Change...

Has any other family really been hit by the time change? Never before have we felt it so badly! The kids are going to bed later and they don't sleep in any later in the morning! Maybe it just seems like they are getting up so early because its still dark out......uggh! I'm hoping that we get our 7 pm-7 am rountine back soon!

We started swimming lessons last week. What a good time! Little An just cannot stand still or sit still for a second! She is always jumping and moving around in the water.....waiting for her next task. It may be the goggles!








She did this constantly.....she just bounced up and down, dunking herself each time. The instructor said she did a better job this week listening and staying with her group!



Alaina looked like this the whole time. That smile did not wash off her face! I realized while I was watching Erik and Alaina that learning to swim is hard work! It would be different if we had a pool and they swam all the time. They loved it, though, and can't wait until next week! They told me yesterday that they want a big, beautiful pool like Ms. Dana! :)



Here Erik was practicing putting his face in the water and blowing bubbles while kicking his feet and swimming the length of the pool. Too bad I caught him when he was coming up for air! He did super. :)

Yah!!

Well, I was hoping to win enough money to go to Disney World! But, I don't think we can get there with $74!! It was fun scratching!! I scared Tim a little bit....when he got home he thought I was going to tell him I was pregnant! Yikes! We still have a "free ticket" to redeem, so maybe that one will be a big winner. :) Then our days of scratch-off lottery is over.

The kids started Martial Arts yesterday. I'm trying to figure out something that they all can do together. Its much needed at the moment! Alaina was nervous, she didn't want to go....so I told her if she honestly didn't like it, she wouldn't have to go back. I knew she would. It was fun watching.

From this experience we learned that Erik can do the splits and kick higher than his own head. I especially like the sign "House of Discipline". That is why my kids are there!! When they were warming up and stretching Annika announced that she has a ballerina dress at home! It was cute. They get their uniforms next week and Alaina can't wait to get a trophy that is bigger than her! We'll see. I'm just hoping for some fun for them.

Today I am FINALLY getting my IL drivers license. My TN one expired on my birthday, but the DNV is really not very convenient for a stay-at-home Mom!! Watch me get stopped on the way there!

Lucky??!!

Okay....so its been over a week. Sorry about that! In a nutshell, the rooms look fantastic. :) Tim was really surprised and pleased at the results. :) We did end up getting some curtains for our room, so that is finally finished. It only took 14 months this time around......our room in TN took 3 years to complete! Isabel has a "melted butter" room. Its so nice and yellow. That will be fun decorating in the next few weeks. :) I'll take some pictures soon.....just found my camera battery charger about 5 minutes ago. Its been missing all week!

I got a call today!! One of the most exciting calls you could ever receive!! Alaina and I went to the Chamber of Commerce business Expo on Saturday. We entered some drawings and I thought I didn't win any being no one called me and it was already Wednesday......we sure did win something! :) I entered to win $50 worth of lottery tickets and won!! A realtor brought over 50 $1 tickets today.....I am just waiting for Tim to get back from dropping the kids off at AWANA. He doesn't know yet. :) There is just two cups of tea and two quarters sitting at the table with a candle in the middle. This will be fun. I could have done something really cool, but I'm too excited to start scratching. I'll let you know the results. :)

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??"