2:00 AM at my house...

With the arrival of crisp Autumn air, pumpkins, and cornstalks come the beginning of the busiest time of year for Waddell Creek Rustics.  In the next three months we will be hosting or participating in 6 or 7 shows, and though it's enough to drive anyone insane, I  thrive on the madness.  It's a sickness of mine. 

After I tuck the wee ones in bed, and get some quality snuggle time with my Man, I turn the house into crafting chaos .  The walls become lined with signs and magnet boards, our tiny kitchen table is converted into a painting/drying/sanding/vinyl applying station, and the mantle gets stocked with the "out-of-reach-kid-untouchables" (you know, things that are potential weapons to a two year old...).

So if you're in the neighborhood at 2 or 3 am, stop on by...just make sure to bring a paint brush!

***Oh, have you guys seen Glee? I just started watching it tonight and am totally hooked...brings me back to my choir days.  Man, I want to sing again!!

Atleast we know the smoke detectors work...

It seems like my child-proofing skills are being tested on a much too regular basis.  I finally have the bathroom covered.  The living room has nothing but a TV, couch, and a lamp (the coffee table and end tables were removed because of Jack's growing acrobatic skills).  In the kitchen I have put all knives out of reach, all rolling pins that could be used to cause major blunt force trama are hidden, and the toaster stays unplugged unless being used.

Just when I think the house is finally safe for my curiousity stricken lovelies, I am hit in the face with a new challenge.  Today I was preheating the oven for a tasty treat that was in the works.  I left the kitchen and returned to a terrible smell, and smoke all over.  Just as I walked in, the smoke alarm started blaring, and I whipped the oven door open and found flames.  Lots of flames.  One of my two angel babes (not sure which one...I am having a hard time getting them to fess up to it :) ) had decided to throw some of my clothes in the oven. 

Definitely not the end of the world, but I really loved that shirt...it made me look skinnier than I am in real life, AND it was new.  Those little turkeys.

Moral of the story: ALWAYS check to see if your kids have deposited any items in the oven before you turn it on, or you are going to end up with a stinky house and no clothes.

Because once isn't enough...

I just returned home from the ER for the 2nd time in one week.  Lame. 

When I got home from my trip to Utah I was greeted by a congested-coughing-achy-all-over husband.  "Just a cold" I thought...Until I was awakened at 5 AM with his uncontrollable vomiting and shaking (men are so dramatic when they barf, anyone else agree?).  I decided an emergency room trip was in order when he passed out on the bathroom floor.

Yep. Influenza.  A nasty case at that.

Awesome.

whirlwind...

This weekend I flew to Utah for two very special events (keep reading).  In the last three days I have had less than 12 hours of sleep, and have pretty much been running on adrenalin...Here's the madness in a nutshell.

-Thursday:
   3:30 pm:  board my flight with Baby B. (by the way, traveling with only one child was a dream).  She sat on the floor of the airplane and read stories while eating fruitsnacks and animal crackers.  She was being SO good that I even got to catch up on some celebrity gossip, and do a sudoku!  About ten minutes before we landed, I went to pick her up off the floor and she slipped through my grasp, causing me to catch her by the hand. POP. SCREAM.  Wonderful...we ended up in the emergency room as soon as we got to my parents house.  Poor Bianca had dislocated her elbow.  I got home from the hospital with a VERY sore and ornery little girl around 10:30...talk about a good way to start a trip, huh!  After Catching up with my sisters, I worked until 3:30 in the morning trying to get a proposal for work done.

-Friday:
    7:00 am- The alarm goes off.  Too early.  We got all dolled up for a photoshoot with just the girls.  It was fun...I always like to pretend I'm a model :) 

The rest of the day was spent cooking, laughing, shopping, laughing, cleaning, organizing, laughing, and getting all the details ready for Saturday.  I had a blast with my siblings(it was the first time in a year we have all been together).  Through out the happenings of the day I was working like crazy to complete that proposal for work with a 5:00 deadline.  There was a miscommunication between me and my boss and we had to drop the proposal at the last minute. Ugh. Stressful.  I felt sick the rest of the day for the mistake.  I hate mistakes.

    2:30 am- looked frantically around the house for Tylenol PM because I couldn't fall asleep.  Too anxious.

    2:45 am- Biana woke up needing tylenol and food.  She didn't fall asleep until about 3:30, which means I didn't either.

Saturday:

  6:00 am:  Alarm rings.  Too early again.  I was shaking.  We get ready and head over to the temple where we attended one of the most beautiful sealings I have ever witnessed.  (A little background: My sister Candise has adopted a darling little girl and after THREE years of ridiculous court battles the adoption was finally made official.) 

Here is the little sweetie, and Bianca enjoying a popsicle...  

    1:00 pm: After cleaning up the brunch in Eliza Janes honor, we all rushed over to Provo where my dad was the humble recipiant of the Silver Beaver award, an extremely prestigious award given to nominated individuals who have made a difference in the Scouting world.  The governer of Utah even made a speech...now that's important!

    5:00 pm: did a little shopping, picked up a 5 pound brick of caramel for some tasty treats I'm making for an upcoming boutique (more details on that to come!) then stopped at Rumbi's and drool over my favorite salad. Man I wish they had Rumbi's in Washington.  My tastebuds long for it.

   
 We stayed up late chatting and eating delicious food (that's what we do.  Some families play games, some families play sports, my family makes and eats good food)

Sunday:

      5:30 am: Amber leaves for the airport.  

      8:30 am: Scott leaves for the airport

      10:30 am: Paul and Kaytie leave for mesquite

      3:00 pm: Candise and Jarom leave for Idaho.

   *sigh* I miss my brothers and sisters.  We always have such a great time together.

   I was able to relax and regroup a bit today, and will fly home to Scotty and Jack tomorrow morning.

  The weekend was quick, the company was delightful, the events were spectacular, and besides Bianca being an absolute PILL (understandable though, the poor thing), I would say it was all well worth the madness!

This is a picture of the five minutes of happiness Bianca could muster up for the trip...

      

sorry about the lack of pictures, they are scattered about on different cameras...hopefully I can get a few loaded soon.

Why...WHY!!

You know when your precious, darling children do something that isn't so precious?

Don't you think good, responsible parents would learn their lesson and take the necessary measures to make sure said "un-precious" thing doesn't happen again?

Like when Jack started to walk and would constantly pull the books off the book shelf...we just took the books off the shelf permanently. When Bianca's favorite thing to suck on became the remote for the TV, we just moved it to where she couldn't reach it.

Parenthood is all about adapting. When something doesn't work, you make a change.

So, recently when Jacks favorite game became flushing the toilet, what would the responsible parent have done? keep the door closed...get one of those nifty child-proof toilet lockers...something like that.

I guess the act of just flushing wasn't severe enough to warrant any action on my part, but I should have taken action when the fascination became not just flushing, but watching things swirl down until they disappear.

A few weeks ago I had to call the plumber because our toilet was blocked. I knew it was blocked because I was missing my contact case (with contacts in them) Not only did the plumber remove the contact case (contacts missing. lovely) but also an ENTIRE tube of toothpaste, and a block. ENTIRE tube of toothpaste...I had no idea you could even flush something that huge. Apparently you can.

I still didn't take action.

A few days later, I heard a "plink" in the toilet, and ran into check it out...


Aargh, that's my wedding ring. Lucky save. Jack ran out of the bathroom and put himself right into time out for that one. He knew he was in trouble.

I still didn't take action.

A week later, I wasn't so quick...now my wedding ring is gone. forever.

I think it's time to take action. Time to make a change.
************************************************
On the flip side...I upgraded from a 3/4 carat diamond to the 1 carat! This time I went for a complete fake. The ring is beautiful and to be completely honest, I don't know one person that can tell it's not real (well, except for the 10 people that read this blog). It does have the white gold plating, but beneath it's just sterling silver. And all those diamonds...Cubic Zirconium's. Not to shabby.

Go ahead Jack, flush this bad boy...

Proof that dads are ALWAYS more fun...

Bath time at our house is quick and painless. I strip the kids down, wash off the dirt, get them out, and jammie them up. five minutes. tops.

BUT, when it's daddy's turn for the regiment, madness breaks loose.



When I dump a scant amount of bubble soap, dad pours in about a cup...no exaggeration there.

When I put about three inches of water in the tub for fear of someone slipping and drowning, dad fills up the tub to the very. tip. top.

****

Does this look like the face of a boy who would protest the insane amount of bubbles and water? No siree, not this little fish.

"Ok, this is more fun than I can handle, these bubbles are making me claustrophobic..."

Thanks dad, for making bath time fun...I suppose it should be every once in a while.

I've fallen and I can't get up...

...Well, Sort of.



Poor Bianca had herself in a pickle here. She knew that if she fell back into the crib there was probably no getting out. She also knew that if she fell on the floor it was going to hurt (girls are much more cautious that way...Jack would have undoubtedly bailed.)

So I let her sit there, and make a choice. (we're big on choices in this house)

She never chose.

She just sat there.

After about five minutes I helped her over onto the floor...wrong choice mom.

Now I have TWO little kiddos that can climb out of their respective cages. Darn.

a little spoiled...

Because Scott is busy with grad school and work, and because I am a wee bit busy with my part-time job, crafting, and trying to keep two energetic little kiddos alive and happy...it was decided that we needed a break from reality. (And it was our anniversary!!)

Randy and April (my brother and sister in law) offered to take Jack and Bianca for a couple days. When we dropped off the kids, I told April that when we left her house I was going to forget about my children, and not to call unless there was an emergency...like someone died.

we headed up to Seattle where scotty booked us a room at a swanky, upscale hotel with valet parking (you can imagine the shock of the host to see a bright green ford focus sputter up to the front of the hotel...it's a good thing scott picked up the goldfish crackers, sippy cups, and half eaten cinnamon toasts before we left or we might have been REALLY embarrassed.)

When we arrived, the girl at the front desk said "I am so sorry, but your room isn't ready, we are doing some maintenance on the fireplace...we apologize, and have upgraded you to the executive suite." I actually laughed out loud, and said "REALLY? I swear that only ever happens in the movies!!" She giggled and sent us on our way.

The room was about three times bigger than our apartment and completely beautiful. I never wanted to leave. Ever. (sorry about the pic quality...we only had cell phones)



Um, that tree, totally real. Talk about fancy!

King size bed, down comforter, feather pillows...ahhh.

We went up to Seattle with no plans at all. We just wanted to relax, reconnect, and absorb the peace and quiet! We ate at a lovely seafood restaurant with romantic ambiance, and then walked to the famous Pike Place Market that was just a few blocks from our hotel.

there were thousands of bouquets of flowers all for 10 bucks...if I didn't want to hold them on the hour car ride home I would have bought these ones...

It was so nice to just saunter through shops, holding hands and stealing kisses at every corner. It felt like we were dating again...It was a perfect 24 hours, and was over WAY too quickly.

Thanks Scotty for being the best husband, friend, and dad that a girl could ask for...and for putting together our weekend of bliss!!

I love you!

Some deep thinking at the breakfast table...

With your first child, every milestone is a meticulously recorded and talked about. I remember when jack was really young EVERYTHING was a big deal...we oo'd and awe'd at his animal sounds, we enthusiastically cheered when he learned patti-cake, we took pictures when he learned to sit up and crawl, we took videos and made phones calls over his first steps, yada yada yada...you get the picture.

***

But with your second child things are a little different. Those momentous milestones are, well, not SUCH a huge deal. Though we still take a million pictures and relish in the cuteness, there is just something different. I mean, she certainly isn't "jipped" in the attention department, and we do enjoy watching her darling personality develop, but still...something is amiss. I have put a lot of thought into this lately because I feel like Bianca is all the sudden "grown-up", and I don't even think we have taught her patti-cake or any animal sounds yet. I know, mom of the year award over here!!

***

What really started my thinking was this sequence. I was sitting across from her at the breakfast table, and we were just two gals, enjoying a nice bowl of Cheerios. Then it dawned in me...

***

WAIT...when did she stop sitting in her high chair? when did she learn how to use a spoon?

When has she watched daddy do this so many times that she caught on?

When did she grow up from my baby into this independent "little girl"?

I sat and watched her take bit after bite of those Cheerios, and then I made a resolve. I have resolved to pay more attention...to pay more attention to those little things that mean my kids are growing up.

***

And may all of you do the same!

***

Now, if you will excuse me I am going to teach my daughter what a horsey says.

colors

Jack currently loves colors. Everything is a "green tree" or a "black beetle" or a "red apple" or an "orange chair" or a "blue candy". You get the picture.

****

this morning after a bath, jack was running around diaper-less (not unusual at our house).

****

From his bed room I hear "Ew, gross, sick"

****

"What's wrong Jack??"

****

"I green pooped on a floor, mom!!"

****

At least he knew what color it was...

I spy with my little eye...

...Five tiny fingers that SHOULD be sleeping soundly in a CRIB.

***

Which means that this little monster has figured out how to climb out of the crib...blast you Jack, I was hoping you wouldn't figure that out until you were at least 5. I have so enjoyed being able to cage you for a couple of hours a day, especially because you share a room with Baby B.

We did have a false alarm about a year ago but since the attempt ended with a scary fall, he hasn't been brave enough to try again until now.

I let him sit and wiggle his little fingers until I heard faint cries of "help, help".

***

Let's just hope the kid doesn't figure out how to open doors or we will be in a whole world of trouble.

Sherbet Anyone?

It's stifling here in Washington.

***

With the humidity, 90 degrees feels like 150 degrees. No joke.

***

There aren't many days like this, days where it's almost unbearable to be anywhere that doesn't blast cold air. It's especially miserable if you don't have AC, like us. (most homes here don't have AC because it just isn't practical, you really don't need it that often). brutal. I actually made a trip to Costco today JUST so I could sit inside the giant walk-in fridge. I pretended to be looking for the perfect flat of berries, but I was really just taking in the cold hair and trying to build up a cold-air reserve for later. It didn't work, but it was worth a try.

***

At 9:30 tonight we decided to bust out ice-cream cones...yeah that's right, aren't we a bunch of CRAZY people.

***

Even at 9:30 Bianca just couldn't keep up with that melting sherbet.

Excuse me, is there anything on my face?

Go ahead girl, lick those fingers to your little heart's content. There's plenty to go around...

Pardon the drooping neckline, I think we can ALL relate to things drooping a bit by the end of the day...

***

It looks like tomorrow will be another scorcher. I better go stock up on the ice cream!