Princess. . .

. . .with an all-day sucker.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I got to spend the day with a cherub and a whole lotta pink sugar cookies.  Mmm. . .life is good!

Will's Birthday!

Today, Will turns 8 years old.  If I could pick any 8 year-old to be mine, this is the boy I would choose.  He is sweet and funny, athletic and smart.  He thrives on good hugs.  He wears a button-down to school cause I told him it makes him look good.  Even if it isn't Friday.  He is passionate about fishing and skiing, which makes both Joe and I happy.  He's super-brave and extremely cautious.  Keeping his family safe and happy is always on his mind.

The only thing he wanted for his birthday was a BB gun that I think Joe promised him for his 8th birthday back when he was 5.  He was excited to get home from school and shoot it, and he was just a bit worried his little bro would get a hold of it and hurt himself while he was off at school.  That's Will.

We always do presents and donuts first thing, cause I believe in dessert first.

 He was pretty excited that a basketball game was scheduled on his birthday.  He couldn't wait!  And, it turned out to be an awesome game and they scored their second win of the season!  (That team has really come along this season, and everyone had a stellar game!)

We hurried home for a ham & banana dinner, some brownies, and then Joe took Will and Jasper to Zeppoz for some arcade games.  It was a super-fast night of celebration and excitement.

 What a good kid.  He makes us proud!

Giggles.

*** Warning: unless you have children, the language in this post may shock. ***

But.  I can't help myself.

Ben called me for some of the usual help in the bathroom. 

When I came in, he reminded me, "Don't flush the toilet!  I want to do it!"

But of course, out of habit, I reached right up and flushed it.  "Oh Ben, I'm so sorry!  I forgot!"

"Oh, that's ok Mom!" says my little Ben, all chipper, waving me off.  "I'll poop again tomorrow!"

I'll tell ya, I'm just happy all this is happening in the bathroom.  There was a day, not so long ago, that I didn't believe that was ever gonna happen.  Hang in there people!

P & J, plus 8.

This morning started with my final 5 AM wake-up call for my beating at the gym by our very own Annie Rench.  I did it!!!  6 weeks (minus the strep-throat-with-a-flu-chaser week, that was a bummer :()

Anyway, I'm still super-proud of the work I completed there (and yes, I'm the kind of person who regularly needs to pat her own back.)  And by final wake-up call, I mean I will never ever ever ever again get up that early unless I'm catching a plane to somewhere super-exotic and sunny, or I'm hitting the ski slopes for a perfectly sunny day of powder hopping.  I can think of absolutely no other justification for it.  I really admire the people that do it on a regular basis.  Especially the chipper ones. 

I thought it might be like my distaste for running.  Like someday I would hit my stride and 5 AM would not feel like the very gate of death.  But I'll be honest, squat thrusts even come second to the actual alarm clock that got me there.  Today I decided if I was not able to work out sometime between the hours of 8 am and 9 pm, it simply would not get done.  You've seen the posts on pinterest.  "Get it done", "Just carve out time", "It's worth it".  Whatever.  I wouldn't do it.  I'd stay home and eat a box of pop tarts every night instead.  (I know this without a doubt, simply because it is exactly what I do when I get pregnant.  Yes, a whole box.  Every night.)

Anyway, from the gym I headed home at 7 AM to the 8 Driskill kids.  Now, anytime that they arrive sans the parents, it is such a flurry of excitement I actually feel like I've gone from 0 children and a quiet pristine house, straight up to 8 kids and total chaos in 60 seconds flat.  So from then on they are all just a mass of Driskills.  Heaps of lunches and clothes and belts and hair-dos later, and with Joe's help, the 5 oldest are delivered at school and I head home to clean the house.  The deep-clean kind that must be done on a regular basis to maintain sanity.  My theory here is that by the time the naps are done and the basketball game is over, I'd be dropping all 8 kids back at their own house with a trusty babysitter, and I'd come home to quiet and pristine again.  (This is an important part of the story, so remember my game plan here.)

By the time I get Henry down for his morning nap, I'm eager for that shower.  At this point, all I can think about is food-shower-sleep.  I can't decide which I want more.  Three seconds into the shower, I decide that that is my least fav.  My arms are worthless from my gym-beating, and washing my hair is almost torture.  That rules out any food intake as well, any arm-lifting of any kind is completely out of the question, so now all my energy beams in on the clock, and I watch each minute click by until 2 when I get to put them down for naps.  (My 0 kids nap at 12:30, so this is extreme discipline on my part.) 

I pick up the kindergarteners and head to Mickey D's for food and easy clean up, plus a little exercise for the kiddos.  (Yes, at this point my standards hit rock-bottom).  Each minute lasts five and then finally finally finally, it is almost time.  Everything is moving on schedule now.  The olders get home from school, we do a little homework, we head to the basketball game, we scream and yell and WIN! 

We head to the Driskills to drop their 8 kids with a babysitter. . .and the door is locked.  Joe does his best to break in, he seems so confident that he can do it, I almost believe him.  The neighborhood dogs root loudly for him.

Needless to say, we end up home, with 8 tired and hungry Driskill kids to my quiet and pristine house.  Two hours till bedtime.  Eternity.

All the guilt I may have had for ditching town in the middle of their move last weekend is now absolved.  It's semi-quiet in my house.  I have a glass of wine.  Not only do I admire early-risers, I submit all my respect to those with 8 kids.  How on earth is it done?

Fun on ice.

What better way to get out the post-school dodrums than a race around the snow ice with a little sister hunkered down in a sled.  He loves to hear her squeal, and she isn't afraid of speed. . .

One of these days I'll have Joe upload the video I took of the two of them.  So much fun-ner in action :)

What time is it?

This kid rocks the court.  Their team is winless so far this season, but I'm crazy-proud of this kid.  Probably over-bearingly so.  He's fast, and I can see the wheels turning the whole time, like he's memorizing the game.  I watch him high-five his buddies after a play.  The same little buds that used to hang out in the nursing room with him at church, and the same ones that will someday high-five each other (hopefully :) at State.  (A girl can dream).

Seriously. Watching him and his buddies play makes his whole life flash before my eyes, and I.LOVE.IT.

I am his biggest fan.

Chicken scratches

My to-do list for the week:

It took me half an afternoon to figure out what three of the five words said.  Not. so. productive.

In other news, I still cannot remember my pin, even though at some point I was certain I had.  So.  I'm convinced that either there is some bank conspiracy going on (probably in cahoots with the-one-who-does-the-budget) or, more likely. . .I have a tumor. 

Which would also explain the chicken scratches.  Mystery solved.

Cowboy day!

Cowboy day is the highlight of the kindergarten year!  It is celebrated on the 100th day of school.  Everyone brings out their pistols and their cowboy hats & boots and their stick horses and bandanas.  And they are to collect 100 items of any small thing for counting in class.  Sara was collecting pop taps off of soda cans, and it was a close call, but thanks to all her family and friends she managed to get 107 total by cowboy day.

I think the biggest part for her, was getting to wear her brown "cowboy dress".  The proper dress is very important to Sara.

I added some freckles and some color and ta-da!  Cowgirl!

Aren't they cuties???

Time to play hookey?

Mt. Spokane is reporting 14 inches of new snow in the last 48 hours.  I'm a tad bit miffed the kids' have to go to school every day. 

A little of this and a dash of that. . .

I love it when I open the dishwasher and realize my husband was the last one in there.  I know this because all of the dishes are lined up like soldiers and in very specific categories.  I don't even know how he does it, honestly.  I put the same dishes in there and it would be total chaos. . .I say ladies, marry yourselves an engineer.  They're just plain handy!

Our Sara, on the other hand. . .she's an artist.  While there is order and method, there is also character, charm, and whimsy.  She was spending way too much time cleaning her room, but when I came to investigate, I realized it was time well spent:

Now that's what I'm talking about. . .

Snowstorm, candle, and a jar full of gingersnaps.  See, that was a good day.

Roadtrip with my girl.

So, my aunt wrote to me almost a year ago, and told me about my cousins scoring huge roles in a big musical production of West Side Story over in Oregon.  I had it in the back of my mind, hoping that things would line up so that I could go see it. . .I love a good musical!  There was some flooding in Oregon the week before I left, which ended up cancelling some of the shows, and then my kids couldn't quite seem to kick the flu bug.  But Friday arrived sunny and dry.  Kayte was up for shotgun, and we hit the road. . .with a quick stop at RedStar on our way out of town.  We took the Geo because of it's fabulous gas mileage...every time I filled up, it was less than $20.  Seriously.  (My chevy would've been $80.)  Plus it corners better too.  It has no CD player, tinted windows, or cruise control, and I'll tell ya, that last one almost cost me a ticket or two.  I can't hardly make it across town without flipping on my cruise.

Self-portrait: 

We got into town with enough time to catch up with my grandma a little bit. . .she's been having tests done on her heart this week, and recently learned that the doctors want her to undergo open heart surgery.  She was feeling good enough that day to come with Kayte and I to the musical, and she was thrilled to get to see it.  It was fun to be able to spend some time with her.  The musical was absolutely fan.tastic.  And my cousins were awesome.  My cousin Jesus was Tony in the play and had several solos, and Amy's part scored some solos too.  I was really impressed.  Kayte was literally on the edge of her seat.

We couldn't stay after the show to see them, and Kayte was asleep before they got in that night.  So she was pretty excited to have breakfast with them the next morning.  She was definitely starstruck.

My aunt makes some wickedly authentic mexican food, I love having her cook for me.  She's only ten years older than me, and has always felt much more like a cousin than an aunt.

We got some pics the next morning, just after everyone got up.  I had to get my photo ops while I could!

Kayte and I headed out and did some shopping at the outlet malls on our way to Portland.  She's never been a big one for shopping, but then, I'm not sure we've ever done much of it, just the two of us.  She was having a blast, and picked out some aviators and this slouchy denim cap.  One lady commented on how stylin' she was, and I think that totally made her year.  We lunched at IKEA, you know, lunchroom style, where you get to pick out all your stuff, al a carte, on a big tray.  She loved that.

It was a long drive for her, 16 hours in two days, but she did great and was fantastic company.  I love her growing up and being my little companion.  The years go by so fast!

(I should mention also, that my husband scored major brownie points for taking on the weekend at home solo.  He gets my need to roam, and regularly sends me out the door with keys to a full tank of gas and an itouch full of tunes for whatever road trip I've dreamed up most recently.  He balanced kids and house, and managed as the only representative from our home during the big Driskill Move that landed on the exact same days of my trip.  And yes, that was accidental, and not my fault.  He's definitely the yin in this relationship.  I'm actually convinced that he'd rather help someone move than spend 2 full days in a car, with some outlet shopping on the side.  :)

Ahh. . .I'm so glad I got to go!

Kayte's first basketball season!

Kayte has been dying to play basketball!  Last year, we thought she was already a little overscheduled.  This year, we have apparently lost our minds, cause we've basically signed her up for every possible extra-curricular.  But she is ready to put in the time and get it done.  Joe signed on to be her coach and they already have one in the win column!  Go Pirate-Bunnies!  :)

Kayte's fan base is large. . .

She reminds me a little bit of Will, first game out.  She runs really really super fast. And that's a whole lotta fun to see :)

Simply Irresistible.

He's learned to say "pretty please".

Works every time.

Oh yes, we did.

I. can't. wait.

Welcome, February!

Today I managed to completely blank on my pin number for my debit card.  In Winco.  Without cash or checkbook.  The mounting pressure from the checkout lady wasn't helping, as she stared at me suspiciously.  Like I'd stolen it or something. . .and then boldly tried random four-digit numbers hoping one of them would work and I'd actually score my $6 worth of desperation on someone else's dime.  Please.

I've had that debit card for years.

I never did remember it, and I had to suspend my transaction, jet over to Chase and jet back before she really started to wonder about me.  Six bucks worth of groceries, totally not worth it.

This is the kind of muddle I've been in for the last three weeks.  I actually said to Joe last night, "can it possibly get any worse?" which of course he tsked-tsked, because we both know it can.  It could get way way worse.  I mean our troubles (it's difficult to even call them that) are a blip on the tiniest radar.  But somehow, even little things can get you mired down and in a funk.

So this morning, after sleeping better than I had in a week (doesn't that make such a difference?) I woke up with the sunshine.  Happy it was February.  Ready to start all new and fresh.  Just like I did a month ago at the turn of the new year.  I was chastened a little by Sarah's Ode to January because I usually totally get that.  I love a rainy day with nothing but flour on the floor and a full cookie jar to show for it.  It was too late to give January my due, but I was happy to move on.  My kids were healthy for the day, and I was on the road to recovery. . .

So anyway.  I'm behind.  Part of that has to do with the fact that my blog computer (yes, it has been demoted to that term, since it is too slow for anything worthwhile, yet is the only one I can actually load pictures onto), well, it takes a half an hour to warm up and be friendly.  I'm so excited to get started on all the good stuff in January, and what better time for that then February?

Oh yeah, those flowers.  Those are from Joe.  He's always bringing in a new season for me to enjoy and these are already a week old and looking better than ever.  See, life is good.