models every time I see them! And being a mom, I sometimes feel a twinge of guilt that my kids are not as hip. But then I come back to my senses. Anyway...this dress is an exception. I saw it at Old Navy and bought it as a "christmas present" for Jayna. And actually, it was only $12.50, so I guess not much of a splurge. But it was too cute to pass up!

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One of the negative aspects of pregnancy for me is that I'm suddenly a teenager again with a face full of zits. Okay, it's not that bad, but definitely worse than usual. Today Travis noticed a zit that is nice and centered on my face, right above my lip.

Travis: "What's that?"

Sb: (why not tell him the truth?) Um, it's called a zit.

T: A zit?

Sb: Yep. And one day you'll get them, too!

T: (in his "really? that's amazing" way, but also not quite believing me) A zit on my lip like mommy?!

Sb: Yes.

So he started marching around the room, chanting "zit on my lips like mommy, zit on my lips like mommy". Thank you for reminding me, Travis. The chanting continued on and off throughout the day. Fortunately, we didn't leave the house today, or I may have been somewhat embarrassed!

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Recently, Travis learned that he is much more likely to get a "yes" from mom if he follows his request with a "I love you so much" (eyebrows lifted, sweetest voice he can muster). No, he didn't figure this out on his own; Steve taught him. And most of the time, it worked....you wouldn't be able to resist, either! However, this sweet (okay, manipulative) tactic has evolved to where he has forgotten that presentation is everything! Today he came up to me and, without even looking at me and in a manner that suggested he fully expected for me to grant his wish, he said, "I-love-you-so-much-can-I-have-a-fruit-snack-please?" Little stinker! So much for the sweetness!

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On the other hand, he really is becoming sweeter all the time--and genuinely! He often randomly hugs or cuddles up to one of us and says "I love you mommy/daddy". He's also much more aware of the baby on the way than he was when I was pregnant with Jayna, and today as we were lounging on the couch watching playhouse Disney, he asked me if he could lay on the baby (on my belly). After I said yes (of course!), he kissed my belly and said "Hi baby" in the really high-pitched voice he uses with Jayna and Ziggy. I love it!

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Along the same lines, Jayna seems more aware of this baby coming than Travis was of Jayna coming...maybe just a difference between boys and girls? Anyway, she has begun walking up to me out of the blue, lifting my shirt, and saying "aye, bebby" (hi baby). I can't wait until we all get to meet this baby!

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And finally, a picture of my men. Travis often asks whoever is putting him down to "lay wif me for jus' a li'l bit?" When we do, he rarely falls asleep. But on this rare occasion, both Travis AND Daddy fell asleep.

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Does anyone else have trouble uploading videos with blogger? I had a video to post, but it's not working, and it seems like that's happend the last couple times I've tried. I guess I could you tube it like I have others, and then use a link. Just kind of annoying.

Fun in the snow, part 2

After we realized the snow would be around for awhile, Steve decided we needed a sled. At this point, however, there were no sleds to be found in town. I think he went to four different stores and everyone was sold out. So he got creative and bought an air mattress, and it worked beautifully! We have several little hills around our place that made for some good toddler sledding.

A visit with (part of) the family

The weekend before Christmas, most of my family came to our house for a mini get together. My brother and his wife from Arizona were able to come, which was great since we rarely get to see them. My oldest sister and her family came from Bellingham, as well as my Seattle sister. We mostly played with and took care of the four kids, but also ate some great food, opened gifts, and played a few games. I wish we could all get together more often!

This series of pictures cracks me up...I think between 4 cameras we took at least 30 pictures, and I'm not sure there's one with all four looking and even a couple of them smiling. Still cute, though!

Travis received a "Go Fishing" game from the Engman family. Not only did he talk everyone in to playing it that very day, but we've played it every day since!

Fun in the snow, part 1

Time to play catch-up...December was really a busy time, and I had little time nor motivation to keep up with the blogging. Anyway, those of you who do not live around here may not know that we received a TON of snow in the week before Christmas! It was so much fun! I won't try to guess how many inches fell or accumulated, but suffice it to say that it is definitely the most we've had since Steve and I have lived here. And because it stayed cold, it didn't melt. So we bundled up the kids for some fun! Jayna was definitely leery at first but eventually enjoyed herself. The view from Jayna's room. Except this was after only one day of snow...lots more came later. This picture requires explanation...this was when the snow first started falling hard, and sticking on the ground, but before we were able to venture outside. Travis was in awe. So at naptime, he apparently decided to open the blinds and turn his big bear around so that he could lay on it and watch the snow fall. So sweet.

Jayna's initial reaction. I think she didn't like that she couldn't move very well with all the layers.

Eventually her favorite thing was to stand in one place and pick up small handfuls of snow and throw them in the air.

Daddy teaching Travis how to make a snowball.

Travis insisted on having lambie zipped inside his coat.

Christmas!

Yesterday was the official beginning of the Christmas season in our house. In the morning we went to a Christmas family breakfast with Santa down at the police station. The kids had no interest in Santa (actually, they were afraid of him), but we ate good food, won a door prize, and had a fun time!

Then we set off to find the perfect Christmas tree. We decided to just go for a drive to Orting and find a tree farm...it turns out there are at least 10 to choose from in Orting. The first place was not so great, but we found success at our second stop. I don't have a ton of great pictures, but I do have a few. We had originally planned on going with some friends last weekend to find a tree, but I ended up playing piano for a memorial service and Steve had some work stuff to get done. But we had some really great family time doing things on our own, so it all worked out. The kids were happy and enjoying themselves all morning, and then went down for naps as soon as we got home.

I love Christmas! It is so fun to begin traditions with our own little family and re-create some of the memories that are so dear to me from my own childhood. Steve will be hanging lights tomorrow, I'll be finishing putting out the decorations and sending out Christmas cards, and in the next couple of weeks I'll be baking and shopping and visiting with family. There is really nothing about this season that I dislike!

I wanted to use this picture for our Christmas cards but it's a bit blurry. So we used the one at the top of the page.

If you saw our tree right after we finished decorating it, you'd see 90% of our ornaments within about a 2 square feet area. I did some rearranging:)