Personal Challenge

Just curious if other stay at home moms set an alarm clock or wake up to their children saying that they are hungry? I am definitely not a morning person, but have realized that I am a lot more chipper on the days I get up on my own time and exercise. So this week I am challenging myself to get up before the kids each day, even if it is not a exercise day. I better hit the sack now, so I am ready to rise and sHiNe!

Please comment and let me know if I am the only one who sleeps until the kids get up? I always love to learn new things, maybe you have something great to share!

Post Edit:
Day One: I did set the alarm, much to Brad's surprise. I turned off the light when I said I was going to, even though I was just getting into a new book. However, one child was up and thirsty 20 minutes before my alarm. :) Mentally I was ready to get up early, so we are off to a good start!

Day Two & Three: Did someone show this to my children? I think they are trying to ruin it......they have woken up before the alarm each day (like 5:58ish.......). They usually sleep until at least 6:30 or 6:45, sometimes 7:00. In the spirit of challenging myself to be a better mother this week, I have taken their early awakenings with a smile and hopped out of bed to make breakfast. As I type this I at 7:50 a.m. I have already done a load of laundry, put away two baskets of laundry, made the beds, breakfast, and dressed one child, plus played princesses. Not too bad....

A love letter

Dear Kenmore Bisque Side by Side Refrigerator,

It is so hard to believe that you are mine. My heart has been longing for you for six years, the year your siblings stove, micro, and dishwasher were adopted by our family. I am writing to express how much I love you. Where do I start?

I love that you were mass produced in this millennium, as opposed to your predecessor, Mr. 1985 (ish). It doesn't bother me that you are bisque instead of that fancy stainless steel, you match your appliance family. I love that your handles are bisque instead of faux wood. When I open your doors every surface gleams of white and clear plastic, aching for jugs of milk and cartons of leftovers to invade you. Your cracks are free of the goo that you will inevitably inherit with old age. You are so quiet and don't make mysterious noises at night. My children's eyes sparkle with mischief when they see that they can push a button and fill their sippy cups with ice and water. Speaking of ice, you make it, what a marvel idea, you are so smart. You are so pure with your built in water purifier, yum, clean water. Oh and kudos to you for being so energy efficient, Mr. Energy Star. I think I will take that savings of $72 a year and use it to fill you with fresh fruit and applesauce. Or would you like cheese and eggs, your choice.

Oh dear fridge, you have lit a spark in me. I really want to fill you with groceries and cook up a storm for my family. You know I see you more than my own husband, 3 meals a day plus snacks, we are going to be so close! I promise to clean you often and not let you get too burdened with coloring pages, we wouldn't want to cover up your natural beauty. You better be good to me, or you will end up in my garage holding cases of Natty and Diet Cherry Coke. That is where we send gooey, growly, totally un-hip fridges!

Until I cook again,

Your Loving Mistress

Baby Lover

A good friend of mine had a baby two weeks ago. My cold kept me from visiting for a week, and I could hardly stand it. I didn't want to bring my germs to them, but I really just wanted to hold the little guy! He is so sweet and small and innocent! We all went to visit and I was completely surprised by my baby, Jillian. She loved him! She wanted to hold him the entire time and just couldn't get enough. It was the sweetest thing. When MK was that age she didn't want a thing to do with a baby, let alone me hold one. I am taking Jilli back soon to get her baby fix (and mine too, shhh). She wanted to "take baby home" and I couldn't have agreed more!

Look at her with her finger in her mouth, thinking "Hmm, what fun we would have together!"

MK still a little hesitant.

Road Trip

The girls and I took a road trip this week to visit my sister and her family. While we were there we took another road trip to the Omaha Zoo. My old students used to always tell me about there little trips to the zoo and since then I have really wanted to take the girls. I was really impressed with this zoo. The amount of walking from animal to animal is minimal compared to the KC Zoo, plus the animals are closer to you. At the zoo here the giraffes are so far off you can barely see them.

In the end, our vote for our favorites were the gorillas and the penguins. The gorillas were quite a hit with the crowd as one would pound his chest King Kong style and then run and pound the windows. Mia Kate took it all in and was so elaborate with her sharing when we returned. Jilli enjoyed bumming a ride in the hoopty wagon her Aunt Bry rented. I was thinking the weather would be as warm as it was the day we left, but I had to improvise on outfits. I am not a fan of packing in the spring or fall, you never know what Mother Nature will send.

The girls loved playing with cousin Camryn! Thanks for the hospitality Bry and family!

We packed lunches and ended up finding a table overlooking the tigers. One tiger came right up to the glass and looked in at the girls. He was so close we could see that an eye tooth was broke off and was lime green, lovely.

Camryn, Mia Kate, & Jillian



A sweet moment for the Reuter girls. Also note a serious fashion crime committed by Jillian. Socks and sandals? Like I said, I was expecting warmer weather and didn't make the wisest packing choices.

Mia Kate is 17 months older than Camryn, but is barely squeaking past her in height.

Brad and I debated which "wheels" I should take. I opted for my double jogger over my wagon, thinking Jillian would fall asleep at nap time and I could recline the seats. Also, I thought Mia Kate might want a ride if we had to walk awhile. Well, once we arrived my sister had some stroller issues and ended up renting a wagon. Of course, I ended up pushing an empty jogger most of the time. Jilli loves wagons and Mia Kate skipped around the zoo.

Missy Miss loved the statues and wanted me to take her pictures on top of each one.

This is unlike her.

So thankful to be able to do fun things with the girls!

Most of my shots were shots of the girls from the behind looking in the cages.

My Shorty

We have 3 step stools upstairs, two in the bathroom and one in the kitchen. I find them all 3 all over the house, transported via Jillian. She is a lady with a mission, she knows what she wants and all be, she will get it. I have just been watching her lately to see what exactly she can reach. We (meaning Brad) baby-proofed our house when Mia was a baby. Um, well those latches have gotten worn out. The house actually needs Jilli -proofed.


Earlier this week I mentioned that I needed the scissors, she said "scissors!" and ran/waddled to the kitchen. I jumped up to follow her and witnessed her get the step stool, carry it to the junk drawer, open the drawer (this one she actually couldn't get past the latch) and squeezed her hand in and pulled out the scissors! That same evening I was doing something at the sink and she got the step stool, opened same drawer and I just watched to see what she was getting, which was MATCHES! Actually, I never even keep matches in the kitchen because obviously Brad and I have problems with burning things anyway :), but I tossed them in there at Mia's birthday party after lighting her candles. Oh dear, both items have found new homes, very high!

Yum, cough drops, who let my mom have children?

Sorry Brad

Brad is such a sport for letting me tell about his life adventures on this little blog. Well today I did something that I would blog about if it were him. I was baking brownies to take over to a friend's for dinner, the timer goes off and I go open the door and see .........

yes folks, that would be one hot pad baked nice and crispy for 20 minutes on 350!

I seriously scare myself. Who does this kind of stuff?

This photo was a reenactment of the actual event. At first I grabbed it out while muttering "Oh my goodness, oh my goodness, oh my goodness." Then while typing this I decided a visual was much more effective than my bleak words. Also, you might be wondering who uses a hot pad to put the brownies in at the beginning? Well, I noticed in my cabinet a jar of a few sprinkles left over. I thought I might jazz up the brownies so I took them out of the oven, applied the sprinkles, but them back in, with the hot pad, and la di da went back to la la land.

Goodnight Moon

Such a classic book! We received a board book copy when I was pregnant with Mia Kate with a handwritten message from a dear Wellington family. It kind of sunk to the bottom of the basket with Mia Kate, she was more of a Sandra Boynton "Barnyard Dance" and "The Belly Button Book" kind of gal.

We discovered it barely read about a year ago and I started reading it nightly to Jilli. I have been the story reader to Jilli while Brad was Mia Kate's. We switched recently and I never told him about my little ritual with "Goodnight Moon." One night I heard him holler to me from Jilli's room "Stace, where is the moon book?" Later he confided that he really liked that book and "reads it last every night to Jilli." I smiled and told him that I loved it too, aren't we compatible? Tee hee.


Brad recently revealed to me that he forgot to read it one night and had Jilli in her crib. He said she was mumbling something and he told her to take out her paci, she did and said "Night Night Moon." Smart little bug she is! Now the book has very worn edges, I really like that look of a board book!

Today I was in the kitchen with Mia Kate and Jilli had been tinkering around and we could hear her. It got quiet and so I went to see what mischief she had gotten herself into when I found this

She had gathered up her favorites, including "Night Moon" and climbed up on her chaise. I ran and went to check on Mia and returned to find this...

Covering up with an afhgan reading.

I wish I could get away with this! Snuggle up and read in the middle of the day!


In the pics she is reading about "potty and poo poo" as she says. Maybe she can teach herself?

Red Envelope

A friend of mine forwarded this to me. I found 5 red envelopes in my stationary stash and printed off a few labels and voila ready to go. I usually am not political on here, but wanted to share.
"Please read and follow through. Let's drown them in red envelopes!
I am passing this along, because I thought perhaps you would like to participate in Red Envelope Day, on March 31, 2009. Get a red envelope. On the front, address it to:President Barack Obama The White House1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington , D.C. 20500On the back, write the following mes sage: This envelope represents one child who died because of an abortion.It is empty because the life that was taken is now unable to be a part of our world.

We will mail the envelopes on March 31st, 2009.Forward this event to every one of your friends who you think would send one too. I wish we could send 50 million red envelopes, one for every child who died [in the U.S. ] before having a chance to live.It may seem that those who believe abortion is wrong are in a minority. It may seem like we have no voice and it's shameful to even bring it up. Let us show our President and the world that the voices of those of us who do not believe abortion is acceptable are not silent and must be heard.Barack Obama spoke at a Planned Parenthood Action Fund event, uttering the now infamous line, "Well, the first thing I'd do as president is, is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. [Applause.] That's the first thing that I'd do."An empty red envelope will send a message to President Barack Obama that there is moral outrage in this country over this issue [The Freedom of Choice Act, which will essentially undo every law currently in place to limit abortion in the U.S. .. (i.e., parental consent laws, parental notification, waiting periods, prohibition of transporting a minor girl across state lines to obtain an abortion, etc.)]. It is a quiet, but clear message of protest."

St. Anthony

I pray for this dear Saint to intervene for me quite often, meaning several times a day. Always, always works! Like today, Jillian and I were browsing the aisles of Target when I noticed her favorite pink croc was missing. I was literally on my hands and knees looking under the clothing racks in the baby girl area. Then I went to the service desk and they paged all of the workers to see if anyone had found a pink croc. I then went back to baby land, looked again, all the while praying to help find it. I checked out, asked again if someone turned it in and then went and looked under my car! I went back in and retraced my steps again and found it in the dollar aisle. I then said aloud "Thank you St. Anthony!" and yes a customer nearby looked at me like I was crazy, indeed I am.

Whirlwind!

Whew! We celebrated Mia Kate's birthday for 3 days straight and I am exhausted. Actually, I am sick, and should have rested days ago, but had so much to do. We started with her actual birthday, treats at preschool, lunch and dinner with Daddy. Friday morning I hosted 4 other little girls to a Tinkerbell party at our house. Saturday we had family over for most of the day. Mia Kate thoroughly enjoyed all of the attention and special decorations that we put up around the house. Here are some photos from all of the fun! Terry, Grandma Jan, & Mia Kate
Mia Kate & Emma

Mia Kate, Myself, & Emma

Grampie Ron & Mia Kate

Her cake, yum!

Storytime at the Tinkerbell party.

Coloring time at the Tinkerbell party.

Fairy Camryn & Tinkerbell

Jillian & Mia Kate await the other fairies.

Birthday balloons!

Practial child asked for a pink carseat for her birthday!

Sweet snacks at preschool!

She chose Margarita's for her birthday dinner!

Four fingers! Opening presents on her birthday morning!

Happy Birthday Mia Kate!

Bored

I am so happy that spring is almost here. The girls are getting quite tired of playing indoors. Last week Jillian discovered my measuring cups and loves stacking them. Kind of a problem because I caught her taking a step stool to my utensil drawer and pulling it open to get the measuring cups. This is also my knife drawer, which has a baby proof latch on it. Oops, looks like we need to tighten that.

Anyways, the girls wanted to play with water but I let them play with dried pasta. They sat in the bathtub for at least an hour playing with the cups and pasta.

Just Wait

I know, I know I have been M.I.A from my blog. The flu came and went, now we have colds with Jillian on breathing treatments. Throw in an anniversary and 3 day celebration for Mia's birthday, just wait, I will update a lot when this whirlwind is over!

Happy Birthday William!

Last weekend we celebrated our nephew William's seventh birthday! It is hard to believe that William is seven, he had just turned three when Mia Kate was born. Here are a couple of shots from the Brad cam.

William, Cake Sneakster Jilli, Emma, & Mia

Jilli also debuted her newest hair-do, pig tails.

Dinner

I took Mia Kate back to Wonderscope during Jillian's nap today. On the way home I called Brad and we discussed dinner. He told me he was going to make tacos while Mia and I picked up a couple of items at the store. We walked in and he was cooking away. Please note that he is a better cook than me, and usually pays close attention to his cooking.

So while I was putting away a couple of items the girls were sitting on the floor eating crackers out of a bowl. Brad was doing something on the stove when he said "What is going on?" as steam was coming out of the range (which is a smooth top). I looked in the oven and it was an inferno! Looked like a mini campfire in there, flames were touching the top of the oven. I, of course, freaked and grabbed the girls and ran out of the room with them. He somehow got in under control (FYI: we do have a fire extinguisher, but he handled it without).

Our whole house was a big smoke bomb, leading the smoke alarm to go off. We then proceeded to open all windows and had to turn on the attic fan to get the smoke out. The girls were freezing so we bundled them up on the couch, popped in a video and paci, and they were content while we ventilated the house. Never fear, in the midst of this I instantly knew it would be great blogging material. I do keep my camera on my kitchen counter, just in case. Brad sees me taking photos of the burnt tacos and starts laughing. It was pretty funny, but I am very glad nobody was hurt! Also, he tried to broil taco shells "to give them a crisp edge." As you can see, he achieved crispy!

Brrr! Also, MK's face is painted as a cat, with a heart on her forehead. Her request, meow! They are the sweetest little sisters to each other. Under the covers they were holding hands and we overheard Mia teaching Jilli to say "fan."

Snow # 5

We awoke on Saturday morning to a beautiful snow! Brad is estimating that we had around 6 inches, enough to make everything look very pretty. I was thinking that I had possibly jinxed us because I bought Mia Kate brand new, Disney princess snow boots in late December. You know I am very superstitious about buying brand new snow gear. Since the boot purchase, we haven't had a flake. Mia Kate really enjoyed the snow and built a snow blob/manish figure. Dressing Jilli in her snow gear is like stuffing a marshmallow in a key hole, not happening. She wanted to "swing" in the snow. I think it was too hard for her to walk around in her get up. So, Jillian and I lasted a good 8 minutes outside, plenty of snow for a 1 year old!