Type A?

This post will not shock those of you who know me well but I wanted to let you in on my latest 'obsession' with organizing and what I've been doing for two days. I had a HUGE bag of pony and other kinds of beads that were all mixed together that I've collected over the years. I don't know what made me think to do it, but I decided that they needed to be split according to color and type. After getting the pony beads out and sorting all the other types by color Brian (the sweet and understanding husband that he is) informed me that I would truly be ridiculous to go any further. Since it was so late I finally agreed to give up and go to bed. I am still debating it but for now the bead madness is over and organized!

I wish I could have gotten a before picture
of the bag...this one on the counter was tiny
compared to the one I started with!

Notice the pony beads on the right...
don't you think I should sort the ones on the
left according to type? They are all so random
that Brian thinks it'll take lots of bead containers.

There's Someone in My Nose...

So the other day while I was cleaning, Braden was playing and suddenly asked for a tissue. I told him he either needed to wait a minute or go get one himself. He was distraught and said, "I need one right now." I said, "Braden, why can't you just get one...I'm busy right now." His response had me laughing so hard I actually cried (which rarely happens to me) he said, "because mommy, there's someone in my nose...there is someone who is stuck in my nose!" I know he meant something, but it really was hilarious!

Long Time Coming!

Today Sheree, Zackary and Elena came over to play and we had a blast! I've been after Sheree to come over for a while but she is CONSTANTLY working and never has time. The kids got along great the whole time-and my kids actually played with toys...imagine that! (For some reason Cailey and Braden seem to think they need constant attention from me and never play with the toys in their rooms) Cailey pulled things out of the closet that she hasn't played with in months. Zackary had so much fun he didn't want to leave- and Elena (who usually won't let me look at her) let me give her a hug:). We can't wait to do it again...SOON hopefully:)!

Eating Yummy Treats

Ring around the Rosy...oh, and check
out the new tree for the kids! (They
needed a bigger one for all their crafts
and they wanted colored lights)

Safari Party

Tonight we went to a Christmas party at Storybook Safari and had a great time eating, playing Pictionary and hanging out. It's been such a blessing working with Christians and making new friends this year. Steve and Sheree take care of Kinsey while I'm working and Sheree teaches Cailey in Reading Games. Janice, my assistant is also SUCH a blessing to me. Braden looks forward to seeing her every morning. My kids ADORE Marsie, Janice and Sheree...and so do I:). A great time was had by all!

The Twelve Hours of Baking

One of the kids favorite songs right now is the Twelve Days of Christmas so I thought I'd come up with a similar song about my weekend of baking, baking and MORE baking. I ended up baking 11 different kinds and then two chocolate covered things(which take forever), most of which were either doubled or tripled. It took longer than usual because I let the kids help out a lot on Saturday but it was worth it! While Cailey and Braden were at Awana I even let Kinsey help me bake the Pizelles...which really meant I read to her while they were in the iron and let her eat some:) And for those of you wondering, yes...the song is true...I really did use those amounts of ingredients!

"The Twelve Hours of Baking"
12 hours of baking

11 kinds of cookies

10 lbs of flour

9 cups of coconut

8 'spoons of vanilla

7 lbs of sugar

6 lbs of butter

5 cups of peanut butter

4 lbs chocolate

3 children tasting

2 dozen eggs

and a mommy baking all day!

All the kids love helping me out....for some reason
we don't have any Braden pics, but know he was
right there helping me measure, mix and pour:)

They ate LOTS of cookies (and Cailey enjoyed
a chocolate covered marshmallow) but once again...where
are the Braden pics? I wasn't the one taking the pictures this time-
I was way too busy!

As you can imagine the kitchen was a disaster during
and after all that baking. Well it must have been really bad
because while I was still baking Kinsey decided to go find her
broom and sweep up...all on her own without anyone planting the
idea in her head! Very cute-but should I be offended?

More Cailey-isms

I pick Cailey up from school everyday (I still can't imagine her riding the bus by herself yet:) and she has to listen for her carpool number. Normally she has no problem and comes as soon as they call the number. Yesterday when I went to pick her up she wasn't coming when they called the number and I was really starting to get nervous about it. Finally I pulled up and told them her name and she came to the van. When I asked her why she didn't come she said, "Because they never called my number." I was flustered and said, "Cailey, they called your number THREE times." She said, "No mommy, they said 8 4 3 (eight four three) not 843 (eight FORTY three). Oh brother! I took it as a teachable moment and we talked about how even though the numbers are said separately it stills means the same thing. Who knew...my smarty pants actually learned something today:)!

So we continued on the drive home and she was excited to tell me that they did the last special student of the week and it was Michelle. I said, "Oh...did you learn how to write and spell her name?" (It's something they do every week with the special student) She said, "she's not a grown up" and I replied, "I know baby, I know she's a friend in your class." Then Cailey said, "why does everyone call her Ms. Chelle if she's not a grown up?" How funny is that??? She's right though, if you say it fast it does kinda sound like that! I had the hardest time telling her that MICHELLE does not mean Ms. Chelle. It still tickles me to think that she's been in school since July and thought that this friend's name was Ms. Chelle!!:)

Can There Be Too Many?

For the last several years I've been saying that we needed to get the kids a nativity of their own so they could act out the story and play with it. I was looking for the Little People one and could never find it so I decided to get them a wooden one I saw at a store. The next night (after the new one was set up and the box was destroyed) I found a FANTASTIC deal on the Toys R Us website for both the Veggie Tales and Little People Nativity. Now I know they didn't need more than one but I can never pass up a good deal so I got the other two (without telling Brian of course). When he got home from work and saw them he said, "Why did you buy two more when we already have one?" I didn't really have a good answer but then he said, "Oh, did you buy one for each of the kids?" Yes...that's it....that's exactly why I did it. Needless to say, the kids love playing with them and they don't fight over who has what but the best part is that so far Kinsey hasn't walked off with baby Jesus!

Who Needs Presents?

I ordered a couple of gifts on the Internet and they came in yesterday. When I opened the boxes the kids were jumping up and down and dancing from excitement! Why you ask? Not from the gift contents...you know, the items that actually cost money...nope, they were screaming and dancing for bubble wrap. They all played with the bubble wrap until every last bubble was popped! (And it took a lot of effort with their little fingers to pop each one.) When they were all popped they whined and asked when we could get some more. I informed Brian that next year they were getting bubble wrap for Christmas. Oh...and notice the clothes they are wearing in the MIDDLE of December...yes, they have on short sleeves because of our ridiculous 80 degree weather! Stef, I know you wish you were here for it-you could always join us for Christmas this year:)!

Look how focused these girls are...
and it REALLY was like this
for over an hour!

Braden would laugh hysterically when
he popped a bubble...he also sang
"Pops Goes the Weasel" and 'popped' at
the appropriate time EVERY time!

Gifts for Baby Jesus

I was helping Cailey with reading one evening and Braden came up to me with this and said, "Mommy, this is my gift for baby Jesus." We have been telling them the Christmas story and showing them with the Natvities and I guess Braden decided he would be like one of the wisemen and bring baby Jesus a gift. It was a very sweet moment because this was his own idea and he even 'wrapped' it! What did he give? Braden told me, "The Leapfrog letter game wrapped in waddling bubble wrap." At first I didn't get it but them figured out he meant 'swaddling'! How cute is this boy??

Mommy's Helper

I am constantly cutting out materials for parent/child classes and preschool when I'm at home while playing with the kids. (Multi tasking is a must when you are a 'stay at home'/working mom.) Kinsey decided she wanted to help me while Cailey and Braden were at Awana...how cute is that? And look how great she did with that Christmas tree!:)

Almonds and Activities

We have an advent calendar that has pockets with candy in it and the kids get a piece everyday. This is VERY exciting for them and they ask about it ALL day. I won't let them have it until all three of them are awake and home, so usually it's after Cailey gets home from school. Braden is so cute and the words that come out of his mouth just make me laugh sometimes. As soon as Cailey gets home he says, "Mommy, can we do our almond calendar now?" No matter how many times I say Advent he just continues to say almond:). Also, it being close to Christmas the kids are playing with the Nativity, reading stories about it and talking about it at church. When I picked Braden up from church on Sunday he said, "Mommy, can we go look at the big activity?" Again...he just can't remember Nativity and says activity instead!

My Spark and Cubbie

Cailey has been in Awana for three years now and loves it! For those of you who don't know what it is, it's kinda like scouts in that they play games and make crafts but the focus is on God and scripture memorization. They learn a new verse every week and earn patches and jewels for their vests. This year Braden was old enough to start and he was so excited about it! He's been going since August and looks forward to it every Sunday night. Tonight we were able to go to an award ceremony for Braden and see him earn his next patch-yay! When Kinsey saw Braden she got down and ran up to give him a hug:). Cailey earned a jewel tonight and was so excited to show us...what a great program for them to be involved in!

Cailey's First Sleepover!

Cailey had her first sleepover last night at our house with Rebecca. After we picked Cailey up from school the girls decided to play Pretty, Pretty Princess (while Kinsey was still napping of course) and then played a few more games. Once Braden and Kinsey woke up from their naps they made a picture frame ornament and then chased each other all over the house. Then they decided to go play upstairs for a while and were content for at least an hour! When I went up to check on them I found them playing 'house' and taking care of the Care Bears:). We did 'make your own pizza's', cucumbers and hot chocolate for dinner, which the girls loved....they also loved EATING the flour off the counter. I've never met anyone who enjoyed eating plain flour but once Rebecca started doing it, Cailey joined right in! After dinner was bathtime then off to bed. Laura bought the girls matching jammies (something I wanted to do the minute we planned this sleepover) and they were so excited about them! I let the girls giggle and be silly for about 20 minutes but then made them quiet down and go to sleep. They did pretty well but couldn't stop whispering, so Brian went in there (with his laptop of course) for a while until they fell asleep. This morning they were up bright and early (oh yay) and ready to eat blueberry pancakes-a first for Rebecca, which she enjoyed! Now they are playing musical instruments (LOUD ones) and I am hiding in my room:)

They loved doing this craft...we even printed out a
picturefor them to put in the frames:)

The girls had a blast patting, beating,
stretching, and rolling out the dough. They
also loved choosing the toppings and tasting
everything that was going on their pizzas/calzones

Spud Bed?

It's well known that Kinsey and Braden prefer to sleep on the floor but lately Kinsey has chosen a new favorite place to sleep. EVERY night Kinsey will climb out of bed and crawl up in the Spud Bag...and although it's really cute I don't think it can possibly be good for her back:). We end up putting her back into bed every night and she stays there to finish her beauty sleep! Oh..and an update on Braden...he hasn't gotten out of bed to sleep on the floor in a LONG time:). When Laura was here the other day we did decide that is was the perfect place for Isaac to snooze...very 'womb' like! Doesn't he look like an angel?

Deep thoughts with Braden

On the way to preschool this morning Braden said , "Daddy went to work." I said, "yes, Daddy went to work and mommy is going to work now too." Braden got very quiet and said, "yes mommy...you clean and cook for work." I asked him what my other job was and he said I didn't have one. So then I asked him what I did at Storybook Safari all day and he said, "you don't do anything except for cleaning." When I asked him who his teacher was he said, "you are...but that's not really a job." Thanks Braden:)! This goes out to all you teachers!!