Beware When. . .

your children get old enough to tell on you. this is not a new phenomena in our house but has been causing a little more disruption lately than normal. Trinity just turned 7. Blake is 4. Both are old enough to tell on me. Case in point: I think food coloring is of the devil. Target has these icee machines that ALWAYS seem to have blue flavors which is of course what trinity wants. I have never let her get the blue because somehow in my mommy mind red or brown is not as bad as BLUE. I mean it turns everything blue; I'm betting your insides as well. At least red and brown match the insides. Okay tmi, but that is my decision and I'm sticking to it. So, as a special treat the other day I let her get one (red) and a lady commented to her while we were looking at t-shirts that it looked good. Trinity then launches into a detailed story of how she never gets BLUE because mommy doesn't like BLUE but she figures the red and brown aren't as bad so you can pick the red or the brown even though they aren't really good for you either but at least they aren't as bad as BLUE. . .yadda yadda. What you must know about trinity is that she takes forever to get a full sentence out with an adult. I don't know what it is but there is almost no eye contact, and she shifts her feet around while animatedly leaving great pauses between words like she is already light years ahead in the conversation but due to a faulty warp drive her mouth hasn't caught up with her brain. Most people look at me at some point almost as if to ask if she is quite all there. I simply smile and occasionally finish her point for her if she gives me the "it's okay to help" glance. This involves patience on my end and an undying hope that she isn't going tattle something serious or inappropriate. I mean who knows what this girl could have picked up? Her captive audience (and I do mean captive) usually then manages to mumble an "isn't that something?" and makes a quick exit for about as many aisles away as they can get from my little chatterbox.
A second (and more embarassing) case would be the doctors visits. Now when the doctor asks "are they eating well?" instead of me nodding a simple yes Trinity launches into one of her favorite subjects; Blake's poor eating habits. "He doesn't eat any vegetables, in fact he won't even TRY anything.  .he just eats like peanut butter sandwiches and cereal and stuff like that which isn't really bad for you but isn't really good for you either my mom says, oh and he really likes chicken mickies too which are shaped like mickey mouse heads? yeah, he won't eat any other chicken nuggets, just those" yadda yadda. . .oh and we can't forget that the doctor asks about our TV time. "well Blake plays his wii games like ALL the time, sometimes he gets in trouble because he doesn't turn it off, the other day I went out to play soccer but he didn't want to, blake doesn't really care about anything but his games. . ."yadda yadda. At this point I am inwardly cringing as the doctor tries to wipe the smirk off his face. If he wasn't such a gentle soul I would have taken it personally but I completely understand. How do you not laugh at this precocious 7 year old taking about an hour to tell you all the flaws of her mother's parenting in one fell swoop? Let's not forget Blake adding his two cents at the end. Things like "yeah, that's what mom says" or "I just like what I like" or "I'm contrary!". At least he means what he says this one. All of this to say, beware what you say and how you say it because it is most likely going to be repeated at some point and usually to the least favorable person you can think of.

Bubble Coffee

Yes I give my four year old instant coffee. We bond over it in the mornings. I get 4-5 spoonfuls and he gets 1. Then it gets cold water on top of it which makes a layer of bubbles hence the "bubble coffee". I think it's adorable. Do you have a not-so-great habit you indulge to make your child feel special? Do share, obviously I don't judge.

No Way

My little girl is turning 7 tomorrow! Since summer is a hard time to get friends together (everyone is traveling, etc) we decided to do her party thursday, when two out of three friends could come. (we missed you Brooke). Anwyay, so I had my 6 wk post partum check-up early in the afternoon so baby I., trinity, and myself went to that while Blake was dropped off at daddy's office and the two of them went and got the presents. On the way home I stopped and picked up the two party girls. They were having SUCH a blast in the car that I decided I was very glad I had kept it small and that I had planned to take them somewhere for entertainment rather than furnishing it myself. Normally I am the queen of cool but it had already been a long day. Of course it was nothing a frozen mocha (also on the way home) couldn't handle. SHOuT OUt to Mercury Coffee company in Fall City, it's my new FAVORITE drive through. ---as a total aside I finished my year of no coffee purchases on July 17th and have been on a bit of a binge ---
soo. . . . .we get the girlies home and jer/blake arrive at the same time. We do the cupcake pinata (trinity's first ever on her own birthday) and head to KidzBounce for an hour of open play time. It went right down to the last ribbon on the cupcake pinata and they bounced right down to the last minute at the play place. I'd say pretty successful use of short party time! Then we went to pizza at Round Table (thanks Donathons for joining!) and took our little charges home. oh by the way did I mention we got Trinity a DS???? She has wanted one for a year and a half. Normally I wouldn't spend that kind of money (especially on the year we bought a house and had a baby) but we recieved some extra gift cards from the partners in jeremy's company for Toys R us/Babies R us and needing no big ticket items well you know. . .we decided of course to COMPLETELY spoil her because well, she is SEVEN after all. (and mommy has two road trips to make this summer which will be MUCH quieter now, mwahahahaha). of course my camera died as she was unwrapping it. LAME. Trinity declared it "the best day ever" and mommy and daddy agreed. We are so proud of her and see such great things in her. Happy Birthday darling!

 best buds

 pinata action

 on the way to bounce

 ready, set, go!

 blake's first time here

 the helper only makes amie bounce higher! =)

 good shot mckenzie!

 who let the cute boys in?

 peek a boo

 squish through!

 contemplating her next move

 up, up, up

 and away!

 me convincing blake the big ones aren't scary

 blake contemplating his odds after I threw him on the big one

 no time for play with this one, he's always thinking!

 presents and pizza, does it get better?

 new rule: abbey must stop growing!

 you wrote this? for me?

 how sweet!

this is where the DS pictures would have been. . .sigh. let's just say HAPPY FACE was in the house!

A Must Read

        So. . . as you all know I try and keep up with reading even though I have three kids. I have given up the idea that I will ever be "well read" but I do love to browse the shelves at the library and grab books willy nilly. Every once in a while this turns up a real gem. My last book review was one called "stuck". I still recommend it. My most recent treasure is called "the Flying Carpet of Small Miracles" by Hala Jaber. Amazing! A poignant story of love and loss, courage and despair, all the makings of an epic saga and yet it is simply, real life. I forget to come out of my own little world sometimes. When I read the story of this emmy award winning journalist covering the world changing events of the fall of Saddam Hussein while struggling with a deep and abiding desire to be a mother I was moved in a way that only a mother can be. To wonder again at my three beautiful children is always a healthy thing. Yes, I do get bogged down with the daily demands but what a blessed woman I am to be granted my passion and purpose in motherhood. I marvel at women like Hala who remind me of the courage, determination, and vision shown by the deborahs of the old testament. To be/have a powerful voice in your own time is a rare thing and Hala exemplifies the drive it takes to achieve it. Her coverage of the civilian casualties of the American seige and subsequent bombings is enough to break anyones heart. War is truly grotesque. However at the end of the book she meets an American doctor (a Christian no less) that expands her world just like she did mine while reading her story. There is always another perspective and this is my favorite thing about books like this. They are real people sharing real experiences. Life changing stuff even; I couldn't put it down until I had finished.

Bathing Beauty

today was Isaacs first full bath. I know a month seems a little old for that but after we had some "goo" issues with blake's belly button healing I was going to take my time with Isaac. Doc said he was ready to go at his checkup so without furth ado. . .BATH BOY! (yes he did cry a little but seemed to enjoy it when it was good and warm - big sister demanded to help - big brother - previously bathed - ran around naked and was thoroughly unhelpful - perhaps he thought himself bath entertainment?) p.s. the towel pictures are always my favorite!

comfy baby tub

cute patootie

sideways, whoops.

he totally looks like he's holding his binky

what you lookin' at?

 helper

 helper love

curls?

super boy in his ducky cape! 

fat tummy!

 this is a nice clear shot, wish his face was turned more to me

 better but not as clear

 binky attack!

 got it!

bath and binky = sleepy face

 my top 3 bath shots. just 'cause I like 'em    #1

                                                                       #2

                                                                       #3

AK and US!!!!!

okay, so that stands for Alison Krauss and Union Station, and yes we saw them live last night at Marymoor Park in Redmond, Wa! Of course they were just as good as you would think. After all, they have been playing together for 21 years she said. wow! Jeremy and I were in the lower percentile age demographic. I was suprised that there were not more young people there. (what is wrong with you young people!?)  I have shortened their band name just in case I get in trouble for posting vids since that is totally frowned upon. LOL, I doubt there are internet police monitoring blogs so closely. The camera wouldn't focus on the stage anyway so you get to stare at my pants while you listen. Exciting. AK was hilarious, she began the night by sharing some little tidbits about her, like one school dance she went to where the boy's mother gave them a coupon for KFC. random I know. Somehow this led to her introduction of the banjo/guitar player (ack, can't remember that ones name). She asked him about his school dances and he shared he didn't go to dances because he was a So_Cal kid that wore a banjo belt buckle and listened to the stanley brothers from virginia (apparently not cool). That made us all laugh and throughout the evening every few songs she would introduce another band member who promptly shared that he too had a banjo belt buckle (dan timinski's was leather so it wouldn't scratch his banjo) but the bass player took the cake because apparently he had a collection of belt buckles and his favorite was a banjo and guitar with necks crossed that said "bluegrass"! Even AK couldn't stop laughing at their antics and jokes. Are the buckle stories true? who knows, but it made us feel connected to these down-home musicians in a real way which is always important for an intimate concert atmosphere to thrive.
I have posted some pics and vids for your enjoyment and (just so you know) I am officially in love with Dan Timinsky (otherwise known as the singing voice of George Clooney in O Brother Where Art Thou). Jeremy and I are willing to consider a peaceable trade for a brief period of time. You know, me for AK and him for DT. Just for a little while. . .so we can jam. mwahahahaaaaa (I'll get the tambourine, dear!) warning: the vids take a moment to come up.
Thanks Luke and Lindsay for enjoying the evening with us and saving us seats!

look ma! no baby!

me and my honey

thar they be!

the moon over the venue.

A good man. . . .

let's you hang girly pictures in his bedroom and consents to let you read aloud books to him that you want to "talk about" but can't because no one else is reading it at the time. thanks babe, can't wait for our "book club" time tonight.

things that made me happy today

I have been suffering from allergies this past week and felt especially miserable this morning. Any plans to be out and about (the fridge is BARE) went by the wayside and I have barely managed to get a load of laundry and some light cleaning done. The kids have been good today which has helped but I can't wait for whatever is causing my allergies to act up so much to be done with. It put me in a downright foul mood this morning until I saw this out of the corner of my eye. Not sure how they got placed that way but who doesn't love a teddy bear that loves his morning tea?? This got me going to a few other things that have made me smile today.

Cute right?

the new picture for my boudoir. the two lines say " 'I'm looking for a man', she said. 'know any?' "

I mean how awesome is this picture?? I love it.

plants that love their new home

I bought the coppery ceramic pots for myself when I moved into the house