Daddy!

Just in case you miss Erik's nightly routine, Tim, when your traveling. :) Too bad it changes to "Mommy" when you're gone! I especially like the whispering...I guess that means he's really not too serious about being heard!

And, yes, it is suppose to be black. I took it in the dark.

Clean...

Okay, so I'm writing this a little shaky after a morning of running around!! And, I didn't even leave my house! I told you about the dishwasher that I had bought last week. It was installed on Saturday and we heard the words that no one wants to hear, "Sorry guys, but this dishwasher doesn't work. Looks like you got a bummer." And, he was gone. What??!! So, as I'm washing dishes all weekend I am apologizing to my old dishwasher!! It did wash just fine....I mean, way better than my two hands! But, as of 10:30 this morning I do have a dishwasher that works, and her name is not Mommy. :)

Juan the Painter was also here this morning. Tim left and as he went out the door he told me to get the rest of the house painted....."just get it done already!" Okay then! So, he will finish our master bedroom/bathroom tomorrow and also do our bonus room and Isabel's room. What a good feeling that will be to done with it. I was going to tackle it myself, but then, when would I?!! It seemed like in the past when we'd get the house painted and how we wanted it we moved! But, I'm hoping not this time. That is too much work!

My "angels" are here now......so I'm confined to the office at the moment. Remember back in December when Isabel and I spent a few days in the hospital and Tim was home playing Mom with the other three?? Remember when he told me to get a cleaning lady b/c he realized how hard it was to keep up with everything and take care of the kids??!! Well, I finally did. :) Oh does it feel good to smell the fresh scent of clean! :) My dad always tells me to hire a live in nanny......a Grandma-type.....kind of like an Alice. But, that is not going to happen. I just need someone to clean my bathrooms and scrub the floor!

So, that is all. I do need some advice from anyone that has ever had a six year old. We are having an issue with being "spunky" and sassing back. My mom used to tell me that when the kids are little you discipline the action and as they get older you discipline the attitude. I can say that I would rather deal with the actions! Any suggestions on how to discipline the attitude?? I'm really struggling with it.

Other than that, not too much is going on. We are just praying that mom and dad come out sometime soon! Tim is gone for the next two days again.....he's in Omaha. Last time he was there he brought home some steaks, so we'll see what he brings home this time.

Now after my "angels" leave I need to tackle the laundry......too bad there wasn't a washer and dryer that folds and puts away, too! It seems that when I send the folded clothes up the kids to put away, they usually don't make it all the way to their rooms. Why is that?? Erik had clothes all the way up the stairs last time.....I think he was making a trail.

Smart...

Isabel had her 4 month check-up today......the doctor told me that she is going to be really smart when she grows up. :) She weighed in at a hefty 16 lbs. 13 oz!! He said that babies with a lot of chub have a higher IQ because fat is what makes up the brain cells and she has no shortage of brain cell forming fat!! :) So, that was good news. He also told me I was doing a good job. Isabel's at the top of the chart for height (26 1/2 inches) and weight and is growing perfectly. I did get a parenting newsletter email this week to let me know what to expect with Isabel now that she is 18 weeks.....it told me not to correct her pronunciations of words if she doesn't say them correctly! Okay, she may be smart and chubby, but c'mon.....who is writing that stuff?!

Tim comes home tomorrow. YAY! He's been in Las Vegas all week for work....its been a long week! I came down with a cold yesterday....I don't get sick very often, but I just want to crawl in bed and not come out! I did manage to keep everyone sleeping this morning until 8:30, so I'm hoping I can do the same tomorrow. Our new dishwasher is coming tomorrow, as well. Now, that is exciting!! I just hated our dishwasher in TN.....it was just an old, basic model that didn't clean very well and was really loud. After 3 years of living there and dealing with it we finally got a new one, then moved a few months later to a house with the same dishwasher just a few years newer! I guess if there wasn't so many people in our family and dishes being used it would be okay, but I am so excited to be saying Good Bye to it tomorrow!! :)

While we are on the subject of appliances.....for all you moms out there who swear that washers and dryers eat socks.....ITS TRUE!! The Sears guy came out yesterday to service our washer and dryer and pulled out about 6 little socks that had gotten "eaten". Apparently they get sucked under a rubber flab in the front and get stuck there until someone pulls them out. I did not know to check that periodically.....now I do! I'm just wondering what happened to the other 20 socks that have a match in the missing sock bag!!

Crazy Mom...

Tim is in Vegas all week for work......its the third night now.....just two more to go. :) Erik was being loud and rubbing his fork on the table tonight at dinner....."Please stop, E! You are driving me crazy!!" In his sweet little voice he responded, "Mommy, are you a crazy mom??"

Isabel's 4 month pictures

Big Time....

We had a great time in MI this past weekend. We had bad weather going up there and bad weather coming back down. It was especially scary with four kids in the back of the van.....what would we have done if we went in the ditch??! But, we made it. Tim said he next time he drives up there we'll have the camper in tow.....meaning the weather will be nice!!

Poor Annika! Her prayers were not answered. She even saw a red van in Papa Bob's driveway when we drove in and was so excited that Gracie was there!! Nope.....wrong van. Usually Gracie sits on the rug with her and they have juice.....not this time! Annika was all alone in her party dress! Well, Alaina brought some party dresses, but it just wasn't the same.

Isabel and Papa Bob just talking.

We went to visit Great Grandma Marlyce on Saturday. She didn't know that Alaina and Caleb were "racing" her walker in the hallway!!

What a big snow storm on Sunday! We were definitly "snowed in" until about 5 when my dad called us on "the hill" and said he was coming over to get us. He was looking for an "adventure". I wish I had my video camera in the Suburban!! The snow was unbelievable! Amy and Vince barely made it to Stephenson from their house. When it was time to go back home, my dad had to take his truck with the plow on it and plow out their driveway or they'd have never gotten in!! He was gone a good hour and a half.......then it was our turn. We all jumped back in the Burb and bombed back through the snow! It was a wild ride.......but we made it!! Well, we almost made it. He had to drop us off at the end of the driveway and we had to walk in b/c the Burb couldn't get through the big drifts...... Here's Erik after we were dropped off....about 9 at night. He was having such a good time. :) And Alaina was having fun shoveling. Check out my van in the back!

Lou??!

Lou, Lou, Skip to my Lou......we all know the song, but do you know the Nordin kid version??

Glue, Glue, Stuck to my glue
Glue, Glue, Stuck to my glue
Glue, Glue, Stuck to my glue
Stuck to my glue my darling!

Oh it was so funny....I had gotten a cd from the library with the song on it and Erik and Annika were caught singing it "their" way in the basement while riding their Big Wheels!

Power of Prayer....

I was just talking to Annika about this weekend. She went through all the people that she is going to see : Papa Bob, Nana Shirley, Pupsi & Nana Bev......and Gracie! I told her that Gracie is not going to be there this weekend. Annika looked me straight in the eye with a big grin on her face and said, "Mom, if we pray really, really hard Gracie will be there!!"

C'mon Joe and Jackie!! Annika will be praying all week!!

Snow Day!

Yesterday we FINALLY had a snow day!! We woke up to A LOT of snow! These pictures were taken at 3:30 or so. Tim was on his way home and so I thought I would go shovel a path so he could get his car in the garage. There was no way! I shoveled a path in the morning to get the garbage to the end of the driveway, but now there was a foot more snow! There was only one thing I could do......get the snow blower going. I've never used it before, but after a while of trying to figure out how it starts I had to call Tim and get a little instruction. It worked....I felt so cool out there while the guy across the street was shoveling!! I got done just in time for Tim to drive right up into the garage. :) Then Erik and I headed to the back yard for some fun. And, of course, we had to have hot chocolate when we came in!

Breakfast??!

Hey Papa Bob!! Why not come over to our house for Frosted Mini Wheats!! We know they are your favorite!!

Another Grandma Berniece moment....

Yesterday Annika went to a birthday party for "her best friend" Jenna. It was at a dance studio and the girls had to wear their most beautiful dresses. Oh did they have fun. Annika really got into it. She was dancing and twirling and loving every minute. When it was time for Jenna to open presents Annika was right there with her. She opened up a big princess activity pack with markers, crayons, coloring books, etc.....when Jenna got it half way opened Annika announced to everyone there, "Whoa, Jenna! This present is from Grandma Berniece!"

Grandma Berniece is just a regular member of our family! The kids talk about her all the time! Its funny to hear Annika talk about her, though, b/c she was only 3 months old when she died. You'd think they were best friends. :)